WSBK: Rea ready for Laguna Seca

“I’m looking forward to it because it’ll be the first real ‘horsepower test’ of the season and I feel the Aprilias will be very strong there,” he said.

The Ballyclare man had to sit out Laguna Seca in 2013 due to injury but was back in action in 2014, finishing sixth in race one and on the podium in third place in race two. “I made a silly mistake during superpole last year and crashed. It’s a really difficult track to pass on but with the red flags I ended up being on the podium in race two, which was good.

“That weekend proved how critical qualifying is for the outcome of the two Sunday races, so we need to make sure to work methodically through the weekend, as we always do, although with a bit more emphasis on superpole. We definitely need to be on the front row at Laguna.”

He added:“I feel I have some margin but I’m not riding with a lot in reserve. I just hope we can continue like this because it feels a bit like a dream.”