Exclusive interview with Guim Roda, Kawasaki team principal: The Ninja will have the same rev limit but a new engine. And Jonathan Rhea to 2024.
About Marianna Giannoni / Corsedimoto.com
Kawasaki wants to return to victory in the world championship. Since 2015, she has had six consecutive victories with the ace Jonathan Rhea, then in 2021-22 it had to bow first to Yamaha then to Ducati. This year, she is not the favorite, but intends to overturn the predictions. But what's new at KRT? We talk about it with the team director Guim Roda, a week before the first round of the Superbike world championship. The Catalan gave us a lot of anticipation, especially on a technical level. Kawasaki will still have the limiter set at 14 rpm. But the new approval suggests that in Japan they intervened on the engine, to improve the torque. Having a “coupling machine”, that is to say capable of better interpreting the most popular tracks, is an old project of Yoshimoto Matsuda, Akashi's technical director. There is also news of the contract of Jonathan Rhea.
Guim Roda, how did the Kawasaki winter tests go?
« The winter tests were an opportunity for everyone to work together calmly, without stress, with ideas and changes that can be evaluated and introduced during the season. On a practical level, the tests were affected by the weather because they only lasted a few days, the weather was not very good and therefore we were not able to work as well as we would have liked and that we needed it. »
What have you mainly focused on?
" Before everything, on a human level, by working on team cohesion (there were a few newcomers in the electronics department, editor's note). On the technical side, we tried to make the most of the current power and we worked on the electronics. In some areas we couldn't do anything. »
Will the Kawasaki ZX-10RR have a new FIM homologation in 2023?
« Yes, we have completed the regulatory process that allows us to participate in WorldSBK with the new homologation. Technically this is a small improvement that allows us to race better in WorldSBK and other national championships. Although, this year we will have 14 laps like last season.
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What do you think of Honda and BMW, and the super dealership rule in general?
« I prefer that we help those who are having difficulties rather than penalizing those who are doing well. In any case, I understand the need to make the championship balanced, to make it more spectacular. »
Will WSBK 2023 be a battle between Rea, Bautista and Toprak, like in 2022, or will there be other contenders for victory as well?
« I think Lowes, Rinaldi and Locatelli can also be in the mix this year. They are gaining strength and can also fight for victory. »
In terms of rider contracts, what's cooking in the pot?
« Rea is also under contract for 2024 while with Lowes we will talk about it in May. Based on the current agreement, we are the first option. »
Is the KRT team involved in any way in the Tom Sykes/Puccetti challenge?
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For us it's more or less like Pedercini and Orelac, in the sense that we represent the factory and therefore we try to be a reference for all the other teams that race on Kawasaki motorcycles. »
Do you think Petrucci, Aegerter and Gardner will be able to fight for the top six spots?
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Certainly. Petrucci is a very strong rider and he proved it even when he was racing in MotoGP. Aegerter and Gardner are world champions and they will certainly be in the positions that matter. »
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Marianna Giannoni
