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New Ninja ZX-10R makes impressive progress

Wednesday, 3 November 2010 11:48 GMT
New Ninja ZX-10R makes impressive progress
2011 Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes was joined by test rider Katsuaki Fujiwara at the recent Motorland Aragon tests, with each working on development and set-up on the all-new Ninja ZX-10R.


Sykes set a personal best lap on the final day, a 1'58.5, finding fertile areas in terms of machine set-up as he prepares for his second season as a factory Kawasaki rider.


Tom's fellow official Kawasaki riders Chris Vermeulen and Joan Lascorz, were interested spectators at the test, as each continues to recover from injury.


Sykes, now a seasoned WSBK rider, said, "We were pleased with the test and to be this close to the front at this stage was promising. Overall we had a good understanding of the complete package and we got through quite a few things. Finding a good base setting was the main objective, but at the end we also tried something a bit different on the bike, and again found quite a significant improvement. Overall, I am very pleased with the way things went."


Team Manager Paul Risbridger said, "We got through everything we wanted to try. Tom and Katsuaki each did good work, with Tom doing more set-up work in readiness for the season, and Katsuaki trying some new general development parts. The lap times were particularly good for Tom, and we recorded him setting a 1'58.5, which is very competitive. The track conditions were reasonably consistent for us and we were really encouraged by the results of this test."