Image: Supplied.

Four-time defending champion Jonathan Rea is confident portions of the Magny Cours circuit will play to the strengths of his Kawasaki Racing Team Ninja ZX-10RR this weekend as the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship heads to France.

Rea has stretched his points advantage out to 91 over Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), placing the Irishman in a comfortable position as the series winds down.

“It is very exciting to go to Magny Cours because it feels like the previous round in Portugal was a long time ago,” Rea explained. “I am ready to get back on the bike. Now we turn our attentions to Magny Cours. It is a circuit that requires really good stability on the brakes and also a bike set-up that changes direction well.

“I feel that we are prepared as it is will play to the strengths of the Ninja ZX-10RR in some areas and in some areas we need to find a set-up compromise. We need to keep one eye on the weather and one eye on performance. At Magny Cours you never really know what weather cards you are going to get dealt. In any case I am ready to get stuck in.”

Following this weekend’s stop, just two round remain in WorldSBK at Argentina and Qatar.