Trio ready to roll as G&S Kawasaki gear up for season opener at Donington Park

The three G&S Racing Kawasaki riders are all prepared and raring to go for the opening round of the new season which kicks off at Donington Park at the weekend.

Tom Fisher and Sam Coventry will compete in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship, while Ben Luxton will ride in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 class.

All three riders have spent considerable time in Spain over the past few weeks testing their bikes in readiness for the new season – and were at Donington Park last week for the official British Superbike test day.

Despite the poor weather, they recorded some respectable times in their sessions on the track.

The weather was against the riders as it was cold and wet but both Coventry and Luxton went out for a few laps around the Leicestershire circuit to refamiliarise themselves with the track layout and find a good wet set-up if it should be wet over the coming weekend.

Fisher is returning to the 1000cc series and hopes to build on the success he found during last season, while Coventry is making the step up from the British Supersport championship into the big bike class to race alongside Fisher.

Luxton continues in the 600cc class, having joined Wyberton-based G&S for 2017.

Last year he enjoyed a podium finish towards the end of the season and scored well during the year and is hoping to continue in the same vein with G&S.

The Stock 1000 is running a different format this year and, at selected circuits, they will run two back-to-back races on the Saturday to be run over 100 miles (two 50-mile races).

They will be punctuated by a controlled, compulsory service period in pit lane to facilitate tyre changes and refuelling with half points awarded per leg. A further standard length race over an increased distance of 50 miles will also be on Sunday.

The provisional timetable is as follows:

Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship): Friday – free practice (FP) one (11.55am); FP two (5.10pm). Saturday – Qualifying (9.40am); Two 18-lap races (1pm). Sunday – morning warm-up (9.15am); 16-lap race (2.15pm).

Pirelli National Superstock 600 championship: Friday – FP one (9am); FP two (1.50pm); Saturday – qualifying (10.15am). Sunday – morning warm-up (9am); 14-lap race (12.35pm).