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Testing got underway at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for a few MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship teams, including the Pata Prometeon Yamaha squad. During the opening day of action, Team Principal Paul Denning detailed the reasoning behind a switch of crew chief for six-time Champion Jonathan Rea plus new components that the team are trying as they search for a return to winning ways in 2025.

CHANGES IN THE BOX: Denning discusses the change of crew chief for Rea

Rea worked with Andrew Pitt in his first season in blue, with the Australian previously working with Rea’s teammate, Andrea Locatelli, from 2021 to 2023 before moving to the #65’s side of the box for 2024. Ahead of the Jerez test, it was announced that Uri Pallares would take over the role of Crew Chief for the Northern Irishman with the Jerez test the first time he would work in that role with Rea, although their relationship goes back some nine years after they worked together at Kawasaki including during Rea’s dominant six consecutive titles.

On the change of crew chief, Denning said: “In any change involving people in any organisation is always difficult, especially in a close-knit organisation such as a racing team. Andrew’s been with us for more than seven years and over that time, became a very trusted colleague and a friend to everyone in the team, including Jonathan. The situation was not the easiest to manage. However, after such a difficult season, Jonathan simply felt that he needed a reset and a change of communication style and a change of working atmosphere in the box. The thinking behind it had nothing to do with the technical job done or commitment or experience or ability. It was purely based on, as I say, a rider’s feeling and the need to try something different after such a tough season. Andrew is an ex-rider and World Champion so he understands better than anyone how the mentality can work. I have to say, one of the biggest credits that we can give to Andrew was his level of professionalism and effort all the way until the last lap of the last race together with Jonathan.”

Denning also explained how the previous working relationship between Pallares and Rea would help, saying: “The fact Uri and Jonathan know each other and have such a close personal and professional relationship is, in the end, the primary reason behind the change. Uri also had the benefit of seeing, first-hand, how Pere Riba managed JR and was able to forge that winning relationship. Uri was part of that triangle of performance that they experienced before. It’s always a challenge in the pressure cooker of racing to separate personal and professional sides but Uri’s a strong enough character to manage JR and get the best out of him at all times. We’re trusting him and his intellect and his ability to do that and we’ve got confidence he’ll do well.”

TESTING PROGRAMME: chassis and electronic items with ‘early positive signs’

The Jerez test is Yamaha’s first of the winter looking at 2025, having opted to miss the traditional post-round test at Jerez in October and start their testing programme in late November. The test takes place over two days with both Locatelli and Rea on track, with the former getting to try out new components while, for Rea, the first day was about his new crew chief working in that role for the first time.

Reviewing the testing programme during Day 1, Denning said: “All the normal stuff you’ll hear from other teams! We are trying to improve all areas, perhaps in some areas that cannot be seen from the outside looking in, certainly in terms of both chassis and electronics. It seems as we speak now, halfway through Day 1, we’ve already found some stuff that looks very promising, and then we hope there will be some more additions coming in January to help us even further. Hopefully the items we are testing here will align well if we see some extra benefits further down the line.”

With a split testing programme on Day 1 for the two riders, feedback of the new components came from Locatelli although Denning explained how the feedback from Rea’s side of the box had been so far. He added: “With JR and Uri, we’re not really testing anything so far. It’s been more Uri getting his feet under the table, understanding how Jonathan reacts to the changes and start setup changes that we made. So far, so good. JR’s got a good feeling with the bike and the crew and also Gregory joining us to replace Uri as one of JR’s mechanics has fitted in perfectly. Just a first day of school type feeling on that side. On Loka’s side, he’s tested more stuff, and the early signs are positive. We need to verify that over the next day and a half and hope that first impressions are accurate, and the end result is as good as that first feeling.”

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