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The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R underwent a massive overhaul in 2021 when Team Green introduced a new bodywork, a new electronic package and last but not least, enhanced performance to ensure the motorcycle continues to be at the highest level, not just on the street but also at WorldSBK.

  • Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R now gets Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) livery for 2023.
  • Remains mechanically identical to the 2021 model.

 

For 2023, Kawasaki has updated the Ninja ZX-10R with new visuals. More specifically, the class-leading supersport from Team Green sport Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) livery but is slightly tweaked to match the WSBK race bike.

However, the ZX-10R remains mechanically identical to the 2021 model, which is understandably so. Considering the motorcycle received significant updates in 2021.

That said, the 2023 Kawasaki ZX-10R continue to make 203hp @ 13,200rpm and 112Nm @ 11,400rpm from its 998cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, inline-four cylinder engine.

Although built as a full-blown race bike, the ZX-10R also packs a few road-focused features, including cruise control.

Meanwhile, the new generation ZX-10R is yet to be available in Malaysia as the new distributor, MODENAS, will only bring in the new motorcycle in 2023. This means we will likely get the new KRT edition next year.

It’s official, Jonathan Rea will remain with Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) after agreeing on a two-year deal, putting him at Team Green for the 2023 and 2024 WorldSBK Championship season.

  • Rea agreed a two-year deal to remain with KRT.
  • Rea currently sits second in the championship, just 17 pts behind Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista.

Despite some rumours suggesting that Rea might consider a WorldSBK future without Kawasaki, Rea – who previously confirmed that he might consider retiring – expressed his delight to continue his successful partnership with KRT.

“I am really happy and excited to renew my contract with Kawasaki, to roll on for two more years. It has been an incredible partnership; we have enjoyed so much success together that it is almost a natural progression.

“There was not much negotiation needed to continue together from both sides. It was more a case of how much more motivation I had to keep racing at the highest level in the WorldSBK Championship.

“It has been an incredible few seasons; more competitive than ever. I have realised how motivated I am to continue and to continue fighting to win. Kawasaki gave me the opportunity back in 2015 to realise a childhood dream when I won the WorldSBK championship in the first year together.

“As a partnership we are so solid, and I am looking forward to continuing to make memories and representing an incredible manufacturer and brand,” said the six-time WorldSBK champion.

Kawasaki dominated the WorldSBK after winning its first title in two decades with the success of Tom Sykes in 2013; however, Rea’s dominance took the team to a new level of greatness, winning six straight titles comfortably.

Although coming up against a younger foe with Toprak Razgatlioglu claiming the 2021 title, Rea has come out swinging in 2022, taking five wins which put him in a title fight with Razgatlioglu and Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista.

Jonathan Rea will continue to race at the WorldSBK in 2023.

  • Rea is set to continue racing at the WorldSBK for the 2023 season.
  • Kawasaki is likely to renew Rea’s contract for the new season. 

However, it remains to be seen whether the six-time WorldSBK champion will continue to race with team Kawasaki for the 2023 season.

Despite tailing behind Alvaro Bautista in the 2022 championship standing with a 36 point gap, the KRT rider remains a serious title challenger.

Although Rea took five race win so far with Kawasaki this season – just one shy of Bautista – his future with the team is still in doubt.

While there are ongoing rumours that he is being courted by Ducati, staying put at Kawasaki is probably the best option for the 35-year-old riderr.

“One thing for sure is that I’m not going to stay at home and watch the races; my manager is coming here this weekend and he’ll understand everything.

“Then, in the next days or weeks, there’ll be communication. It’s exciting times but I’ll be on the grid next year in WorldSBK and I can’t wait!”

Berminat mencari jentera ‘track bike’ dengan DNA perlumbaan terbaik untuk kegunaan di litar lumba?

Kami cadangkan sila layari Ebay ketika ini kerana jentera Kawasaki ZX-10R 2016 milik Jonathan Rea telah dibuka untuk bidaan bagi sesiapa yang mampu memilikinya.

