Kawasaki Team Arrives in Europe

The Kawasaki Racing Team arrived back in Europe, after concluding three successful days of development testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

John Hopkins was pleased with the positive progress he made over the three day testing, and happy with the working relationship developing between him and his new crew. The new Kawasaki pilot heads now for Southern Spain, and the final three-day test of the year, determined to use the technical and demanding Jerez circuit to perfect the set-up of his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR ahead of the winter break.

Anthony West was also considered happy about Sepang Circuit testing, although the 26-year-old Australian was a little disappointed not to have finished closer to his new team mate on the time sheet. Kawasaki used the Malaysia Sepang testing for evaluating the new engine components,
West used the three-day to test focus on finding a good base set-up on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR; a process he was unable to fully accomplish this year MotoGP season, after being thrown in at the deep end with the Kawasaki Racing Team mid-season.

Anthony West like his team mate John Hopkins, West was also looking to end the year on a high-note, and he heads for his MotoGP debut at the Jerez circuit determined to move further up the timesheet during the final three days of testing before the winter test ban comes into force.

Anthony West said; We haven't really been looking for a fast time over the three-day testing, but instead concentrating on working our way through a number of different set-ups to give me some idea of how different changes affect the feeling of the bike. It's important work, and it's what I was missing this year, coming in as I did halfway through the season. But, even though I know that the work we're doing now is important for next year, I'm still a little disappointed we didn't get the opportunity to try for a really fast lap. That's the racer in me I suppose. Overall, the past three days have been very positive, and I'm enjoying working with my new crew to try and improve the bike further. It would be good to end the season with a good, fast lap and, although I've never ridden the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR at Jerez before, that's what I'll be aiming for when we head there at the end of the month."