WSBK: Kawasaki's Tamada ready for Brno return on Sunday
KAWASAKI RACING:
A multiple rider crash on lap one at the Monza race put Makoto Tamada out of action for two months, but after coming through a recent Imola test in good form he will be back in race action at Brno. Tamada, alongside his regular team-mate Broc Parkes, tried out several new parts and some new set-up options at the recent tests, organised in readiness for the return of WSB racing to the classic Italian circuit in September.
The tests were deemed a success; both in terms of work carried out and the direction development should take, which makes Parkes in particular confident of improvements at the fast and wide circuit of Brno.
Brno, built near the site of the old road course that used to wind its way through the Czech countryside, features several fast chicanes, some significant changes in elevation and a very impressive track width, which allows overtaking opportunities in several places.
Although temperatures are not expected to reach the same blistering levels of the Imola test – which were over 35°C with regularity – Brno should be a hot weekend as usual.
Broc Parkes: “We stayed on race tyres at the Imola test when a lot of people chose to use qualifiers, but that allowed us to get through the whole programme of tests we had to do. We found some good things and on race tyres we were not too bad. I really want to finish in the top ten at Brno because I feel that this is a track where our bike is going to work particularly well. A lot of people said that Imola would be one of the most difficult tracks for us, but Brno should be OK, and I’m sure we can be more competitive. I really want some top tens.”
Makoto Tamada: “At the Imola tests I still had a little bit of pain in my hand, and not so much power in my left arm, so it made setting more than three laps at a time a bit difficult. We tried a lot of new suspension settings and I used the new swingarm, which I liked very much. I will be ready for Brno, after the testing days showed we could set reasonable times. I have been training to get my arm ready for the full races at Brno.”
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