The Castrol Honda World Superbike team has completed a two-day test at Assen in the Netherlands with three riders on its Honda CBR1000RR machines. With fine weather yesterday, Jonathan Rea was able to ride for the first time since breaking his arm and wrist in a warm-up crash at Misano in Italy in June. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman was able to give his injuries a thorough workout and he declared himself happy with the results.

Rea was joined at Assen by Castrol Honda team-mate, Ruben Xaus, who is still recovering from back injuries sustained in a race one crash at Brno in the Czech Republic last month. The 32-year-old Spaniard was still suffering some discomfort from his back and was only able to ride in short bursts. With rain at Assen today, Xaus opted to sit out day two of the test.

Also testing with the Castrol Honda team was Alex Lowes, who replaced the injured Rea both at Brno and the last World Superbike round at Silverstone in the UK at the end of July. The 20-year-old from Lincoln rode both days at Assen, completing many laps and testing new settings on the Castrol Honda Fireblade.

The team now makes the short trip back to its Netherlands base to prepare for round ten of the 2011 World Superbike championship at Nurburgring in Germany over the weekend of 2-4 September.