Kawasaki Motors Racing

Last updated
Kawasaki Motors Racing
Kawasaki racing logo.png
2008 nameKawasaki Racing Team
Base Amsterdam, Netherlands
PrincipalManaging Director: Yoshio Kawamura
Racing Director: Ichiro Yoda
Competition Manager: Michael Bartholemy
Rider(s)13 Anthony West
21 John Hopkins
Motorcycle Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
Tyres Bridgestone
Riders' Championships-
Kawasaki Racing Team (World Superbike)
Founded2012
Headquarters
Key people
General Manager: Guim Roda
Crew Chiefs:
Pere Riba, Marcel Duinker
Riders for 2023:
Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes (World Superbikes)
Parent Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine
Website Kawasaki Racing Team by Provec Racing
Bimota by Kawasaki (World Superbike)
Founded2025
Headquarters
Key people
General Manager: Guim Roda
Riders for 2025:
Alex Lowes, Axel Bassani
Florian Marino (test rider)
Parent Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine
Website Provec Racing

Kawasaki Motors Racing was the European subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine, located in the Netherlands. It was responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The subsidiary was established in 2007 as a result of the Japanese manufacturer's necessary split from Harald Eckl's organisation, who managed the Kawasaki MotoGP team since 2002. The reason for the split was Eckl's involvement with a competitor's MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. [1] For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing, the team became a complete ‘in house’ factory team.

On January 9, 2009, Kawasaki announced it had decided to "suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently". The company stated that it will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race oriented consumers. The emphasis was subsequently placed on World Superbike Championship racing using the Kawasaki ZX-10R road bike as a basis, with Paul Bird Motorsport (2009–2011) and Provec Racing, based in Granollers, Barcelona Province, Spain from 2012, [2] [3] together with World Supersport 300 from 2019 to 2021. [4]

After exclusively running their own teams known as Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT), [5] [6] [7] [8] from 2025 Kawasaki entered into a partnership with Bimota – as a producer of motorcycle chassis – to be known as Bimota by Kawasaki Racing (BbKRT). [9] Their 2025 World Superbike entry, designated Bimota KB998 Rimini and finished in red, white and black instead of Kawasaki green, [10] uses ZX-10 Ninja powertrain, as in earlier seasons. [11] From 2019, Kawasaki has been a major shareholder of Bimota. [12]

For 2025, Kawasaki has transferred their direct factory KRT Superbike support, including the Ninja green colour branding, to Puccetti Racing, previously a satellite team, and rider Garrett Gerloff. [13]

Racing background

Kawasaki's first title was with Dave Simmonds in 1969 when they won the 125 cc World Championship. Kawasaki dominated the 250 cc and 350 cc grand prix classes from 1978 to 1982 winning four titles in each category.

With the introduction of the four-stroke engines into MotoGP in 2002, Kawasaki decided to take part in the new MotoGP World Championship. Kawasaki entered the championship in 2003 with 250 cc Grand Prix racer Harald Eckl's Team Eckl.

In 2003, the Kawasaki Racing Team was formed after Kawasaki had developed their new 990cc ZX-RR bike throughout 2002 and raced it in the last three races of the 2002 MotoGP season. The racing activities were managed by Harald Eckl's team based in Germany. It was not until 2004 that Kawasaki had two riders - Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano, who raced for the entire season. Nakano placed 3rd in Japan that year achieving Kawasaki's first podium finish in MotoGP. [14]

In 2007, Kawasaki split from Harald Eckl because of Eckl's involvement with a competitor's MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. [15] Kawasaki formed Kawasaki Motors Racing, a European subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team and any other motorcycle racing activities Kawasaki may enter in the future. For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing, the team became a complete 'in house' factory team.

On January 9, 2009, Kawasaki announced it had decided to "... suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently". The company stated that it will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race oriented consumers.

YearChampion
350 cc250 cc125 cc
1982 Flag of Germany.svg Anton Mang
1981 Flag of Germany.svg Anton Mang Flag of Germany.svg Anton Mang
1980 Flag of Germany.svg Anton Mang
1979 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kork Ballington Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kork Ballington
1978 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kork Ballington Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kork Ballington
1969 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Simmonds

2007 MotoGP season

The team used the new 800cc Ninja ZX-RR and Bridgestone tyres in 2007. Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque were chosen as team riders.

