A busy four days of testing at the Cartagena Pro-Test concluded for Blackhorse Kawasaki, and not even a minor crash involving Victor Cox on the last day could deflect from what was a very successful and encouraging time for the team in Southern Spain. Sharing the track with many of the British Superbike stars, the team's three riders, Cox, Conor Cummins and Brad Anderson took full advantage of the dry and sunny, albeit cold conditions to familiarise themselves with their 2011 machinery.

Cox was particularly impressive. On the exciting new Ninja ZX-10R, it didn't take long for the young Trowbridge rider to find his rhythm and he was very much the man to watch. Consistently quick throughout the four days, he would eventually set the quickest time in the Superstock 1000 class.

Returning to action after his Isle of Man TT crash last year was Cummins, who spent the first few days of the test comfortably settling back into the groove. The Manxman got quicker with each session and it was very much a case of 'mission accomplished' for Conor.

Brad Anderson meanwhile wasn't about to be outshone by his more experienced team-mates and the team's new signing was superb on his first outing in Blackhorse Kawasaki colours. On the Ninja ZX-6R, Brad topped one of his sessions and finished among the front runners in the Superstock 600 class!


The team took the opportunity to test a variety of Maxton fork internals and rear shocks, and it was great to have Richard from Maxton on hand.

Also tested were some new compounds from SBS Brake Systems which worked well as did the Leo Vince Exhaust Systems, a new sponsor of Blackhorse Kawasaki for 2011.

With one eye on the opening rounds of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 and 600 Championships at Brands Hatch over Easter, the team returned to base to analyse the data from Cartagena and prepare for the next tests at Brands Hatch and Snetterton respectively.

Team manager Ian Lougher:

''The Cartagena test couldn't have gone much better and we all leave here in a really positive frame of mind. Brad, Conor and Victor repaid the team's hard work with some solid riding and for Victor to finish top of the Superstock 1000 class was mega. It was also great to have Conor back with us and to see him go faster with every outing. Our new team member Brad Anderson has really gelled with the team and we were all very impressed with both his attitude and speed.

The new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is of course fantastic, we haven't quite found the perfect set-up yet and that is all the more encouraging given what we have already achieved here in Spain!''