The Kawasaki Racing Team finished a very intense test program in Spain. with the Superbike at Jerez and the SuperSports at Cartagena. The team was lucky to pick the right time, because all the test days where dry with temperatures between 10°C at Cartagena and 16°C at Valencia.
In both test sessions fundamental tyre testing with DUNLOP took place and showed the expected results and information. Main targets of the test where suspension and tyre combination and the improvement of the 2000 engine.
WSBK test Jerez 28th - 30th November:
Different ÖHLINS setups where tested in combination with different swing arm length'. Also new frame sets with different caster angles had to be tested in combination with the new 2000 spec engine parts.
One of the achievements of the test was better grip on the rear and a better rideability of the engine.
Gregorio finished two days ahead of Akira with a fastest time of 1'37.2, Akira finished his quickest lap in 1'37.4 minutes. At all days the tests where affected by continuously mid wind.
WSS test Cartagena 6th - 8th December:
KRT meets Andrew Pitt! First time for the talented Aussie to work with the Kawasaki Racing Team members. Both where impressed I guess, especially team manager Harald Eckl.
"As far as I can see right now I would say that Andrew is a smart guy. He's very strategic and straight in his work and also very fit, mentally and physically. The harmony with Iain and Andrew is good and he's fast".
Andrew already started with German lessons and surprised everybody with a perfect 'Hello' in German... "Wie geht es Ihnen?" How are you? he asked everybody he expected to be German. A tricky try with team members from all around the world...
Back to the subject.
Iain's quickest time at the tests was a 1'38.1, just two tenth ahead of Andrew who rode the first time in Europe. But non of them was on a quick lap of course.
Iain and Andrew shared two '99 spec bikes and one 2000 bike which is not completed yet.
"Actually we just snapped all the pieces together to have a first impression. Then we started to improve the bike in different areas". mentioned Harald Eckl and added.
"Our Impression is that the bike shows a lot of potential already. The swing arm is stiffer, the engine surprised with more torque, more power and more RPM's".
In his words you can feel the satisfaction about the development of the past few month. Martin Gopp and the KHI Motorsport Department brought the 600 to victory in the past season and improved the bike for 2000. The stage of development pleased the whole team.
This happiness was probably the reason for a more or less 'wet' pre X-mas party at the end of the stressful tests in Spain, Olè...
After returning to the workshop at Vohenstrauss/Germany the team will finish the season official and leave in all wind directions for the Christmas- and New Years Eve holidays. We will return in early January to prepare the bikes for the Phillip Island/Australia tests to start the 2000 season.
Lenz Leberkern, Kawasaki Racing Team press officer
Akira Yanagawa (WSBK)