ROUND 11 - GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY
27 AUGUST 2005 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE

BRNO PROVES CHALLENGING FOR KAWASAKI PAIRING

Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, have qualified eleventh and
fourteenth respectively for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand at Brno.

Both made excellent use of the latest Bridgestone qualifying tyres, with
Nakano's best lap putting the Japanese rider within one second of pole position.
Meanwhile Hofmann was just 0.4s off a top ten place on the grid.

During today's two hours of practice and qualifying both riders continued
evaluation of the latest Bridgestone race tyres featuring new compounds and
constructions, and confirmed their race day selections.

But neither rider is underestimating the task facing the Ninja ZX-RR on the
fast, bumpy and hugely challenging 5.4 km Brno circuit.

Following a lack of front-end feel and chassis balance yesterday, both riders
reported more competitive set-ups today after further adjustments to chassis and
engine management settings.

But after assessing the data collected, and a study of lap times, Kawasaki
Technical Manager, Ichiro Yoda, says that Kawasaki have learnt a great deal
about the future direction required for their MotoGP programme.

Qualifying was conducted in warm and sunny conditions, with the track surface
temperature rising to 40 degrees.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - Eleventh - 1'58.490

"Today was much better than yesterday, I had better rear traction and front-end
feel and I could enjoy riding the bike, although we are still too far from the
times at the front of the grid. We have made a lot of adjustments to chassis and
engine settings, and there are more to try in the warm-up tomorrow. I have made
my race tyre choice from the new Bridgestone selection and race consistency
looks good. Today the latest Bridgestone qualifying tyre also worked very well."

Alex Hofmann: #66 - Fourteenth - 1'58.793

"I would love to be somewhere in the top ten, but it was just not possible today
- another 0.4s and I would be there. Only right at the end did I get a decent
lap with a chance to get a tow to find some more speed on the straights. Overall
the bike was more comfortable today, but my problem is still T1 - a straight,
turn one and then another straight. The new Bridgestone tyres look consistent,
so it will just be a matter of grinding out the laps, hopefully having some guys
to race and get as many points as possible. And have some fun too of course."

Ichiro Yoda: Technical Manager

"Our race pace is in the low two minute bracket, perhaps some 1'59s but this is
not enough for this style of fast track. Firstly, we need more top end power,
but what a track like Brno also shows us is that Kawasaki's priority for next
year must be a completely revised bike package - engine, power delivery, chassis
and electronics."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager

"We are facing a difficult time in tomorrow's race. Fortunately with Shinya and
Alex, I know we have two riders who will do their maximum to deliver as many
points as possible. But it will not be easy with our current Ninja ZX-RR package."