SBK, Guarnoni in place of Russo in Qatar

Having competed in the first races of the season with the team Guandalini's Yamaha R1 before climbing onto team Pedercini's Kawasaki, Riccardo Russo will not go to Qatar, where the curtain is set to come down on the 2017 Superbike season.

Taking the Italian's place on the ZX10RR Ninja is Frenchman Jeremy Guarnoni, the team's Superstock 1000 rider.

Guarnoni, 24, already completed an SBK season back in 2014, riding a Kawasaki in the EVO configuration and demonstrating his considerable talent.

Directly contracted to Kawasaki Europe, Jeremy completed the European Superstock 1000 season in sixth place overall, winning his home race of Magny-Cours, where he proved to be the strongest of the pack.

Team manager Lucio Pedercini is optimistic: “Jeremy is a rider directly involved with and supported by Kawasaki Europe - he explains- and, after his great season and race win at Magny-Cours, this is the prize that the European HQ wants to give him. I think he can do well in Qatar, he's a very fast rider”.