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Meanwhile, riders Geoff May and Aaron Yates multitask between developing the bike and racing, which are often intertwined. Besides a noticeable Southern accent (they’re both from Georgia) and a penchant for Italy that made Bergamo their second home, May and Yates share a can-do attitude and seemingly undying faith in the manufacturer and team. However, the world stage has not been as pleasant inside the track as outside. “It hasn’t always been fun, as I’ve never experience being so far back in the field,” May analyzed. “We had much more competitive bike in AMA in relation with the other teams. The rules there are different, more like the European stock category. Our top speed and lap times were more respectable in AMA.” “It’s still early to tell,” Yates added. “I was happy with the progress we made between the season opener and the start of the European stretch. We managed to make quite a few steps forward with chassis settings and other things we’ve struggled with initially. There’s quite a bit of development left to do with electronics, especially with fuel calibration. In Verdello, I myself spent time at the dyno, trying to optimize things. Hopefully we’re able to make steady steps forward and bring updates quickly.” The first races are usually the hardest, as both the bike and the whole team need to set up the basic working parameters. To this end, the return of the championship to Europe immediately marked improvements. “We received many updates for the chassis, and we definitely found a direction,” May said. “But I’m not yet 100 percent confident in pushing the limits. The bike’s capability is far superior to what we used to have, but we need to chip away at the issues and make steady steps forward.” The thrill of the challenge, however, far outweighs the hurdles both riders encounter on track. “It’s been a tough start, but I love the hard work,” Yates said. “Everyone on the team does. It’s a bunch of good, experienced people. There’s a lot of data to collect and learn about each race, and the season is still long. We have some tough steps ahead of us, but that’s what makes it enjoyable. I like the challenge.” “Long is the way, and hard, that out of hell leads up to light,” once write John Milton. So is the road to the WSBK podium, but EBR is not afraid to walk it; its own renaissance has just begun. – Luca Semprini Work hard. Race harder but safer with Daytona Helmets and be on the podium.
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