Jonathan Rea has already won nine races this season and Tom Sykes five, in what has been a great showing for Kawasaki at the highest level of production-derived racing. After scoring some heavily contrasting results in the more recent championship rounds, Rea and Sykes will arrive in France with 47 points standing between them. The championship battle is, therefore, very much still alive, especially with potential of 150 points on offer for any rider who can win all six of the remaining races.

"A wet race win in Germany was a nice way to finish the weekend last time out and I have l slept really well this week," said Rea. "I am looking forward to Magny Cours because I have had a good history there and I enjoy riding it. It is always pretty full of French fans and, of course, it is that crucial time of the season now. We have a points advantage but not enough to be comfortable with, so we still have to go out and make big points in France. Of course, at this stage of the year I am thinking about the gap but I do not want to let it affect my riding. We can’t really manage a 47-point lead because we can see how easy it is to lose a bunch of points. But going into the weekend in France I am happy and confident on the bike and we have a lot of data for the track. We know what works there and we will start with a good base and work step-by-step through the weekend.”

Only one other rider – third placed Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) – has a mathematical chance of overtaking either of the KRT duo to win the riders’ title this year, but he is currently 98 points adrift of Rea and 51 points behind Sykes. If Rea leaves Magny Cours with even three points more than Davies, Kawasaki would be guaranteed the riders’ title - for either Rea or Sykes. But teammate Sykes will be Rea's most dangerous rival leading into the final rounds of the Championship.

“Magny Cours is a track that we have had great results at in the past but the thing is that now we can go to every track knowing we have the potential to win," said Sykes. "Magny Cours is one venue that has stood out in the past, so we are going there to utilise the best of our potential. We have seen already this year how fast things can turn on their heads. In Germany on one day it all went for me and then on the second day it went against me. We can see how fast things can change in racing. We still have a long way to go and we are still in the running. Kawasaki riders are 1-2 in the championship so obviously we are doing something right! We have some good ideas, if the weather is wet, to change things up to give me what I need.” 

Kawasaki has enjoyed a long-term lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship thanks to the capabilities of the 2016 model Ninja ZX-10R and the impressive success of their riders this season. Another prospect for Kawasaki at Magny Cours is the mathematical chance to be awarded the Manufacturers’ Championship trophy.

The penultimate European Round of the WorldSBK season is set to take place this weekend at Magny-Cours on the 29th of September to the 2nd of October, where both reigning Champion Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes will fight for the important 50 points that are on the table.