The first official image of Kawasaki’s 2011 ZX-10R racer has been released by the Japanese manufacturer today, offering us the view of an unpainted race bike that will be put to test at the Suzuka race track. This will help the Kawasaki R&D department gather info about setting up the bike for race conditions.

According to the manufacturer, the 2-day test will be used to further refine the base package for the 2011 World Superbike Championship. If the bike proves to be as aggressive as it looks, then the team is off to a good start.

Getting back to the newly released picture, we see an image closer to the ‘real thing’ prepared by Kawasaki for the year to come than the teaser sketch released back in June. This will be the basis for the 2011 road bike, a machine that will come with an all-new engine and chassis and a rumored power of around 200 bhp.

The new Ninja starts to take shape, and we can only hope for a worthy rival on the 1000cc market. Kawasaki fans can only hope the changes that come with the new superbike will make it a serious competitor for the Yamaha R1, Honda Fireblade or the Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycles.

Meanwhile, the official Kawasaki Racing Team continues development on their 2010 machine. At recent Imola tests, Tom Sykes and Chris Vermeulen had new Showa suspension settings, new Pirelli tires and a few other new features. Both riders were impressed by the modifications brought to the current race bike and have declared themselves pleased with the results.

The Japanese motorcycle manufacturer had just revealed to the world a design sketch and a video destined to arouse interest among Ninja (and not only) fans. In fact, what Kawasaki teases is its next ZX10R superbike, a machine that apparently will come with a complete makeover.

From what we can tell from the sketch, the new Ninja is expected to look much more aggressive than its predecessor, keeping the green ninja paint scheme and with a completely restyled fairing and exhaust, among others.

On the other hand, the video tells us the 2011 model will feature an all-new engine and chassis that, along with a rumored 190+ bhp, are enough to make us eager to see the beast in a final form, most likely this fall.

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Ryan Farquhar took his first Isle of Man TT Superbike podium for MSS Colchester Kawasaki as he pulled off a great ride to second place in today’s Dainese Senior TT.

Ryan had earlier pulled out of the premier event at Cronk-Y-Voddy, but the race was then stopped after a serious incident involving Guy Martin. The squad quickly changed a fuel pump, and this correct diagnosis allowed Ryan to attack with confidence in the shortened, four-lap restart.

The MSS squad carried out their second major set-up change of the week; this time completely retuning the engine. The team altered the power delivery of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superbike giving a smoother bottom end. The changes effectively meant creating Superstock power characteristics up to 10,000rpm and then full Superbike power further up the rev range to help the machine out of the slower corners.

Earlier in the week the team had radically altered the chassis on the Superbike including introducing a new swingarm, different fuel tank and major machining work.

An ecstatic Ryan said, “What a fantastic result. Guy’s unfortunate accident gave us a way back in, as I was sitting up on the course at the time. I’m over the moon to have got a second in both Superbike and Superstock. I’ve got to thank Nick and all the lads who worked so hard.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki Team Owner, Nick Morgan said, “Total turnaround of fortune, I’m so happy for Ryan and all the mechanics Brilliant. To be sitting up at the Cronk to the second step of the podium, it just shows how your luck can go. We’ve definitely experienced both ends of the spectrum this week.

An MSS tuned ZX6R engine also fired Dave Molyneux to second in the Sidecar race earlier in the week.

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Victory for Pirelli at the hands of Team GSR-Kawasaki

Milan (Italy) – This past weekend at the famous Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, France, the Team GSR-Kawasaki equipped with Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres raced to victory at the 33rd edition of the 24h of Le Mans Moto 2010. This event represents the opening round of the 2010 Qtel FIM Endurance Championship and is considered the world’s most competitive 24-hour motorcycle endurance race. From the very beginning of the weekend, the #11 Kawasaki of Team GSR (Gilles Stafler Racing) and its three talented riders, Julien Da Costa, Olivier Four and Gregory Leblanc set the tone by taking the Superpole after leading all the qualifying sessions.

