When least expected, it was announced this Wednesday that Bimota will be making a comeback to the World Superbike Championship next year. It will be a partnership with Kawasaki, which is also the majority shareholder of the legendary Italian manufacturer.
The frame will be from Bimota, but the engine and associated technology will be from Kawasaki, sourced from the Ninja ZX-10RR. Personnel currently at Kawasaki will be transferred to the Bimota project, in a sort of direct succession where a new team will not be added to the grid.
The designation will be Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, maintaining the Japanese brand’s legacy in WSBK while also highlighting the Bimota name. The bike will be developed by both manufacturers, in a new team that will be essential in enhancing Bimota’s visibility and global presence in the market.
Hiroshi Ito, President and CEO of Kawasaki Motors, explained: ‘Bimota has an enviable reputation for excellence in motorcycle design and manufacture. As part of our vision for the evolution of this world famous brand we see racing as a logical next step in terms of both product development as well as brand exposure on the global stage. Our commitment to WorldSBK is as strong as ever and we hope that this new racing project will energise fans of both Bimota and Kawasaki. The passion for race success remains and we look forward to the presence of the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team on the 2025 WorldSBK grid’.
In its history, Bimota has had several successes in motorcycle world championships, winning the extinct 350cc World Championship in 190. In 1988, the first season of WSBK, they achieved seven victories, while their last wins date back to 2000 – which was also the last year they competed in the championship.