KAWASAKI DEVELOPMENT TEST
13 JUNE 2005

JACQUE JOINS KAWASAKI TEST AT CATALUNYA

The Kawasaki Racing Team were out in force for a development test at Catalunya
today, as Olivier Jacque returned to the team to test alongside regular Kawasaki
pilots, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann.

While Jacque started the day with shakedown tests on the two Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP
machines he'll race at Sachsenring and Valencia, Nakano and Hofmann got straight
down to testing with Kawasaki's tyre partner Bridgestone.

For Nakano the aim of today's test was to evaluate a new profile rear tyre from
Bridgestone, but the conditions conspired against him. For comparison purposes
Nakano started the test on the same tyre he used in yesterday's race, but before
he could switch to the new tyre the onset of rain forced him back to the
Kawasaki pit box.

The Japanese rider patiently sat in the pit box waiting for the weather to
change, but with the rain continuing on and off throughout the day, any plans to
return to the track to complete the planned tyre test had to be abandoned.

Hofmann took advantage of the damp conditions to test for the first time the wet
tyre that took Olivier Jacque to second place in the Chinese Grand Prix in
Shanghai six weeks ago, with positive results.

The 25-year-old German rider was impressed with the improvements the latest wet
tyre offered over the old, especially when combined with revisions to the
electronics package fitted to his Ninja ZX-RR.

For Jacque the day ended with a minor crash, but the 31-year-old Frenchman
declared himself happy with his progress after working his way through an
intensive test schedule with his new crew.

Jacque slid off his Ninja ZX-RR uninjured right at the end of the day, after
being caught out by the combination of a full wet tyre on a rapidly drying track.

Shinya Nakano: #56

"Today we intended to concentrate purely on tyre testing, as Bridgestone have a
new profile rear slick for evaluation. I went out this morning on the same tyre
I used in the race yesterday to allow a direct comparison, but the rain started
before we'd even had a chance to put the new tyre on the bike. The weather
looked like it might improve in the afternoon, but when it was still raining at
four o'clock we decided to finally call it a day."

Alex Hofmann: #66

"Conditions weren't ideal for testing today, but at least the rain gave me a
chance to try for the first time the wet tyre that Olivier used in China.
Bridgestone have definitely made some improvements with this wet weather tyre;
the performance was very impressive. We also tested some new engine components,
together with some slight modifications to the electronics package that made the
bike a little easier to control on the throttle. Overall, despite the weather,
it's been a productive test."

Olivier Jacque: #19

"The idea of today's test was to shakedown the two bikes I'll use for the
Sachsenring race next month. Despite conditions that weren't really ideal for
testing, we've managed to get a lot done today. We've tried different set-ups on
the bike and we've also had the opportunity to test a range of wet tyres from
Bridgestone. Unfortunately, right at the end of the day I crashed after being
caught out with a wet tyre on a drying track. The rear just came round on me
mid-corner and down I went. I've lost some skin off my little finger, but apart
from that I'm perfectly okay and I'm looking forward to my next outing on the
bike. Overall it's been a good day of testing."