hawk Racing handed two riders their first laps on the MasterMac Honda in a tidy shakedown at Mallory Park. The day was never about chasing headline lap times — it was a controlled, practical step-up to the full-spec British Superbike machine, focused on learning, confirming systems and building a reliable starting point for the season ahead.
A measured first ride
The two rookies moved up from Supersport and used the session to feel how the Superbike behaves under sustained track running. Engineers concentrated on three core areas: throttle mapping, suspension balance and rider ergonomics. Short, repeatable runs delivered clean telemetry, which the crew used to make immediate setup tweaks and to establish baseline settings to carry into later tests.
What the riders worked on
Rather than all-out pace, the emphasis was on consistency and confidence. The riders concentrated on:
– turn-in and entry behaviour,
– mid-corner drive and power delivery,
– braking stability and modulation.
Small changes to seat position, bar reach and footpeg placement produced measurable differences in steering feel and throttle response, and those adjustments were logged for iterative mapping. Braking checks included ABS interaction, temperature trends and deceleration profiles across Mallory Park’s reference points.
A practical, step-by-step approach
Hawk Racing ran the day like an incremental development programme: widen the operating window slowly, collect clean data, then broaden the test envelope. Engineers compared sensor traces with the riders’ impressions to align subjective feedback with objective measures. That method keeps mechanical risk low while speeding up the learning curve — especially important during a rider’s first outings on a more powerful bike.
Background on the promotion
Both riders earned their promotions after strong campaigns in the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship. One arrives as the reigning Supersport champion, the other as a frequent podium contender with a knack for extracting performance in tight situations. Their transition follows a familiar pathway in British racing: success in Supersport opens doors into the premier national series, but the jump requires careful adaptation to the Superbike’s different chassis, power and electronics.
Team priorities going forward
The immediate goals coming out of Mallory Park are clear:
– validate engine and electronics baselines,
– refine chassis geometry and damping windows,
– confirm rider ergonomics and brake feel,
– begin structured tyre-degradation work through longer stints.
Planned next steps include back-to-back test days with longer race-pace simulations, alternate chassis and damping trials, and progressively increasing lap counts so the riders can practice traffic, launches and tyre conservation. All changes will be staged, with the technical crew prioritising reliability and measurable gains over radical setup gambles.
Team dynamics and milestones
Engineers will continue to lead data collection and correlation, turning rider input into a narrowing list of setup choices. The team has set incremental milestones tied to lap-time variance, tyre fall-off rates and rider workload rather than aiming for instant fast laps. That discipline helps protect the riders, preserves parts, and builds a dependable package that can be tuned for different circuits.
Rider reactions
Both riders described the day as constructive. One called it a major career milestone; the other said sampling Mallory Park on the Superbike gave him the confidence to move on with the preparation. Both appreciated the calm, collaborative paddock atmosphere, which kept first-day nerves in check and made technical conversations productive.
A measured first ride
The two rookies moved up from Supersport and used the session to feel how the Superbike behaves under sustained track running. Engineers concentrated on three core areas: throttle mapping, suspension balance and rider ergonomics. Short, repeatable runs delivered clean telemetry, which the crew used to make immediate setup tweaks and to establish baseline settings to carry into later tests.0