2019 World Superbike: Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK Launched

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2019 World Superbike: Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK Launched

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.

Editor Info

Wahid Ooi

Wahid's lust for motorcycles was spurred on by his late-Dad's love for his Lambretta on which he courted, married his mother, and took baby Wahid riding on it. He has since worked in the motorcycle and automotive industry for many years, before taking up riding courses and testing many, many motorcycles since becoming a motojournalist. Wahid likes to see things differently. What can you say about a guy who sees a road safety message in AC/DC's "Highway to Hell."