The Japanese and his team carried on their work from Misano ten days ago and the successful changes made there and at Brno have given him great hope for the rest of the season.

Kagayama and former team-mate Troy Corser, now of Yamaha Italia, set the race rubber pace with the same lap time of 2min 0.4secs - while reigning double world champion Troy Bayliss, sixth on race tyres, was the best with qualifying tyres, the Australian recording an unbeaten 2min 0.2secs circulation. Kagayama and Corser both failed to improve with the sticky one lap rubber, instead exactly matching their race pace.

"I am very happy. Not because I was the fastest on race rubber, but because I am enjoying riding my bike and I like this feeling a lot," said Kagayama who has been hit by injuries once again this season.

"We made some changes in our direction at Misano and was really happy with what we found. So, here at Brno we have carried on this good work and the bike is much more easy to ride. At the start of the season I didn't know where the bike's limits were and that was a scary feeling. But now I feel more comfortable and I am able to understand my bike a lot better. I am only sorry that we didn't find this solution at the start of the year, but now I am looking forward to the rest of the season and challenging for the podiums again," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Kagayama's team-mate Max Biaggi - a Brno expert when in grand prix racing - was left disappointed. By the end of the two days he was unable to find a comfortable set-up, leaving him just seventh fastest on race tyres. The Roman was one of several riders not to try a qualifying tyre.

"I like Brno and it has been a good track for me, but coming here on a Superbike is a very different feeling to when I raced here before. The circuit feels the same, but for sure the grip is different - because of the tyres we use now," explained a frustrated Biaggi.

"Generally I don't feel so great after two days because my lap times are not good enough. We've been working on a number of things these two days including engine-braking and getting the bike to change direction more easily. I don't think we solved all our problems, so there will be more work to do when we come here to race in a month or so. I have pushed as hard as I could here at the tests and the team have worked hard. We are all in this together and we will continue to try and solve our problems and be in a good position when it comes to the race," he added.

The Brno round of the 2007 Corona Extra Superbike World Championship will take place on July 22.