From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

HAWK KAWASAKI

BSB Championship, Round 5, Mondello Park, Eire
May 21-23
PREVIEW

HAWK FIND MORE POWER FOR IRISH BSB ROUND

Hawk Kawasaki heads over the Irish sea to Mondello Park this weekend, for the fifth round of the 2004 British Superbike Championship. The tight and twisty 2.268 mile track favoured the nimble chassis of Hawk’s ZX-7RRs last year, so the team has been burning the midnight oil in the three week break since Oulton Park to refine its ZX-10Rs.

“We’ve been able to do quite a lot to the bikes since Oulton Park,” explained Hawk rider Scott Smart, who qualified in second spot at Mondello in 2003. “That’s meant a decent amount of time on the dyno, as well as giving us time to improve the engines and work with the Motec system. But more power isn’t necessarily what you need to go quickly around Mondello. The thing with this track is getting the bike to go over the bumps, especially after struggling with it on a similar surface at Oulton Park. Personally I’m looking forward to this round because I went well there last year, especially in qualifying, but like I said, it all depends on finding a good set-up.”

Smart’s Hawk Kawasaki team mate Glen Richards is also keen to try his ZX-10 around the Irish track, having taken a podium place there last year.

“At the moment I’m feeling really good,” said Glen, who is now fully fit after his high-speed get-off at Brands Hatch in round two. “I’m back to full fitness and raring to go. We’re really going to concentrate on suspension set-up this weekend and Stuart’s got a few ideas he wants to try with that. I reckon I’ve got more of a chance of getting on the podium this weekend than at any time so far this year, so I’m feeling real confident.”

Practice begins on Friday 21.

BSB CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 4 ROUNDS
1) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 167. 2) Michael Rutter, Honda, 149. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 128. 4) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 90. 5) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 86. 6) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 76. 7) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 74. 8) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 51. 8=) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki, 51. 10) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 49. 11) Craig Coxhell, Honda, 31. 12) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha, 28. 13) Steve Plater, Yamaha, 27. 14) Stuart Easton, Ducati, 15. 15) Leon Haslam, Ducati, 10.