The GIL Kawasaki team approaches the 2008 season with an all new riding line up aboard its well-proven ZX-6R machines, in the shape of serial WSS race winner Katsuaki Fujiwara and SBK race-winner Chris Walker.

Each rider will be in place for the Development Team’s tests at Phillip Island between 8 and 10 January to take the next steps along the trail to full competitiveness before the season starts for real on 23 February.

The GIL team is no stranger to success with the current model of ZX-6R, taking a win and a total of four podium finishes last year. With Fujiwara and Walker now on board, the team has signed two vastly experienced riders, but with very contrasting backgrounds and career paths.

Fujiwara has been a virtual fixture at the top end of the WSS world since coming to Europe but his first taste of success on the world stage was a third place for Kawasaki as a World Superbike wild card rider at Sugo, as far back as 1995. Since he moved to the WSS class in 2001 he has scored six WSS race wins, contributing to a total of 21 podium finishes. He was fourth in the World Championship last year, despite injuries robbing him of valuable points at key times.

Walker is a new rider to the WSS scene, but is an experienced SBK and BSB competitor. His most recent major success was a win for Kawasaki at the Assen Superbike race in 2006 and in 2008 he will return to world competition once more, albeit in a class which is entirely new to him.

The immediate focus of both riders and the entire GIL Kawasaki team is the three day Phillip Island test, which ends on Thursday 10th January.