Kawasaki began the process of adapting its ZX-RR to run the same specification Bridgestone front tyre as world championship leaders Valentino Rossi and
Casey Stoner, during Monday's post-race test at Misano.
Rather than adapting tyres to the characteristics of the bike, the new tactic amongst the chasing Bridgestone teams seems to be to adapt the bike to proven race-winning rubber - a method used to great effect by world championship leader
Valentino Rossi, when he first made the switch from Michelin to
Bridgestone.
Kawasaki's move follows hot on the heels of a similar change by Suzuki and
John Hopkins confirmed that Kawasaki is now the only team running a different specification front tyre to Rossi and Stoner.
"Our focus was mainly on the front-end of the machine, and we have refined our setting from this weekend by changing the way the chassis is set up," began Hopkins, who knocked 0.831secs from his best race lap and finished the test third out of the six riders present.
"We also started work on using a Bridgestone front tyre option that both Valentino [Rossi] and Casey [Stoner] use. This meant we had to alter the bike a lot, but we are now the only team using the old type of tyre, basically because we've not had any chance to test.
"This new specification tyre is definitely the future for us, but unfortunately it can't be in my allocation until we're completely happy with the way the machine handles with it."
As a result, Hopkins spent the last few hours refining the chassis setting of his machine using his current tyre options.
"I'm pleased with the results of today's test, but still have a lot of catching up to do with the upgraded bike," confessed John, who missed the opening day of the San Marino Grand Prix weekend due to a 'rib injury'.
"I'm really excited about Indianapolis, particularly as it's my home round, and we'll be looking to achieve strong results there," he concluded.
Hopkins and team-mate
Anthony West finished at the back of the field, in 14th and 13th places respectively, during Sunday's Misano race.