Taking the race lead after just few laps and despite constant attempts by its competitors, the No. 11 Kawasaki took advantage of the night to gradually increase its lead as much as 11 laps until the checkered flag was drawn on its second crew. The reliability of the motorcycle, the organization and preparation of the team, teamwork by its riders and the performance Pirelli tyres have allowed team “green” to defeat the former-champion Yamaha R1 bike of the YART-Yamaha Austria Racing Team and the runner-up Suzuki GSX-R of Team RAC 41-City Bike.

The three riders were able to perfectly exploit Pirelli tyres to their maximum, even though the entire race was completed on standard tyres: Pirelli Diablo Superbike SC2 at the front and SC1 on the rear. Pirelli has once again demonstrated an effective performance, reliability and longevity of its Diablo Superbike tyres. This victory confirms the Italian manufacturer’s famous saying “We sell what we race, we race what we sell”, a strongly impassioned philosophy and proof that Pirelli Diablo tyres are a critical element to success.

The final word is left to Team Manager of the GSR-Kawasaki Team, Gilles Stafler, who said: “We did a lot of laps (828) and Pirelli [tyres] worked well the whole time. This victory is the fruit of our work!”

The second round of the 2010 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship will take place on the 22nd of May in Spain, which will host the 8 Hours of Albacete.

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After discovering his knee injury to be more extensive than previously though, Christopher Vermeulen will miss World Superbike’s stop at Valencia this weekend, but is expected to be back on the saddle at Assen. Vermeulen injured his knee during a bad highside at Phillip Island, and was unable to rejoin the series at Portimao despite making an attempt during the free practice. As such, it looks like the Australian rider will be replaced this weekend at Valencia.

After having arthroscopic surgery, it became apparent that Vermeulen has more damage to his knee, ligaments, and cartilage than initial scans had suggested. Some of these injuries will be remedied this week with surgery, but his other injuries will have to wait to be operated on until after the Australian finishes his riding career. Nevertheless, with the surgery occurring so close to the Valencian stop, Vermeulen is a definite no-go this weekend.

Simon Andrews is expected to take Vermeulen’s seat on the factory WSBK Kawasaki ZX-10R this weekend. The Englishman was spotted testing the PBM Kawasaki just a few days ago at Valencia, and posted some impressive times, but nothing has been officially announced yet.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki riders Simon Andrews and Gary Mason got to test the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R complete with Magneti Marelli electronics, but only after snow was cleared from the circuit of Guadix in Spain.
Gary, Simon and new Superstock rider Howie Mainwaring each rode more than 30 laps in the test to dial in the new electronics systems.
On Tuesday, the team awoke to a thick blanket of snow, but unlike in their British home, the show soon melted, allowing the riders to gain meaningful practice and log valuable data.
MSS Colchester continues testing through Thursday.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is launching a new line of powersport oils. Comprised of the latest formulations of superior quality lubricants and specifically engineered to Kawasaki’s highest standards, the new Kawasaki Performance Oils line includes full-synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral based formulations in multiple grades of motorcycle oils, plus new ATV/UTV and PWC formulations. This is not a simple re-branding of the old product, but an entirely new lineup of super quality modern powersport engine oils.

In accordance with strict Kawasaki guidelines, significant improvements have been made across the entire line. The results include mineral based formulations which deliver a 20% reduction in phosphorous and sulfur content, 45% lower volatility, 5% higher film thickness, between 15 – 30% better anti-wear characteristics and up to a 15% improvement in anti-oxidancy, depending on type. In addition to the advanced mineral based formulations, the new Kawasaki Performance Oils lineup also includes the latest semi and full-synthetic performance engine lubricants based on modern polyalphaolefins and esters.

“These new oils cover gaps in the previous lineup and will help Kawasaki dealers to capitalize on the strong demand for modern synthetic oil formulations, while more effectively serving the needs of their powersports customers,” said Jim Williams, KMC’s director of corporate sales.

In conjunction with the launch of these new oils, KMC is also releasing distinctive new packaging, “Performance Made Perfect” marketing and dealer displays all designed to emphasize the modern, high-performance attributes of Kawasaki Performance Oils.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, utility vehicles and recreation utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,475 independent retailers, with an additional 8,000 retailers specializing in Kawasaki power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,300 people in the United States, with 400 of them located at KMC’s Irvine, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline,”Let the good times roll,” is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

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After being linked to race for DFX, Matteo Baiocco has instead signed a deal with Italian run Team Pedercini and will ride the Kawasaki ZX10R in this year’s World Superbike Championship.

