This start of the season is marked behind the scenes by a factory Ducati which moves the lines. And on all fronts. In MotoGP, its technical approach has become political jurisprudence while in Superbike, the overwhelming domination of its model Panigale V4R is just as disturbing to a competition that is downright humiliated. A category that was until then Kawasaki's secret garden. Here he is trampled by the new Italian machine, certainly, but only if there is a Baptist above. What do the Greens think of this annexation of the Reds? Here is the answer…
The Superbike World Championship has seen four seasons of Kawasaki domination. But in 2019 it is Ducati which teaches the lesson with the couple Baptist/Panigale V4R. the moment of questioning has perhaps arrived for the proponents of the Ninja model. Which leads to a historical reminder. After the global financial crisis, Kawasaki left the MotoGP World Championship in February 2009, and did one final year under the Hayate name with Marco Melandri.
In 2010, Kawasaki entered the World Superbike Championship and, since 2012, no other manufacturer has been as successful. In 2013 they won the drivers' championship with Tom Sykes and the last four years with the Northern Irishman Jonathan Rhea.
Kawasaki invests more in ZX-10RR technology than any other manufacturer. Almost every year, new models are approved to maintain the role of technical pioneer despite constant rule changes.
To curb Kawasaki's winning streak, the FIM and Dorna, the promoter, together with the manufacturing alliance MSMA, have defined rules for the 2018 season and beyond, which want to bring these machines a little closer to those present in concessions.
The plan foresees that at least in 2019, Kawasaki will no longer progress. The first races of the year were won by Alvaro Bautista on the new Ducati Panigale V4R. This bike is an offshoot of MotoGP and its engine takes 16 rpm, which is 350 rpm higher than the second best engine, from BMW.
"I didn't approve the new rules, I just accepted them", highlighted Yoshimoto Matsuda, chief developer of the Kawasaki ZX-10RR and Superbike project manager.
It is an open secret that Dorna wants to push Kawasaki to return to the MotoGP World Championship with such rules. “Yes, that's what some say“, confirmed Matsuda. "But MotoGP is not the right way for us. You have to think about what MotoGP demands of you, what technique it forces you to do. And what that brings you. If we take this into account, MotoGP is not our choice ".
Kawasaki racing director, Ichiro Yoda, told speedweek "MotoGP is too expensive for Kawasaki, it is a financial decision on our part. MotoGP costs, at least, ten times more than WSBK. For MotoGP you need 60 or 70 million euros per year, Honda spends 100 million. Furthermore, we cannot convince Kawasaki's senior management to simply win fifth place in the MotoGP World Championship. They expect wins no matter in which category. This is why Superbike makes more sense for Kawasaki from a financial point of view".
But as Kawasaki no longer wins, and no longer seems to be able to do so, what will the leaders of the Akashi brand decide?
