Rumour sweeping the Misano MotoGP paddock today place World Superbike veteran Noriyuki Haga on the second of the Rapid Solicitors Kawasakis at this weekend's Assen MCE British Superbike round.

It is believed that Haga has been drafted in to replace the injured Keith Farmer for at least one round of the championship in order to try and run interference for Shane Byrne at a circuit he knows well.

The Samurai of Slide has never raced a Kawasaki before but his form is on the up after a podium at Suzuka. If it is a successful collaboration, Silverstone and Brands Hatch are also circuits he is more than familar with, so he may stay on.