Jonathan Rea’s change in crew chief has been one of many key developments in WorldSBK over the winter after the six-time champion’s dismal maiden marketing campaign with Yamaha.
Rea scored just one podium in his first season on the YZF-R1, and the technical progress he made via the yr appeared to be summed up by feedback made on the ultimate spherical in Jerez that he’d reverted to settings he used when he first rode the Yamaha in November 2023.
Oriol Pallares, who Rea introduced in as his new crew chief, has not been within the function earlier than, and was Rea’s chief mechanic till the top of final yr. Nevertheless, the Northern Irish rider mentioned that it hasn’t been an advanced change.
“It’s been a brilliant simple transition to be trustworthy,” Rea mentioned of Pallares when chatting with WorldSBK.com on the finish of the Jerez check.
“He [Pallares] has the respect of the crew, he did such a superb job in November with the check plan that he obtained a spherical of applause from the crew and now he’s simply right down to enterprise actually.
“He’s a man I belief loads, he has unimaginable expertise, it’s one little field ticked in a protracted checklist that we’ve to examine off earlier than the season begins.”
Whereas Pallares’ adaptation to his new function and the crew’s acceptance of him inside that function is definitely a constructive, it’s unlikely to be the factor that takes Rea from being the intermittent top-six and occasional podium contender he was final yr again in the direction of the common victory and title rivalry he has been able to previously.
As an alternative, that may also require technical enhancements on the Yamaha R1. On the opening day of the check on Wednesday, Pata Yamaha crew principal Paul Denning mentioned that there are developments on the way in which for the R1 to assist with acceleration and that they may very well be prepared in time for subsequent week’s check in Portimao, one thing Rea confirmed on Thursday.
“All around the bike we’re attempting to enhance, the engine, the chassis, electronics, the whole package deal,” Rea mentioned.
“Additionally from my aspect as properly, I attempted to take off some weight within the offseason with a little bit of success as a way to put all the pieces collectively.”
He added: “[There will be] Extra new components in Portimao and I’m certain Australia. We’re nonetheless in a interval of growth, […] we’re nonetheless analysing issues and it’s good to be part of a crew that’s ahead pondering like that.
“I feel it was an enormous shock to everybody how uncompetitive we have been final yr however we’ve reacted in a constructive method and I’m excited to see how aggressive we could be when the lights exit.”
