Having recently confirmed its 2025 racing plans, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and WorldSBK rider Tarran Mackenzie have completed a crucial test session at the Jerez Circuit, its first test of the year.

At a track where Mackenzie last tested in November 2024, the team worked hard to build on the progress made last time out. Weather conditions fortunately remained dry on Wednesday 22, allowing Tarran and his technicians to make the most of the day. Completing 61 laps throughout the session, the Brit focused on identifying a valid setup for the 2025 version of the CBR1000RR-R. The result of constructive collaboration with HRC, the latest technical developments should benefit the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team heading into the new season.

The team unfortunately woke to a very different situation on Thursday 23, the track already wet as the session got underway. Rainfall on and off throughout the morning meant that the team ultimately decided to bank this second day so as to use it at a later date.

In the hope of better weather, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team will be back on track again next week, on 28-29 January, completing further Superbike test sessions at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal in preparation for the start of the 2025 racing season in February.

Tarran Mackenzie

“We completed our first test of the season in Jerez today and even if it was great to be back in action again, the session left us wanting more. The bike’s changed with respect to what we were using at the end of last year, with a lot of new items including a new tank, seat, and electronics. That means a lot of set up work, and it’s why I didn’t immediately have the feeling I was looking for. I was confident that we could use day two to get used to everything but, unfortunately, wet weather has prevented us from doing that today. That’s just the way it goes sometimes I guess; it’s a little frustrating but hopefully the weather picks up at Portimão and we can get out there and really make the most of the track time.”