The 26 year old Baiocco, who has experience in the Italian CIV and in Superbikes, last year was one of the unfortunates, who had to switch teams during the season, with the first part of the season riding for financially strapped PSG-1 Corse and with Guandalini Racing in the final rounds.

Baiocco will team up with WSBK rookie Roger Lee Hayden, who got his first taste of WSBK testing at Portimao in January, but was almost dead last in the unofficial test times while on his learning curve, getting used to the new track, new tires and overcoming the language barrier.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki are busy putting together plans for an intense racing season with new riders, sponsors, high-technology and a focused development schedule as they attack British Superbike (BSB), National Superstock and the Isle of Man TT.

The Essex based team stepped up a level in 2009 with their riders regularly running at the sharp end of the pack resulting in a creditable BSB series finish of sixth and seventh. Star rider Simon Andrews lead races, finished on the podium and would have had an even stronger Championship position had it not been for injury.

For the 2010 season, Andrews will again spearhead the team, backed up by Privateers Cup winner, Gary Mason, whilst the squad will also run a professional effort in the fiercely competitive Metzeler National Superstock Championship, having signed up Howie Mainwaring.

Away from the short circuits the team will run a fourth Kawasaki ZX-10R in the varied roads circuits of the Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and NW200 utilising the talents of roads specialist Ryan Farquhar.

Over the winter the team have picked up two state-of-the-art electronics packages which have been developed by the Kawasaki World Superbike outfit of Paul Bird Motorsport. The Magneti Marelli ‘Marvel’ system handles all on-board electronics to tackle both data collection and system management, with a myriad of datalogging and fine tuning options available. The electronics systems have been installed and the technicians have acquainted themselves with the technology, the team now track time to hone their set up.

Winter testing is scheduled to start on the 9^th March at Guadix in Spain, which will give the team the opportunity to explore the new electronics for the first time.

Another welcome development has been the addition of important new sponsors to help support the team as they push for championship honours in 2010. Mac Tools, Maxxis Tyres and Hornee Jeans are supplying the team with considerable sponsorship and marketing support for the new season to join Kawasaki UK, Colchester Kawasaki and Rock Oil as major sponsors, with others still in final negotiation. Mac Tools will also be supplying the team with valuable workshop equipment both for the race workshop and also kitting out the transporters with high end tooling.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki Team Owner, Nick Morgan said, “We feel like we are finally getting the breaks we need after all these years. For the first time we have had the very best riders approach us and big sponsors asking to support the team. We have a strong rider line-up, dedicated staff ready to go and partners who are passionate about our development. When all’s said and done it comes down to Brands Hatch round one but we certainly feel we have the structure and support in place for a great year.”

The MSS Colchester Kawasaki sponsor line-up for 2010 includes: Mac Tools, Maxxis Tyres, Kawasaki UK, Colchester Kawasaki, Hornee Jeans, Rock Oil, B & C Express (Arrow Exhaust, Renthal and Tsubaki), NGK Spark Plugs Ltd, Goodridge, Skidmarx, Pro Bolt, MotoXclean, Icom,  Talking Headsets, Brupac, TRW, Samco, Barrus, Touch 4, Colourlink, Sound Sense, Clinton Enterprises, Blackhorse Finance, JBL/Karman Kardon, Pipercross, GB Racing, Valta Moto.

Here is a press release received from Kawasaki today. It indicates that Chad Reed had successful surgery on his broken left hand this week, and that he should miss at least six weeks before he returns to racing.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chad Reed underwent successful surgery to repair his broken left hand in California. Reed is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks recovering from the injury that occurred on Saturday night at Chase Field in Phoenix.

“This will be the first time Chad has ever missed a supercross,” said Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Manager Mike Fisher. “I know Chad wants to be racing. His surgery went really well and will start his rehabilitation as soon as he can. We want him to be 100 percent when he returns so he can put his Monster Energy Kawasaki on the podium.”

Reed’s teammate Ryan Villopoto scored his first podium finish of the season in Phoenix and is looking to earn his first win of the season at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. this weekend. The team is currently exploring its options for an interim rider.

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