MotoGP news

West to the rescue at Kawasaki

Australian grand prix racer Anthony West stepped in to help out the injury-depleted Kawasaki team, for his first experience on a MotoGP machine and on Bridgestone tyres. The unexpected one-day test left the 250 GP winner wanting more of the same.

West, 25, a GP winner in the 250 class, had been struggling for results on a non-factory 250 during 2007, but scored a race win and a close third in two attempts while moonlighting for Yamaha in the 600 Supersport World Championship.

Kawasaki's MotoGP team, riding a wave of improving performance and results, had plenty to test after a landmark front-row start and fifth place in the Catalunyan GP, including the latest tyre developments from Bridgestone.

But both their riders were injured - Olivier Jacque not even starting the race, and Randy de Puniet hero of the day, taking a career-best result with a bad knee injury. Test rider Naoki Matsudo is also recuperating.

West was happy to take up the offer, and completed a hard day reeling off the laps for the team, working his way steadily up to a respectable lap time while gathering valuable data.

"I was expecting a wild thing - but it wasn't as difficult as I thought," he said. "Though it just about rips your arms off down the straight."

West found the combination of 800cc power and Bridgestone tyres gave a good balance. "You can use all the power from the bottom to the top. It's really predictable when it's sliding. That made it easier than riding a 250," he said.

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