Chris Vermeulen continues to get familiar with his new ZX-10R World Superbike, as the Kawasaki team concludes December testing at a trio of Spanish race tracks. Vermeulen got his first taste of the Ninja at the Cartagena circuit in early December, with the Paul Bird Kawasaki team running further tests at the Almeria and Jerez tracks this week.

At Almeria, Vermeulen got some valuable laps in to sort out the Ninja, which has been prolifically unproductive in the SBK series. The Australian expressed optimism that the new endeavor is headed in the right direction.

“It was the second test with all the team together and the guys are gelling well as a unit. We continued our work on from the progress we made at our Cartagena test recently; suspension adjustment and chassis, understanding what changes do what to the bike. We were also working on suspension on a faster circuit,” said the former Rizla Suzuki GP rider. “The bike felt quite nice and of course we still have some areas to improve. We want to work on the front of the bike to get some more feeling and feedback. But as a whole, it worked quite well. I am looking forward to testing at Jerez next because I know that circuit very well.”

Vermeulen’s turns at Cartagena and Almeria were his first on those circuits, but Jerez was a much more familiar abode for the former MotoGP competitor. Rain during the two-day Jerez test spoiled some of the plans but at least it gave the team an first opportunity to test the Ninja in wet-weather (Vermeulen being an accomplished rider in the wet – having scored his first GP win in the heavy rain).

“We had some things we wanted to try on the engine side, electronics and suspension and we tried as much as we could in the wet,” said Vermeulen. “Normally things relate from wet to dry, within reason. We definitely improved the bike but we really need to re-test some of these parts and settings in the dry again.”

The Kawasaki team will be able to measure themselves back up against the SBK competition at the planned official tests next month in Portimao. Until then, Vermeulen sounds keen on the beginnings of his Kawasaki tenure.

“We have had three separate sessions and we have been lucky to have had four dry days in Spain in December, and one consistently wet day to work with. I feel comfortable on the bike now and I like the way the team are working together. The communication in the team has improved a lot and we are all working well, getting stronger and stronger.”