Lebih menarik, iklan tersebut dimuat naik pihak Provec Racing sendiri yang merupakan pihak yang mengendalikan operasi KRT WSBK yang berpangkalan di Granollers, Catalunya, Sepanyol.

Menurut iklan tersebut, model ZX-10R tersebut merupakan jentera latihan milik enam kali juara dunia Kejuaraan Superbike Dunia (WSBK), Jonathan Rea.

Berdasarkan info dikongsikan, model 2016 itu merupakan jentera yang digunakan semasa latihan Rea yang membantu menyumbang kepada dominasi pelumba itu di pentas WSBK.

Menariknya, jentera untuk dijual itu kini didatangkan dengan enjin serba baharu dengan perbatuan kosong.

Meskipun Provec Racing telah melakukan pelbagai modifikasi namun kesemua ciri yang diperlukan untuk kembali menjadi jentera ‘road-legal’ antaranya pemegang nombor plat, cermin sisi dan lampu depan/belakang turut akan disertakan.

Sementara itu, pihak yang berjaya membuat bidaan bagi jentera unik tersebut juga akan menikmati beberapa pengalaman berikut:

  • berjumpa dengan Rea dan kru Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT)
  • pas VIP KRT bagi pusingan WSBK pilihan
  • gear rasmi KRT dengan tandatangan Rea
  • dengar penjelasan dari Rea sendiri mengenai segala modifikasi yang telah dilakukan
  • tandatangan Rea pada motosikal tersebut

Antara modifikasi yang ditawarkan adalah seperti berikut:

  • enjin baharu dengan perbatuan kosong
  • kit ECU racing
  • sistem ekzos Akrapovic
  • kit regulator Kawasaki
  • sistem penyejukan Taleo
  • hos Samco
  • rantai dan sproket Renthal
  • pelindung enjin GB racing
  • kit race Showa Superstock
  • head pope dengan ‘racing offset’ oleh Provec Racing
  • handelbar khas oleh Provec Racing
  • line brek J.Juan
  • stering damper K-Tech

Bukan itu sahaja, jentera ini juga didatangkan dengan warna KRT Winter Test.

Orang ramai yang berminat untuk membuat bidaan sila klik PAUTAN INI.

Beberapa jam sebelum aksi pembukaan tirai Kejuaraan Superbike Dunia (WSBK) berlangsung di Aragon, Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) kini berdepan isu ‘rev limit’.

Hal ini kerana FIM telah membuat pusingan U untuk tidak memperuntukkan ‘rev limit’ 15,100rpm diberikan kepada KRT sekaligus memaksa pasukan itu mematuhi ‘rev limit’ yang ditetapkan pada 14,600rpm seperti yang diumumkan sebelum ini.

Situasi ini lantas memberi kesan kepada KRT, Puccetti Racing, Pedercini Kawasaki dan Orelac Racing yang telah pun tiba di Sepanyol bagi menghadapi musim 2021 WSBK bersama jentera ZX-10RR 2021.

Keputusan FIM itu memaksa Kawasaki untuk menala semula enjin baharu dengan ‘rev limit’ berada pada 15,100rpm untuk kembali kepada 14,600rpm setelah mendapati tidak banyak komponen baharu didapati pada ruangan enjin.

Berikut ‘rev limit’ yang telah ditetapkan FIM bagi semua pengeluar yang beraksi di WSBK musim 2021:

  • Kawasaki ZX-10RR 2021 – 14,600rpm
  • Ducati V4 – 16,100rpm
  • Yamaha R1 – 14,950rpm
  • BMW M 1000 RR – 15,500rpm
  • Honda CBR1000RR-R – 15,600rpm

BMW M 1000 RR 2021 telah mendapat pelbagai komponen baharu sekaligus Suruhanjaya Teknikal Antarabangs (CTI) membenarkan ‘rev limit’ berada pada 15,500rpm berbanding 14,900rpm pada musim lalu.

Bagaimanapun, isu ‘rev limit’ ini dijangka tidak akan memberi kesan kepada usaha Jonathan Rea untuk memburu kejuaraan dunia WSBK ketujuh musim ini.

