Catalunya MotoGP: West to test factory Kawasaki

Australian Anthony West will test Kawasaki’s factory ZX-RR at the Catalunya circuit tomorrow.
West will ride injured Frenchman Olivier Jacque’s bike to help Randy de Puniet, who despite producing a brilliant fifth place in today’s Catalunya GP, is still battling with shoulder and left knee injuries he suffered in the recent Mugello GP.
Kawasaki spokesman Ian Wheeler told MCN: “He will test for us. We have a lot of Bridgestone tyres to test and it will be a good chance for us to gauge the current level of the 250 class.”
West has had a torrid time on a struggling privateer Aprilia in 2007 but has shown impressive form in replacement rides for injured Yamaha rider Kevin Curtain in the World Supersport championship. He won the last round in a rain-soaked Silverstone.
West will replace Jacque, who was forced to miss the Catalunya GP with a neck injury he suffered in the Saturday morning’s third free practice session.
Wheeler added: “Some fluid has moved so his neck is still very sore. He will be in a neck brace for the next six days.”
It is likely that Jacque will be fit to take his place in the British GP at Donington Park on June 24, and Wheeler added: “We’ve been in a situation a couple of times where we’ve been wondering whether we’d need a replacement rider, so having West test the bike would give us another option. When Fonsi Nieto replaced OJ in France he had never ever seen the bike.”