Jonathan Rea says Kawasaki's mantra is simple ahead of this year's Suzuka 8-Hour return: 'We're in it to win it'.
The Ulsterman will take on the endurance race as part of an exciting KRT line-up which also includes Alex Lowes and Leon Haslam.
The team are reigning champions having won the event the last time it was held in 2019 before the onset of Covid.
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In total, Rea has two previous Suzuka 8-Hour wins, while Lowes and Haslam have three apiece.
The 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8-Hour will take place between August 5-7
“I am so excited to go back to Japan," Rea said.
"Understandably Kawasaki has always had such a great support out there. We won the race three years ago. Kawasaki was understandably keen to defend the title and especially to continue the positive exposure WorldSBK is delivering to Kawasaki currently while extending that positivity to the eighth and Japan.
"Due to Covid we weren’t able to return until now. I always feel really appreciated by the Japanese fans. The atmosphere is incredible and I am really looking forward to going back.
"I think the target heading back to Suzuka is to win. We won there before and this season I feel, with Alex and Leon inside the team, we have a lot of experience together with the Ninja ZX-10RR.
"I am really excited to go back and see what we can do. We are going with a huge effort, lots of testing, taking the event seriously with a strong rider line up and a team with a lot more experience.
"I feel the minimum we can do is compete for the podium, but of course in Endurance racing everything can go right, everything can go wrong.
"We have to be very calm, mature, and do our best, lap-by-lap.”
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