It was announced this Wednesday that next year Bimota will enter the World Superbike Championship, in the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team project. Although the identity of the Japanese manufacturer remains, it marks the end of its current era of involvement.
It was in 1990 that Kawasaki was first represented in the championship, through the Team Muzzy Kawasaki team with which it partnered until 1996. Then, between 1997 and 2002, it was Harald Eckl’s team that had the official support of the manufacturer.
There was then an absence of Kawasaki directly involved, until the official return in 2009. Since then, history has been written in the championship, thanks in large part to Jonathan Rea and the partnership with Provec Racing since 2012 – which will continue behind Bimota.
Kawasaki’s first title was in 1993 by Scott Russell, and in 2013 Tom Sykes achieved the second conquest. But the period that most highlighted the brand was between 2015 and 2020, when Rea obtained six consecutive titles.
Now, Kawasaki will give way to Bimota, although its identity will not be forgotten or hidden. Another highlight is given to the legendary Italian brand, whose majority shareholder is Kawasaki. In fact, although the frame is from Bimota, the engine will be from Kawasaki, which will thus continue to be present in the field in some way.