Olivier Jacque crashed in practice during the Chinese Grand Prix, gashing his arm severely enough to be unable to race for 2 Grands Prix. He returned to racing only to crash again during practice at the Catalan Grand Prix, missing this race too. Following the series of injuries, Jacque announced his retirement from competition, but planned to continue as a team test rider. [16] He was replaced by Australian rider Anthony West. [17]

The team's best result for the season was a 2nd-place finish by Randy de Puniet at a wet Japanese Grand Prix.

2008 MotoGP season

For 2008 John Hopkins joined the team alongside Anthony West. Results were poor though, being regular midfield runners throughout the season.

In August 2008, Kawasaki signed Marco Melandri to join John Hopkins for the 2009 season. [18] However, the Great Recession led Kawasaki to reconsider its MotoGP program, and Kawasaki pulled out of MotoGP for 2009. [19]

2009 MotoGP season

After negotiations with DORNA, Kawasaki provided a scaled down team named Hayate Racing Team for the 2009 season. The team was renamed due to limited factory involvement, with Kawasaki providing only one bike with Marco Melandri as the sole rider. [20]

The team achieved better than expected results with 6th and 5th placings early in the season. Melandri finished in 2nd place at the French Grand Prix. This result is equal to Kawasaki's best ever result in MotoGP and is their first podium finish since 2007.

MotoGP results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearBikeTyresRiders123456789101112131415161718PointsPos.
2002 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR D JPN SAF ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL 413th
Flag of Japan.svg Akira Yanagawa Ret
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Pitt 191712
2003 D JPN SAF ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL 1512th
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry McCoy 1617189151718161618RetRetRet191319
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Pitt 171615Ret16Ret14171916211816161518
Flag of Japan.svg Akira Yanagawa 18Ret
Flag of Germany.svg Alex Hofmann 1614101719
2004 B SAF ESP FRA ITA CAT NED RIO GER GBR CZE POR JPN QAT MAL AUS VAL 1347th
Flag of Japan.svg Shinya Nakano 129RetRet7Ret971512113Ret8127
Flag of Germany.svg Alex Hofmann Ret13Ret1411131110191313109Ret1311
2005 B ESP POR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED USA GBR GER CZE JPN MAL QAT AUS TUR VAL 1506th
Flag of Japan.svg Shinya Nakano 58Ret810989Ret612RetRet771011
Flag of Germany.svg Alex Hofmann 111217Ret128Ret15Ret14
Flag of France.svg Olivier Jacque 211RetRetDNS1613
2006 B ESP QAT TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER USA CZE MAL AUS JPN POR VAL 1297th
Flag of Japan.svg Shinya Nakano 711881211DSQ2Ret6Ret6Ret8RetRet7
Flag of France.svg Randy de Puniet RetRet1212Ret13Ret1412Ret12141311Ret10Ret
Flag of Japan.svg Naoki Matsudo Ret
2007 B QAT ESP TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE SMR POR JPN AUS MAL VAL 1767th
Flag of France.svg Randy de Puniet Ret1388RetRet56RetRet68RetRet2649
Flag of France.svg Olivier Jacque 1218RetDNS16DNS
Flag of Spain.svg Fonsi Nieto 11
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony West 11987128127121516
Flag of the United States.svg Roger Lee Hayden 10
Flag of Japan.svg Akira Yanagawa 17
2008 B QAT ESP POR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE SMR IND JPN AUS MAL VAL 1129th
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony West 1613161714151210Ret10175131115121217
Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 127514RetRet10RetDNS11141410131114
Flag of the United States.svg Jamie Hacking 11

