Kawasaki WSB team to fold at end of 2024
Discussion
The end is night for the official Kawasaki WSB team, which is reported will close at the end of the year.
Instead, Kawasaki will supply engines to Bimota who will run a Bimota powered by Kawasaki official team, I am hearing, using some staff from KRT.
Seems to be a bit like they did in Moto GP all them years back.
Edited to add official announcement from Kawasaki Eu
https://www.kawasaki.eu/en/News_and_events/bimota-...
Instead, Kawasaki will supply engines to Bimota who will run a Bimota powered by Kawasaki official team, I am hearing, using some staff from KRT.
Seems to be a bit like they did in Moto GP all them years back.
Edited to add official announcement from Kawasaki Eu
https://www.kawasaki.eu/en/News_and_events/bimota-...
Edited by poo at Paul's on Wednesday 24th April 16:10
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
It's very unlikely, but could they be planning a return to MotoGP?
Nah, they are commited to Superbikes but i guess this announcement means that they can concentrate on just the engine side of things and leave the chassis side to Bimota, less expenditure that way i guess.One has to wonder what that means for the Supersport 300 teams and WSSP teams though
I wonder what bike will be used as the KB4 doesn't exactly scream "race bike". Maybe something new will be built?
Will it bring different rules for the new bike (lower production levels as a smaller manufacturer, higher rev limits as no history etc.)?
Will we shortly have an announcement that the ZX10R is being discontinued...like the GSXR, R1.....?
Are Lowes and Bassani signed to Kawasaki for next year?
Will it bring different rules for the new bike (lower production levels as a smaller manufacturer, higher rev limits as no history etc.)?
Will we shortly have an announcement that the ZX10R is being discontinued...like the GSXR, R1.....?
Are Lowes and Bassani signed to Kawasaki for next year?
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
stang65 said:
Will we shortly have an announcement that the ZX10R is being discontinued...like the GSXR, R1.....?
The gsxr 1000 is rumoured to be coming back to the uk market. Still doing well in world endurance.I don’t think MD has confirmed bikes for the TT. He may be on a GSXR.
I can’t see the 10 getting pulled but who knows.
rodericb said:
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
Oh no they didn't, Fred Merkel and Honda won it the first and second year. They did win the title in 1987 but it wasn't World SuperBikes at that time, it was still the TT F1 championshipslopes said:
rodericb said:
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
Oh no they didn't, Fred Merkel and Honda won it the first and second year. They did win the title in 1987 but it wasn't World SuperBikes at that time, it was still the TT F1 championship The TT F1 and WSB championships ran alongside each other for a couple of years but the 'anything goes' expense of TT F1 and the use of pure road circuits compared to the restrictions and relative safety of WSB was what really finished it off. Tango13 said:
slopes said:
rodericb said:
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
Oh no they didn't, Fred Merkel and Honda won it the first and second year. They did win the title in 1987 but it wasn't World SuperBikes at that time, it was still the TT F1 championship The TT F1 and WSB championships ran alongside each other for a couple of years but the 'anything goes' expense of TT F1 and the use of pure road circuits compared to the restrictions and relative safety of WSB was what really finished it off. All I can say is as a Kawasaki fan it’s a big shame there won’t be anymore representative Kawasaki green out there on the racetrack..
I know the ZX10RR is getting long in the tooth, but I kinda hoped they would do something to make the bike more competitive..
But it’s a difficult, changing world right now I guess, so I can appreciate their reasons why..
Team green
I know the ZX10RR is getting long in the tooth, but I kinda hoped they would do something to make the bike more competitive..
But it’s a difficult, changing world right now I guess, so I can appreciate their reasons why..
Team green
slopes said:
Tango13 said:
slopes said:
rodericb said:
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
Oh no they didn't, Fred Merkel and Honda won it the first and second year. They did win the title in 1987 but it wasn't World SuperBikes at that time, it was still the TT F1 championship The TT F1 and WSB championships ran alongside each other for a couple of years but the 'anything goes' expense of TT F1 and the use of pure road circuits compared to the restrictions and relative safety of WSB was what really finished it off. 
