Haslam's testing time is limited as the countdown to Superbike season starts
WORLD Superbike star Leon Haslam endured a frustrating test session as he familiarised himself with his new Pata Honda team in Spain.
The session at Jerez was the last before the teams head to Australia for the opening round at the end of next month.
But Haslam and team-mate Jonathan Rea were able to get little track time as they tried out a new electronics package on the factory-supported machines.
The last opportunity they will get to come to terms with the bikes will be in the week before the first round in Phillip Island on February 23.
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The 29-year-old Smalley ace said: "It's been a long, tough couple of days and frustrating in a lot of ways.
"We had some electronics issues and what we thought were engine braking problems.
"They turned out to be a problem with the brakes themselves. In the end, we changed the pads and threw in a random electronics package and I got maybe four or five laps towards the end of the day.
"It's been one problem after another but those last laps showed that the bike is going to be good
"It was a much needed test but ended up as a frustrating one, so I can't wait to get back on it in Australia."
The team have returned to their base in Holland, where the machines will be crated up and flown to Australia this week.
The team's technical coordinator, Pieter Breddels, said the new electronics, based on those used on Honda's MotoGP machinery, had caused a few headaches and that weather conditions had been against them.
"I think the guys did a great job and Jonathan was able to do a lap of 1m41.6s. Leon had some brake issues, which set him back a little, and he was using Jonathan's electronics settings which didn't really work for him," he said.
"The bike is working well, though, and the new components are performing as we want.
"We have some more parts to test, so we could do with more than the four testing days we have remaining before the start of the season but we're in quite good shape for now."
World Supersport racer Sam Lowes, the twin brother of rising British Superbike rider Alex Lowes with whom he shares a house in Derby, has also been testing at Jerez.
He has joined the Yakhnich Yamaha team for the coming season after four years with PTR Honda.
"I'm excited because I can see that the potential of the bike will allow me to try and win next season," he said.
"The team welcomed me in the best way and I felt immediately at home. I'm sure we will have a great season in 2013."
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