The last four months have seen some intense testing by Elka-equipped race teams in Europe.

Swiss Superbike Championship
A leading Suzuki team in the Swiss Superbike Championship tested twice at Valencia (Spain) in December, and decided to run Elka shocks on both machines after parallel testing showed a 1 sec. per lap advantage over race distance, through better corner exits and less tire degradation over a race distance. Further testing has established lead rider Marc Wildisan as the favourite to win the Superbike crown this year.

British Superbike Series
In the UK, Team JHS Racing runs the Triumph UK Daytona 675 in the Supersport class of the BSB Series, ridden by Alastair Fagan and using an Elka shock and steering dampener. During official Series testing at Pembrey (Wales), the JHS 675 turned laps within 2 sec. of the official Ducati 1098R Superbike with by Tony Rutter.  The season starts at Brands Hatch, near London, on the first week end of April.

French Superbike Championship
Suzuki France will run three Superbike in this championship in 2008 under the Junior Team Suzuki France banner, Superbike winners in 2006 and 2007, with returning champion Guillaume Dietrich in the lead machine. Test sessions in Spain and in southern France saw the riders beat 2007 times by over 1.5 sec per lap.

The official Honda France team chose Elka for their official Supersport team, as well as for their entry in the Coupe Pirelli team, as part of this Championship.  Rider XXX has beaten the Supersport lap record in testing in Valencia as well as at Ledenon in southern France. That series start on March 29 and 30, and we will keep you posted on the Team Honda results.

World Endurance Championship
Junior Team Suzuki France will run one GSX-R1000 in the Superstock class at both French rounds of the WEC, the Le Mans 24 Hours in April, and the Bol d’Or 24 Hours at the Magny-Cours track in September. At official testing in late March at the Le Mans circuit, this entry was quickest in the rain, as well as third overall, ahead of many Factory Superbike Teams, in the dry practice sessions.

A Suzuki Qatar Superstock 1000 K8 will run the complete series in 2008. The team practiced at Le Mans, in cold and wet conditions, the first time both Qatari riders encountered such conditions. Lead rider Kenny Foray, the 2007 French Supersport Champion, was up with the leaders, and both Qatari team mates were quick to learn how to adapt to low traction conditions, as they will doubtless encounter throughout the series.

Marc Cantin
Director – Motorcycle Products