FOGGY Petronas Racing go into this weekend's World Superbike Championship round at Assen in Holland in a positive frame of mind after a fruitful test.

The team, run by four-time world champion Carl Fogarty, spent time testing at Valencia in Spain and team manager Nigel Bosworth was encouraged by the progress made.

He said: "We've achieved a great deal in these few days and are encouraged by what's been learnt.

"Hopefully we can evaluate all the knowledge and data we've gained and turn it around in time for the Assen race, but if not then for Imola."

Fogarty himself was less impressed with the two-day test, claiming he has lost touch with racing bikes.

He said: "I am officially old. I was finding it difficult to comprehend the speed and then I found I was braking early and cruising round the corners really slowly."

"It was hard work and every part of me was aching when I got off the bike. I managed to knock seconds off my lap time with every lap but I couldn't, and wouldn't, push to the limit.

"It was an experience for sure but that's it - I can't believe I have to say I'm now too old for this."

James Haydon will hope to recover from strained neck muscles in time for Friday's first qualifying session after missing the tests at Valencia.

The Englishman has already been told he will be released by Foggy Petronas at the end of a trying season.

John Reynolds will bolster the grid at Assen as a wild car rider, although his Rizla Suzuki team manager Paul Denning admitted he had considered pulling the plug on that plan after team-mate Yukio Kagayama broke his pelvis in a crash.

Denning said: "Making the decision to race at Assen wasn't easy until we asked Yuki what he thought. Yuki is a world-class rider and without his presence it would have been easy to pull out, but he wouldn't let us even think about that.

"He is as eager as any of us for JR to race and get good results and has made it clear he wants us to go to Assen, so we will, and we will do our best to put on a good show for him and all the team's fans."

"Our Rizla Suzuki is undoubtedly the bike to beat at the moment and JR is riding better than ever.

"We have a really good chance of getting a couple of top finishes for Yuki, that's our goal and we have a bike, rider and team capable of delivering a top result."