Kawasaki has confirmed that they are in the process of searching for a replacement for the six-time WorldSBK champion, Jonathan Rea. This search has led them to approach two riders currently in MotoGP. Guim Roda, the Kawasaki Racing Team Manager, stated that they have reached out to two MotoGP riders, three Moto2 riders, and five riders in WorldSBK. Additionally, they have also made contacts in BSB (British Superbike Championship).
This move comes after Jonathan Rea’s unexpected decision to join Yamaha for the 2024 WorldSBK season. This left Kawasaki with only Alex Lowes under a contract. Rea’s decision was surprising, especially considering that he achieved most of his Superbike success with Kawasaki. Now, the team is on the lookout for a top-tier rider.
Roda mentioned during Friday morning at Aragon, “We are checking the market. We have contacted two riders in MotoGP, three riders in Moto2, and five riders in WorldSBK. We are checking and in BSB we have contacts. We’re working on that and let’s see what our final decision is.”
One of the riders believed to be on Kawasaki’s radar is Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is likely to lose his current position with Gresini Ducati. The identity of the other MotoGP rider approached by Kawasaki remains unclear. Meanwhile, Axel Bassani, who rides for Motocorsa Ducati, is considered a strong contender for the KRT seat alongside Alex Lowes.
When asked about Bassani, Roda added, “There’s many riders we’ve been talking with. We need to check for contracts and what the final decision from Kawasaki is. For now, we’re open to all possibilities and I think it’ll take ten days or two weeks to fix the decision.”