With eight rounds completed to date, Laconi is the highest-placed Kawasaki rider in the series, in 11th, with a personal best in an individual race of fifth. Nieto is 14th, also with a best of fifth in race trim, which he took at round one in Qatar.

Progress in overall machine set-up was certainly made after the two-days of Brno testing track time, especially so for Nieto's machine. Laconi is not traditionally a big fan of the Brno track, but his positive recent testing experiences may help change his mind this weekend.

The team’s two regular riders will once more be joined by part-time PSG-1 pilot Vittorio Iannuzzo (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Ninja ZX-10R) even though the young Italian rider was not able to test alongside Laconi and Nieto at the circuit in June.

Regis Laconi: “For me Brno is one of the more difficult tracks. I seem to always have big problems with the front tyre. The test we did there was not so bad and I was fast on a race tyre. So maybe this year things will change for me in Brno and we will have a good result.”

Fonsi Nieto: “My feeling for Brno is good because the corners are fast and our bike works well. As things stand Brno is the only circuit that is like this because the rest are more stop-start, so we also have to work at Brno to find a solution to make our bike work just as well at the rest of the tracks also. I feel good about Brno, and about this whole weekend.”

Vittorio Iannuzzo: “Brno should be better for us because it is a much faster track than some others. The corners are fast and this will help us to be more competitive. Unfortunately I have not tested there but, speaking with the team, the bike works well there so I am looking forward to it.”