FIM World Endurance Championship News

10 February 2006
Diablo Riders Confirmed
Kawasaki Diablo Bolliger's rider line-up for 2006 has been confirmed. Alex Cudlin will join James Hutchins and Marko Rohtlaan for all of the rounds except Le Mans, where Olivier Ulmann will stand in for Hutchins who has to sit one of his final university exams.

30 January 2006
Winter Testing at Jerez
Kawasaki Diablo are today in the middle of a four day test at Jerez circuit in the south of Spain. The primary aim of the test is to evaluate new for 2006 radial calliper Beringer brakes and to test a number of different Pirelli tyre compounds, but it is also the first opportunity this year for the team's riders to get out on track.

Diablo riders James Hutchins and Marko Rohtlaan have been joined by a possible new recruit to the team; Alex Cudlin. Younger brother of Phase One's Damian Cudlin, Alex has been concentrating on adapting his 600 Supersport style to Diablo's Superbike spec' Kawasaki ZX10R but his times are already on a par with those of James and Marko.

The weather on day one was cold but dry; much better than northern Europe in January. Endurance brake specialists Beringer have developed a set of radial callipers for 2006, and the first day of testing was devoted to testing these, and to finding a good base set-up for the bikes. Pirelli have also supplied a number of different tyre compounds for the team; Diablo's fifth place in the 2005 World Endurance Championship has resulted in a closer working relationship with Pirelli for the coming season.

Day two was warmer - or at least less cold - than day one, and efforts were concentrated on optimising and matching the suspension settings of the two bikes the team have at the test. Despite there still being some damp patches on the track from overnight rain, Rohtlaan put in a number of 1:53 laps towards the end of the day. Riding the Kawasaki for the first time, Marko described the bikes as "more aggressive than the Yamaha R1, shorter but more stable"; we'll have a more detailed riding impression on the WorldEndurance.com next month.

Day three has started wet, and looks set to be devoted to testing wet weather tyres. More news to follow...

19 December 2005
More Musical Chairs
Estonian endurance rider and Shell Endurance Academy graduate Marko Rohtlaan will ride for UK team Kawasaki Diablo 666 next year. The deal was concluded in Estonian capital Tallin last week, with team manager Miles Hutchins and rider James Hutchins joining Marko at a specially organised press conference.

Miles Hutchins: "Terry Rymer and I have watched Marko over the last two years and have always been ivery mpressed by his quiet and highly focussed manner. We are at heart a young team and Marko fits exactly the kind of really talented young rider we want. On one hand he will be very compatible with Diablo's business like approach to racing but at the same time will add a real strength and flair to the team. I am delighted that he is now going to ride with us."

All of Diablo’s 2005 riders (James Hutchins, Steve Mizera, Kevin Falcke and Russell Baker) were at the team’s Christmas party last weekend to celebrate the 2005 season, but Hutchins and Rymer would not be drawn on their final choice for the 2006 World Endurance Championship.

Rohtlaan first rode in the championship in 2004 and really shone in 2005, consistently qualifying and lapping faster than his team-mates.

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