Jonathan Rea was unable to complete a full round of testing after his Kawasaki Racing Team's recent two-day test at Portimao in Portugal - the venue for the opening round of the 2021 World Superbike Championship - was reduced to just half a day due to changeable weather.

The record-breaking six-time world champion had completed almost 50 laps at the time and said:

"We were not sure how much track time we were going to get in. However, the laps completed were positive and I felt good on the bike and was immediately fast on the new Portimao asphalt, focusing on bike set-up and confirming major items we will start the season with.

"We messed around with gearbox ratios and final gearings and worked with electronic strategies for managing the power. We did back-to-back testing with the new and old fairings and a new seat unit and found some extra speed in a straight line, which was quite encouraging.

"Testing now moves to Jerez and Montmelo where we will continue to develop the new ZX-10RR to fight for the 2021 World Championship."

Eugene Laverty, meanwhile, will be BMW-mounted for the second season on the new M 1000RR machine in the RC Squadra Corse team and is happy to stay with the same manufacturer.

He said: "To ride the same bike for a second year is critical really in WSBK right now. Look at Jonathan, he has stayed with Kawasaki for six years and has been champion again and again. You need that continuity if you want to reach the top and I want to be on top of the podium this year."

The MCUI (UC) have announced that motorcycle racing in Northern Ireland could possibly resume on June 5 with the opening round of a planned seven for the 2021 Ulster Superbike Championship, but only with clearance from the relevant authorities.

With the Armoy Road Races scheduled for the end of July and the Cookstown 100 set for September, plus an Irish Trials Championship, things are looking brighter in terms of the 2021 campaign on the local motorcycle scene.