The impressive Automotodrom at Brno is the setting where Paul Bird Motorsport Team riders Broc Parkes and Makoto Tamada will be looking to return to the good run of results for the Penrith, Cumbria-based team.

The team struggled at the last round on home soil at Donington Park with Aussie Parkes salvaging a handful of points aboard the www.supercasino.com, Vent-Axia and Kick Energy-backed Kawasaki ZX-10R and with Japanese rider Makoto Tamada making a welcome return following his wrist injury; both riders are hoping they can get in amongst the thick of the action.

Both 27-year-old Parkes and 32-year-old Tamada rode at the official test at Imola this week and declared themselves happy with the progress made by the Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team, so both will be hungry for more points.

Broc Parkes:

"We struggled on the first day at the Imola test but we got some good inroads towards the end on the race tyre and were happy with the race pace overall. On day two we tested a lot of new things and ironed out some problems we've been having and completed our test programme. We've made some real progress at the test and I feel that we've got a decent setting ready for the Brno race next weekend so I really hope we can be back in the top ten as the track seems to suit the Kawasaki."

Makoto Tamada:

"My wrist was quite painful on the first day at the Imola test after a couple of months off the bike. I also had some arm pump but day two of the test was much better for me and I know I will be more or less 100% for the Brno races. The test programme started slow as we tried many different settings but by the end of day two I was happy to be in the top fifteen and with the machine progress. The bike is feeling more comfortable and we have a good base setting for Brno. Im really looking forward to racing again."