West smiling again after much improved result

After qualifying his Ninja ZX-RR in seventh position during Saturday´s rain-soaked official practice at Donington Park, Anthony West was smiling again following a series of hard weekends thus far in 2008.

Although he is known for favouring wet surfaces West had also shown signs of improvements in the dry on Friday, having returned from a recent test trip to Japan where he focussed on improving rear grip.

The slippery conditions at the English circuit on Saturday caught several riders out, but West managed to find a good set-up aboard his Kawasaki 800cc prototype.

The 26-year-old is confident that he has a good race pace in both the wet or dry, and he is looking forward to fighting for positions at the front of the field during Sunday´s 30-lap race.

`It definitely feels a lot better to be fighting up in the top ten again after quite a few struggles recently,´ West told motogp.com. `The wet conditions help but I felt good in the dry yesterday and the testing we have been doing has helped.´

`It has been a hard start to the season and I want to just turn it around from here. I want to keep improving and I don´t want to go back to the back of the pack because it sucks being back there.´