Post by BADGER on Aug 14, 2007 19:06:34 GMT
With John Hopkins already confirmed at Kawasaki for 2008, but a second big name signing yet to materialise, existing riders Randy de Puniet and Anthony West are facing a seven race showdown to join the Anglo-American next season.
de Puniet is entering the second half of his second season with Kawasaki, while West was hired at June's British Grand Prixto replace the under performing Olivier Jacque for the rest of the year.
The fast but somewhat mistake prone de Puniet had looked a safe bet to stay for next season, but Kawasaki's determination to put proven riders on its highly rated ZX-RR next year - combined with West's impressive learning curve - mean that the Frenchman's seat is far from secure.
The good news for de Puniet and West is that Loris Capirossi looks set to join Suzuki, rather than accept a Kawasaki offer, but the possibility of a third 'Ninja' on the 2008 grid seems to have gone quiet - indicating that at least one rider will leave at the end of the year and making every remaining race, starting this weekend in Brno, vital.
"I feel very fit and ready for the rest of the season," declared de Puniet. "Also, I like Brno. I won there in 2003, got a second in 2004 and had many top ten finishes there, when I was riding in the 250cc world championship. I think the Ninja ZX-RR is going to perform well there, too, with good power for the straights and plenty of acceleration. I'm looking forward to it."
"I wasn't expecting to get such a good result in Laguna but figure if I can do that on a track I don't know, then hopefully I can keep on improving when I'm back on a track I do know," warned West, seventh and one place behind de Puniet at the US GP. "I'm more familiar with the bike now, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the team again and working together and I'm having a lot of fun on this bike so yes, Brno should be good."
de Puniet is entering the second half of his second season with Kawasaki, while West was hired at June's British Grand Prixto replace the under performing Olivier Jacque for the rest of the year.
The fast but somewhat mistake prone de Puniet had looked a safe bet to stay for next season, but Kawasaki's determination to put proven riders on its highly rated ZX-RR next year - combined with West's impressive learning curve - mean that the Frenchman's seat is far from secure.
The good news for de Puniet and West is that Loris Capirossi looks set to join Suzuki, rather than accept a Kawasaki offer, but the possibility of a third 'Ninja' on the 2008 grid seems to have gone quiet - indicating that at least one rider will leave at the end of the year and making every remaining race, starting this weekend in Brno, vital.
"I feel very fit and ready for the rest of the season," declared de Puniet. "Also, I like Brno. I won there in 2003, got a second in 2004 and had many top ten finishes there, when I was riding in the 250cc world championship. I think the Ninja ZX-RR is going to perform well there, too, with good power for the straights and plenty of acceleration. I'm looking forward to it."
"I wasn't expecting to get such a good result in Laguna but figure if I can do that on a track I don't know, then hopefully I can keep on improving when I'm back on a track I do know," warned West, seventh and one place behind de Puniet at the US GP. "I'm more familiar with the bike now, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the team again and working together and I'm having a lot of fun on this bike so yes, Brno should be good."