It is not a fluke that Jonathan Rea is the world best at World Superbike Championship (WSBK), as he currently holds six world titles.

As Rea prepares himself ahead of the new season, the Kawasaki Racing Team WSBK rider just proves how good he is by smashing the Aragon WSBK lap record on his all-new ZX-10RR.

What other ways to send fear down the spine on everyone else than to show you are looking for the seventh WSBK title.

The British rider was in incredible form during the 3-day test in Aragon, clocking 1 minute 48.528secs, breaking his 1m48.767s that he recorded last year.

The ZX-10RR continues to be the fastest machine for 2021 WSBK as Rea’s team-mate, Alex Lowes, recorded the second-fastest time with the KRT pair racking 333 laps in three days.

Kawasaki akhirnya melancarkan ZX-10R dan ZX-10RR secara rasmi dengan pelbagai kemas kini dan pembaharuan bagi tahun 2021.

Paling mencuri tumpuan adalah rekaan depan yang nyata berbeza dengan model sebelumnya.

Model sebelum ini tampak lebih kemas dan kompak namun bagi 2021, Kawasaki melaksanakan rombakan besar-besaran dengan menghadirkan rekaan luar biasa.

Meskipun ada yang akan mempersoal rekaan baharu ini tapi hakikatnya fokus utama pembangunan ZX-10R dan ZX-10RR ini adalah memastikan kejuaraan dunia di WSBK kekal jadi milik Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) musim depan.

Sebelum ini, ramai yang menyangka Kawasaki akan mengikut langkah pengeluar lain antaranya Ducati dengan memperkenalkan ciri winglet.

Bagaimanapun, jurutera Kawasaki enggan ‘meniru’ lawannya di WSBK itu sebaliknya melaksanakan rekaan luar biasa di bahagian depan yang menempatkan lampu LED serta corong udara.

Pada masa sama, fairing jentera baharu ini turut menghasilkan 17 peratus lebih ‘downforce’ berbanding model sedia ada.

Kawasaki turut meninggikan penghadang angin sehingga 40mm dan tempat letak kaki (foot peg) 5mm lebih tinggi.

Menariknya, ‘handlebar’ pada model 2021 ini turut mengikut acuan sama seperti yang terdapat pada mesin lumba milik Jonathan Rea!

Kawasaki turut menunaikan permintaan ‘fanboy’ Ninja dengan memperkenalkan paparan TFT dengan keterhubungan Bluetooth, butang mod tunggangan mudah akses serta ‘electronic cruise control’.

Bahagian chasis turut dikemas kini dengan bahagian pivot point swingarm kini 1mm lebih rendah dan 8mm lebih panjang sekaligus meningkatkan kestabilan dan cengkaman tayar.

Enjin 998cc 4-inline juga kini berstatus Euro 5 dengan pelepasan emisi yang lebih rendah sekaligus menyaksikan pembakaran enjin lebih efisien di samping menawarkan kuasa sekitar 200hp pada 13,200rpm (300rpm lebih awal berbanding model 2019).

Pada masa sama, Kawasaki masih mengekalkan sistem injap jenis ‘finger-follower valve actuation’ dari model 2019 yang menawarkan peningkatan kuasa di samping mengurangkan berat ‘valvetrain’.

Ninja ZX-10R ini turut dilengkapi dengan sproket belakang 41t berbanding 39t manakala nisbah gear 1, 2 dan 3 juga lebih pendek bagi memperbaiki tahap pecutan.

Sementara itu, Ninja ZX-10RR 2021 (edisi homologation) dengan terhad kepada 500 unit sahaja seluruh dunia turut menerima kemas kini ketara antaranya had RPM kini berada pada 14,700 berbanding 14,200 sebelum ini.

Peningkatan RPM itu hasil sumbangan penggunaan ‘camshaft’ dan’valve spring’ baharu, piston Pankl (20g lebih ringan) dan piston pin bersalut DLC (diamond like carbon).

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R didatangkan dengan pilihan warna Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Matte Carbon Gray dan KRT Edition (Lime Green/Ebony/Pearl Blizzard White manakala ZX-10RR hanya ditawarkan dengan warna ikonik Lime Green.

