The much-hyped debut of the new Kawasaki ZX-10R left much to be desired after the first round of the World Superbike championship.
Showing readiness over pre-season testing the official Kawasaki squad's best finishes came from Tom Sykes, cracking the top ten with eighth and ninth in the two races respectively.
Changing conditions are being blamed for the lacklustre opening from the factory green team, overnight rain gave way to dry conditions on race day. Sykes displayed some form in the first race but handicapped himself in the second race with a poor start. Team-mate Joan Lascorz had a disastruous debut in WSB, crashing out of race one and retiring with a tyre problem in the second.
Tom Sykes commented on the first round: "I'm happy to be eighth in the championship after the first round as you only have to look at the timing sheets to realise there is a real quality field out there. Less than a second covers something like the first 20 riders in qualifying, so it is quite pleasing in many ways to have been in there.
"I am a racer and I want to progress quickly but this is the first year with the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and I am sure we can make even more progress very soon. Everybody in my garage is keen to win, that is what this whole project is about, but it is early days." concluded the Yorkshireman, who is placed eighth in the standings.
Not the best start and an even worse birthday present, Lascorz turned 26 on Sunday, the rooke said:"We had different settings on the bike because the conditions changed and it proved difficult in Superpole. I used a qualifying tyre but it made no real difference to the lap time so we had to gamble in the races. It's unfortunate to come away with no points but I hope for better luck at Donington."
Outspoken team owner Paul Bird said: "Tom finishing in eighth and ninth is OK as it's important to get a result and points on the board at the opening round but a top six would have been better and I think he was capable of that. Joan was unlucky to slip off in the first race but his team made a wrong tyre choice in race two and he paid the penalty for that."
The team will be returned to full force at the next round at Donington Park, when the injured Chris Vermeulen makes his comeback on the ZX-10R.
"Hopefully, we can progress further at Donington next time out and as well as Tom and Joan; we hope to welcome Chris Vermeulen back." continued Birdy.
The all-new 2011 Kawasaki has been well-received in reviews, but the machine may be hampered by the age-old racing adage of 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday'.
