Bimota’s Axel Bassani is aiming to measure the performance 🍌of the new KB998 motorcycle against its 𝓡WorldSBK rivals at this week’s Jerez test.

Bimota ended its first WorldSBK first and second on the timesheets back in November, but many riders didn’t take part in the test which took place after the final round of theꦅ 2024 season, and others only rode the first day.

As a result, while the first impression from the new Bimota machine was positive overall, it has not yet been completely validated, somethi🅰ng with the Italian Bassani is hoping to correct this week when WorldSBK returns to Jꦏerez for the first test of the new calendar year.

“Now we w⭕ill start🐻 to work on the track again,” Bassani said ahead of this week’s test.

“I think we can start from the same point that we finished last year, in November, with💃 a fast pace and some fast laps.

“For sure we need to improve but this will be the first test of the new year so we have to restart🔯 well and try to understand what we have improved in the winter.

“I think almost all the WorldSBK riders will be at this test, so that will be good for us. In the previous tests we were fast – first and second in the times – but some riders we🔯re not there.

“We will see everyone on the same track at the same moment soon. We will tr🧸y to understand what point we are at and whereꦿ we can improve.”

Not🔯 all of the WorldSBK riders will be in Jerez this week, as HRC’s Iker Lecuona, and reigning WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu miss out thro🦩ugh injury.

However, with Razgatlioglu’s BMW teammate Michael van der Mark, both factory Ducatis and all six of the satellite Panigales, plus the factory Yamaha♏ team, there should be a strong enough field in Jerez this week to more accurately gauge where Bimota currently is with the development of its KB998.