  • Pasukan Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK telah memperkenalkan barisan penunggang mereka bagi tahun 2019 untuk kejohanan World Superbike Championship.
  • Barisan penunggangnya terdiri daripada juara empat kali, Jonathan Rea dan penunggang baharu, Leon Haslam.
  • Musim baharu akan bermula pada minggu hadapan di Phillip Island, Australia.

(more…)

  • Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK launched their 2019 line-up for the World Superbike Championship.

  • Riders are four-time champion Jonathan Rea and new signing Leon Haslam.

  • The season kicks off next weekend at Phillip Island, Australia.

The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK launched their line-up and bikes to continue their dominance in the 2019 World Superbike Championship.

Four-time and defending WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea and new signing Leon Haslam revealed the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR at a resort not far from the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia.

The circuit plays host to the final round of pre-season testing and the first round of the 2019 championship. The tests will take place next Monday and Tuesday, while the season opener begins later that weekend.

It goes without reminding that Rea absolutely destroyed the WorldSBK field last year with the Kawasaki. Out of 25 races, he won 17, placed second four times, once third and once fifth. He suffered only 1 retirement throughout the year, while the final Race 2 in Qatar was cancelled.

Jonathan Rea on the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR

Despite the strong challenges mounted by his rivals Chaz Davies of Ducati and Michael van der Mark of Yamaha, Rea prevailed.

So, what made him such a powerful force?

“What I’ve learned with my experience over the year is to stay calm and focused with my team. We have the best crew in the business, the best motorcycle underneath me. I feel like the pressure is always on me, I need to find my way with the bike. Once we did that last year, we were absolutely unbeatable,” explained Rea.

Leon Haslam is back to racing full time in WorldSBK since 2015. Son of the great Ron Haslam, he shows that speed is in his family’s genes.

Leon Haslam on the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR

“I’m just waiting to wake up, it’s like a dream. I had 9 good years in WorldSBK but I’ve never had an opportunity like this. To be involved with KRT, Kawasaki, joining the team that has dominated the last four years… I just can’t wait, I want to start racing now,” he said.

Tune in next week and beyond as we bring you news from the world’s premier production racing series.

  • Penunggang bagi pasukan Kawasaki, Jonathan Rea, telah mendominasi musim WorldSBK 2018 setakat ini.
  • Dia telah memenangi perlumbaan ke-lapan berturut-turut di Litar Magny-Cours, Perancis.
  • Kemenangan ini bermakna dia telah berjaya merangkul kejohanan musim ini dengan baki empat perlumbaan.

(more…)

  • Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea has dominated the 2018 Superbike World Championship season thus far.

  • He won his 8th consecutive race win in Magny-Cours, France.

  • The victory means he has sealed the season with five races to go.

Reigning Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) champion, Johnathan Rea and Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) have clinched their fourth straight championship title.

The 2018 championship was sealed at the Magny-Cours circuit in France this weekend when Rea won Race 1 (there are two races per round). It was Rea’s 8th consecutive and 13th total victory of the year.

Judging from the results, Rea and Kawasaki made the least mistakes for the rest to capitalize on. The Northern Irish rider finished only twice off the podium and retired once so far. Besides the 13 wins, he finished second on three occasions and once in third.

In terms of statistics, Rea had won 63% of the races and was on the podium for 86% after 23 races this season. He now has the chance of setting a new record for the most wins in a season.

Jonathan Rea wins #4 – Courtesy of WorldSBK

Rea is only the second racer to win four WSBK titles after Carl Fogarty, but he is the first to achieve the milestone back-to-back.

Pundits are quick to point out that Rea’s amazing achievement is due to other teams lacking full factory support and that his competitors’ bikes are pretty old to some extent. If this is true, we shall see how the new Ducati Panigale V4 does next year in the hands of Chaz Davies and Alvaro Bautista. Honda is also rumored to be coming up with a new V4-powered CBR1000RR.

In the meantime however, the man of the moment is Jonathan Rea, who is the current King of Superbikes. Long live the King!

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