World Superbike Championship

YearTeamBikeTyresNo.Riders1234567891011121314RCPointsTCPointsMCPoints
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
2013 Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R P AUS AUS SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR POR POR ITA ITA RUS RUS GBR GBR GER GER TUR TUR USA USA FRA FRA SPA SPA
66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 55Ret31223113NC11RetC11714321411321st4473rd6492nd501
76 Flag of France.svg Loris Baz 6Ret5653785754968C51DNSDNS8th180
44 Flag of Spain.svg David Salom 119111121st22
2014 AUS AUS SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR MAL MAL ITA ITA POR POR USA USA SPA SPA FRA FRA QAT QAT
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 7311243511Ret31118315344332nd4102nd7352nd431
76 Flag of France.svg Loris Baz 5222474422Ret5223696Ret757275th311
44 Flag of Spain.svg David Salom 910131012151213101091311109171089RetDNSDNS131112th103
2015 AUS AUS THA THA SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR POR POR ITA ITA USA USA MAL MAL SPA SPA FRA FRA QAT QAT
65 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 1211121111221121331244112Ret1st5481st9471st471
66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 64353Ret5522112815225141523333rd399
2016 AUS AUS THA THA SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA MAL MAL GBR GBR ITA ITA USA USA GER GER FRA FRA SPA SPA QAT QAT
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 11122311222332111RetRet14232231st4981st9451st582
66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 562132Ret233181122212123323422nd447
2017 Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10RR AUS AUS THA THA SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR ITA ITA USA USA GER GER POR POR FRA FRA SPA SPA QAT QAT
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 1111121122Ret1322122111Ret11111st5561st9291st599
66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 363234224312133234DNSDNS37356Ret3rd373
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing88 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Randy Krummenacher 101612Ret14141114131514Ret78171412Ret16th5010th117
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony West 138181427th13
05 Flag of France.svg Sylvain Guintoli 688818th34
91 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Leon Haslam 2Ret23rd20
Pedercini Racing SC-Project 15 Flag of San Marino.svg Alex de Angelis 1411161115Ret121511Ret17Ret12Ret141319th3213th42
84 Flag of Italy.svg Riccardo Russo RetRet14141516171628th5 (13)
11 Flag of France.svg Jérémy Guarnoni 111631st5
Grillini Racing Team37 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ondřej Ježek 18171813DNSDNS16181617181314121917Ret161611161815Ret141422nd2212th52
86 Flag of Italy.svg Ayrton Badovini 17RetRet14Ret17151615Ret1614131116Ret1618129DNS15RetDNS21st26
44 Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Rolfo 131533rd4
Team Kawasaki Go Eleven40 Flag of Spain.svg Román Ramos 1314159Ret117119111188Ret1212141410151291011101012th1189th118
Royal Air Force Reg. & Res. Kawasaki27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jake Dixon Ret930th715th7
2018 Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK AUS AUS THA THA SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA GBR GBR CZE CZE USA USA ITA ITA POR POR FRA FRA ARG ARG QAT QAT
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 5214121211231Ret11111111111C1st5451st8595701st
66 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Sykes 246Ret6641233631678555524652C4th314
Team Go Eleven Kawasaki40 Flag of Spain.svg Román Ramos 14111413101111RetRet1219Ret13101212131514Ret1518121314C16th6512th65
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing54 Flag of Turkey.svg Toprak Razgatlıoğlu 131015899109118212109RetDNS11128Ret8123710C9th1517th165
91 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Leon Haslam 9169Ret20th14
Team Pedercini Racing 68 Flag of Colombia.svg Yonny Hernández RetDNS161114161615171311141115Ret16121618th2813th35
41 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Mossey 171428th2
11 Flag of France.svg Jérémy Guarnoni 1719NC0
16 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Ruiu 141415C25th5
Orelac Racing VerdNatura36 Flag of Argentina.svg Leandro Mercado 101213RetRet138Ret151013121217Ret11101711151415Ret1212C15th7011th70
SPB racing5 Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Leonov DNS17RetRetNC0NC0
Team WD4055 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mason Law RetRetNC0NC0

