Exciting News in the World of Cycling Sportives and Road Racing
In a significant move that will reshape the competitive landscape of road racing, the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki has announced its withdrawal from a full-fledged works team participation in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) starting from next year. However, the company will maintain its involvement in the championship as an official partner to the resurrected Bimota operation.
As part of this new arrangement, Kawasaki will supply the engine from its existing Ninja-10RR model to the Bimota chassis, while also transferring several staff members from its KRT squad to the Italian marque. The new outfit will operate under the banner of the “Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.”
This strategic partnership marks the end of Kawasaki’s long-standing presence as a fully-fledged entrant in the WSBK championship, a tenure that witnessed unprecedented success in the mid-to-late-2010s.
Under the leadership of six-time champion Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki dominated the field, comfortably outpacing rivals like Ducati and Yamaha.
Rea’s departure from the KRT squad at the end of last year, following three challenging seasons, left the Japanese manufacturer without the star rider who had been the driving force behind its modern-day success.
Bimota’s Comeback and the New Partnership
Bimota, a brand with a rich history in superbike racing, is making a comeback to the WSBK championship next year, partly to boost the sales of its street motorcycles. The company, last seen on the grid in 2000, had previously achieved success in WSBK with riders such as Anthony Gobert and current Ducati MotoGP team manager Davide Tardozzi.
Pierluigi Marconi, Bimota’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership, stating that the engineering, technology, and business support provided by Kawasaki have firmly re-established Bimota in the consciousness of the media and potential customers. Marconi believes that competing in the WorldSBK championship, alongside developing their new product range and expanding the European and global dealer network, aligns perfectly with Bimota’s DNA.
This strategic alliance between Kawasaki and Bimota promises to be an exciting chapter in the world of road racing, sportives, and audax events, as the new “Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team” prepares to make its mark on the 2025 Motul FIM WorldSBK Championship.
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