DE PUNIET QUIETLY CONFIDENT GOING INTO HOME GRAND PRIX
18 May 2006 - Kawasaki Racing

The Kawasaki Racing Team return to Europe, after three overseas races, this weekend for the Grand Prix de France at the legendary Bugatti circuit in Le Mans.

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
18 MAY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For MotoGP rookie, Randy de Puniet, races don''t come more important than this. As the only French rider in the premier MotoGP class, de Puniet will have the support of a strong home crowd this weekend, but he will also carry the hopes and expectations of every French MotoGP fan on his young shoulders.

But de Puniet is adamant that he welcomes this additional pressure, and that four podiums in the past at Le Mans prove that he is more than capable of channelling this pressure into a strong result in Sunday''s 28-lap Grand Prix de France.

De Puniet''s Kawasaki teammate, Shinya Nakano, can also count on strong support at Le Mans this weekend, after building up a loyal fan base during four years racing for a French team, firstly in the 250cc World Championship, and then in the MotoGP class. And if added incentive were needed, the fact that Nakano''s parents will be watching this race from the Kawasaki pit box, after making the trip from their home in Japan, is sure to provide it.

Like many of the MotoGP riders, Nakano does not rate the Le Mans circuit amongst his favourites on the MotoGP calendar, but after a strong performance during practice and qualifying for last year''s race, the 28-year-old Japanese rider arrives in France confident that, with the new Ninja ZX-RR, a good result is a distinct possibility on Sunday.

Le Mans, which is situated in the Sarthe region of France and is home to the legendary 24 Heures du Mans car race, is one of the most famous motorsports facilities in the world. First gear corners dominate the 4.18 km Bugatti circuit, on which Sunday''s 28-lap Grand Prix de France will be run, demanding a bike that is stable under braking, but with explosive acceleration out of the low-speed turns.

Randy de Puniet: #17
''I''ve had a lot of fun racing at Le Mans in the past. I''ve finished on the podium here four times on the 250cc machine, and I hope that this weekend, on the MotoGP bike, I can do another good race in front of my home crowd. I arrive here pretty confident, because although the race in China didn''t go quite as we''d hoped, the bike was working well in practice and qualifying. For sure, the support of the French fans here at Le Mans adds some pressure this weekend, but it is the same every year and I think this is a good pressure, because my results in this race in the past have always been strong. So, for me, it is not a problem.''

Shinya Nakano: #56
''During the European season I live in France, as I did when I raced for four years with a French team, so this weekend is like a second home race for me. In the past this circuit has not been one of my favourites, but we had a good feeling with the bike here last year, and I hope that the same will be true with the new version of Kawasaki''s Ninja ZX-RR this weekend. This circuit requires a bike to be stable on the brakes, but also to have good acceleration, and finding a set-up that achieves this will be our main focus during practice on Friday and Saturday. The weather is always unpredictable here, but if we can find a good balance with the bike, then I''m confident that we can put in a strong performance in Sunday''s race whatever the conditions.''

www.kawasaki-eckl.com

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