New Kawasaki ZX10R for 2016 influenced by WSBK

Kawasaki’s record as a dominant force in the World Superbike Championship will be seen in the highly successful road going Ninja ZX-10R when Kawasaki unveil the 2016 model in Barcelona next month, alongside the Kawasaki Racing Team.

Kawasaki’s record as a dominant force in the World Superbike Championship will be seen in the highly successful road going Ninja ZX-10R when Kawasaki unveil the 2016 model in Barcelona next month, alongside the Kawasaki Racing Team.

The reason for this is that the 2016 ZX-10R has been influenced directly by the Kawasaki Racing Team and the superbikes that Tom Sykes won the 2013 WSBK Championship on and that was subsequently honed to take Jonathan Rea to such success in the current season.  The new ZX-10R road model will feature a host of updates with a direct link to those world superbikes.

The new litre class Ninja displays only some of its many changes on the surface – such as subtle yet highly effective changes to the cowling shape – with others only becoming apparent as you get closer to the thoroughbred machine; the most obvious of these being a comprehensive upgrade of the suspension components and the adoption of a premium grade braking system.

Project Leader for KHI, Yoshimoto Matsuda said “This is not a “clean sheet” design as the current Ninja ZX-10R is such a good base to develop from”.

“With the new model we have focussed our development resources on an overall engineering and performance improvement. We are proud of the result; it means a significant advance in terms of both chassis and engine performance as well as providing the platform to introduce new, state of the art rider aids and other technology.”

"The input the KHI development team has received from the Kawasaki Racing Team, and riders, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes has created what we are sure many will feel is the most competitive and potent Ninja ZX-10R yet. A motorcycle equally at home on the race track or as a highly responsive daily riding road machine." 

We can’t wait to 'get closer' to the new Ninja when it's unveiled next month!