The only reason TT F1 lasted as long as it did was because endurance racing and most importantly the Suzuka 8hr ran to the same rule book. Tango13 said:
slopes said:
Tango13 said:
slopes said:
rodericb said:
Bimota have had a couple of cracks at WSB - the first season of WSB (1988) and they won the championship. Then in 2000 or something when Anthony Gobert jumped on the SB8 and won a race at Phillip Island. Both occasions with fortuitous circumstances you could say....
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
This is an intriguing move. They'll have a lot more resources at their disposal in 2025 than they did in previous decades. I wonder if they'll bring out a new model? They don't have any model now which uses the ZX10 engine, nor any model which looks like a superbike...... The KB4 looks closest but that has the Z1000 engine and a trellis frame.
Oh no they didn't, Fred Merkel and Honda won it the first and second year. They did win the title in 1987 but it wasn't World SuperBikes at that time, it was still the TT F1 championship The TT F1 and WSB championships ran alongside each other for a couple of years but the 'anything goes' expense of TT F1 and the use of pure road circuits compared to the restrictions and relative safety of WSB was what really finished it off. The only reason TT F1 lasted as long as it did was because endurance racing and most importantly the Suzuka 8hr ran to the same rule book. and let's not forget, it gave Foggy his first 3 'world' Championships before he switched to WSBKslopes said:
and let's not forget, it gave Foggy his first 3 'world' Championships before he switched to WSBK
There weren't enough races in the last season for it to classed a full championship so it was downgraded to a 'FIM Cup' or something. Back on thread, could this be the start of factories selling engines to all comers in the same way F1 has separate engine and chassis builders? I can't really see any advantage to it but stranger things have happened.
Edited by Tango13 on Thursday 25th April 12:34
Tango13 said:
[
Back on thread, could this be the start of factories selling engines to all comers in the same way F1 has separate engine and chassis builders? I can't really see any advantage to it but stranger things have happened.
I think so yes, after 3 fruitless years and then Rea leaving, Kawasaki probably want to cut their losses and agreeing to provide engine won't be cheap by any stretch of the imagination but it will be a lot cheaper than a full factory effort.Back on thread, could this be the start of factories selling engines to all comers in the same way F1 has separate engine and chassis builders? I can't really see any advantage to it but stranger things have happened.
Edited by Tango13 on Thursday 25th April 12:34
I think Honda will be next or maybe even Suzuki as an engine supplier, Yamaha have already decided not to pursue a new bike and Toprak wants BMW to go to MotoGP if he wins the title.
Beginning of the end for WSBK as we know it?
slopes said:
Tango13 said:
Back on thread, could this be the start of factories selling engines to all comers in the same way F1 has separate engine and chassis builders? I can't really see any advantage to it but stranger things have happened.
I think so yes, after 3 fruitless years and then Rea leaving, Kawasaki probably want to cut their losses and agreeing to provide engine won't be cheap by any stretch of the imagination but it will be a lot cheaper than a full factory effort.Edited by Tango13 on Thursday 25th April 12:34
I think Honda will be next or maybe even Suzuki as an engine supplier, Yamaha have already decided not to pursue a new bike and Toprak wants BMW to go to MotoGP if he wins the title.
Beginning of the end for WSBK as we know it?
The 'anything goes' rules of TT F1 resulted in some utterly pornographic race bikes and at vast expense but objectively speaking I'd say WSB has done more harm to road bike development over the years than any of the Suzuka 8hr and 24hr endurance racers ever managed.
In TT F1 the rules said the bikes had to be based on a production bike and that was about it! This allowed to Honda take a competent road bike, the VF750 (and later VFR750F) and turn them into the likes of the RVF750 before going completely hat-stand and building the NR750 racer, all within the rules.
In WSB the restrictive rules initially gave us the RC30, OW01 etc along with the 'race kit' needed to make the bike competitive but over the years the tail has started to wag the dog resulting in the building of road bikes for homologation that are just too extreme for road use.
If WSB had been a damp squib and died after a couple of seasons then maybe some sort of a mashup between TT F1 and the evoloutionary dead end that was 500GP racing could of happened resulting in the premier class switching to four-strokes by the mid 90s instead of '02
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