IN a two-day test at Jerez James Ellison got his first opportunity to test the Aprilia CRT bike he will ride in his return to the MotoGP series.
Ellison last competed in MotoGP back in 2006 riding for Tech 3 Yamaha, now with the British Paul Bird outfit in 2012 the Brit logged a best time of 1:42.526 - a positive performance considering he was using steel instead of carbon fibre brakes and acclimatising to the Bridgestone tyres.
The 31-year-old from Kendal told MotoGP.com: “It handles really well, I expected to get on it and say 'we need to change this, we need to adjust that', but it just feels like a race bike. I'm really impressed with it so far.”
“The tyres have tons of grip, the front hasn't moved yet. I feel like I'm pushing as hard as I can considering I've been off a bike for so long. We are a few seconds off pace for now, so maybe when I pick it up I'll start feeling where the other riders are struggling as well.
“The guys on the team and I are learning and we really just want to leave with knowledge and walk away with the bike in one piece, that's the main aim.”
Ellison added: "The bikes are identical except we still have steel brakes. The carbon disks will be a big thing when we get them, today we tried to follow a few riders and the braking marks were the worst - I tried to brake where they did and just ran on. So that’s been the main problem this week."
The best time of the test was set by fellow Aprilia rider Randy de Puniet, who circulated the Spanish circuit in 1:40.3. The Frenchman has more experience on the ART machine, with the latest test being his third run on the bike equipped with carbon brakes.