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamBikeTyresNo.Riders12345678910111213RCPointsTCPointsMCPoints
R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2R1SRR2
2019 Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK ZX-10RR P AUS AUS AUS THA THA THA SPA SPA SPA NED NED NED ITA ITA ITA SPA SPA SPA ITA ITA ITA GBR GBR GBR USA USA USA POR POR POR FRA FRA FRA ARG ARG ARG QAT QAT QAT
91 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Leon Haslam 15335559745C856C965Ret33335Ret56555Ret9768105497th2811st9441st673
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 2222222222C311C4421511111121122212111111st663
2020 AUS AUS AUS SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA FRA FRA FRA POR POR POR
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lowes 24197544RetRet696659783296RetRet6th1892nd5491st392
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea Ret1221611131122112411445141st360
2021 SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR ITA ITA ITA GBR GBR GBR NED NED NED CZE CZE CZE SPA SPA SPA FRA FRA FRA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR ARG ARG ARG INA INA INA
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lowes 22319645563146Ret671376556Ret3Ret64Ret9CDNSDNSDNSDNS49DNSDNSCDNS8th2133rd7643rd570
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 112[3113332120111Ret332232124162C5RetRet12321C12nd551
2022 SPA SPA SPA NED NED NED POR POR POR ITA ITA ITA GBR GBR GBR CZE CZE CZE FRA FRA FRA SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR ARG ARG ARG INA INA INA AUS AUS AUS
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lowes Ret65RetRet47645883569RetDNS44473Ret5456549793436th2723rd7743rd530
65 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 12211Ret31123422342324352243332333231323rd502
2023 AUS AUS AUS INA INA INA NED NED NED SPA SPA SPA EMI EMI EMI GBR GBR GBR ITA ITA ITA CZE CZE CZE FRA FRA FRA SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR SPA SPA SPA
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lowes Ret4Ret10313749Ret5476Ret66697Ret97148RetDNS5RetDNS7RetDNS11th1493rd5183rd391
65 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Rea 27894Ret22Ret3Ret55543353431233333243Ret1043173rd370
99 Flag of France.svg Florian Marino 16161524th1
2024 AUS AUS AUS SPA SPA SPA NED NED NED ITA ITA ITA GBR GBR GBR CZE CZE CZE POR POR POR FRA FRA FRA ITA ITA ITA SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR SPA SPA SPA
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lowes 41165653Ret534253Ret39533Ret2420257RetDNS46124354th3163rd4453rd339
47 Flag of Italy.svg Axel Bassani 1211111014Ret91318116712Ret101613Ret81215111011511Ret121512Ret12108141014th108

References

  1. "Kawasaki: A new beginning in 2007". kawasaki-motogp.com. 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  2. Kawasaki Racing Team Archived 2023-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Kawasaki.eu Retrieved 11 January 2019
  3. KRT 2019 launch date is set Archived 2022-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Kawasaki.eu Retrieved 11 January 2019
  4. Ana Carrasco signs with Provec Racing in WorldSSP300 wsbk.com, 3 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019
  5. Kawasaki Racing Team Heading to Another Happy Hunting Ground www.cycleworld.com, 7 March 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  6. KRT Launches Official 2021 WorldSBK Livery www.akrapovic.com, 29 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  7. Bimota To Return To WorldSBK, Joining Forces With KRT motomatters.com, 24 April 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  8. Lowes Signs For 2025 Bimota By Kawasaki Racing Team Project 14 June 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  9. New Era Begins On Track For bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team www.kawasaki.co.uk, 23 October 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  10. BIMOTA ARE BACK: Italian brand unveils stunning red, white and black livery for WorldSBK return in 2025 www.worldsbk.com, 6 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025
  11. Bimota returns to WorldSBK in 2025 www.kawasaki.co.uk, 24 April 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  12. Welcoming the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team at 2025 WorldSBK! worldsbkstore.com, 28 October 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025
  13. Kawasaki confirms Puccetti for 2025 in WorldSBK www.kawasaki.co.uk, 8 August 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025
  14. Kawasaki Racing Team Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine highrevs.net. Retrieved on 2009-05-10
  15. "Kawasaki: A new beginning in 2007". kawasaki-motogp.com. 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  16. "West to Replace Jacque at Kawasaki". gpupdate.net. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  17. "Anthony West gets a Kawasaki MotoGP Ride for the remainder of the season". Daily Motos. June 21, 2007. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  18. "Marco Melandri confirms Kawasaki switch". motorcyclenews.com. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  19. "Kawasaki: addio MotoGp. Melandri a piedi". Tuttosport. 2008-12-30. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  20. Kawasaki to race as Hayate MotoGP in 2009 motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved on 2009-05-09