Marc VDS te𝕴am manager Michael Bartholemy says he is happy with the shakedown performance of the much anticipated 1000cc Suter-BMW following three-days of trouble-free running at Jerez.

Swiss constructor Suter is planning a move to the MotoGP class in 2012 when regulations will allow for a prototype chassis to be built around a 100🧜0cc engine, with leading Moto2 team Marc VDS earmarked to🌠 front development of the machine.

With IDM Supersport rider Damian Cudlin and some time Moto2 racer Carmelo Morales taking to testing duties, the bike managed more than 100 laps without a single mechanical problem, even if the first and third days was hamper♓ed by rainy conditions.

Testing on Michelin tyres, though the bike was still lapping around three and a half seconds slower than the Ducati of Karel Abraham by the test's conclusion, Bartholemy was very pleased with the per🐎formance of the machine.

"For a first rollout of the new bike the test has been very successful," he said. "The weather has been a problem, restricting us to just one daཧy of dry testing, but we still managed to complete over 100 laps on the ꦰbike with no issues at all.

"The bike definitely has potential; we've seen that here in Jerez this week. Now we need to sit down with Eskil Suter and his technical team to agree a development plan that will unlock this𒁏 potential, starting at the next test in Januꦚary.

"This is an exciting project and we are a part of it only because ♉of the support of our President, Marc van der Straten, to whom I'd like to say a big thank you on behalf of the team."

🐓His sentiments were echoed by Cudli𝓀n, who was delighted to be given the responsibility of riding the BMW-engined bike for the first time.

"Not many people get to ride a Mot🤡oGP bike, especially a prototype bike for 2012 like this on🔯e; it's pretty cool and it's been heaps of fun! We've learnt a whole lot about the bike and, while there's still a lot more to learn, the potential is definitely there.

"The weight, or lack of it, is impressive and the handling has been pretty much spot on from the start of the test; it feels ꩵa bit like a more powerful Moto2 machine in a lot of ways. This week we've taken the first small steps on what will be a fairly long journey, I'm excited to be a part of it and I'm looking forward to seeing how the bik🍒e turns out at the end of the journey.

"I've got the easy job really, riding the bike, it's all the clever people around me who will be taking on responsibility for development, but they've certain꧒ly done an impressive job so far."

Marc VDS Moto2 rider Scott Reddiꦦng had been pencilled in to r🥀ide the bike on day three, but a crash during Moto2 testing on day two would land him in hospital and out of the test. The Briton high-sided out of the final turn, but his trip to hospital would merely be a precautionary one.