It was announced this Wednesday that next year Bimota will enter the World Superbike Championship, in the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team project. Although the identity of the Japanese manufacturer remains, it marks the end of its current era of involvement.
It was in 1990 that Kawasaki was first represented in the championship, through the Team Muzzy Kawasaki partnership, which lasted until 1996. Then, between 1997 and 2002, Harald Eckl’s team had the official support of the manufacturer.
There was then an absence of Kawasaki directly involved until the official return in 2009. Since then, pages of history have been written in the championship, largely thanks to Jonathan Rea and the partnership with Provec Racing since 2012 – which will be also behind Bimota.
Kawasaki’s first title came in 1993 with Scott Russell, and in 2013 Tom Sykes achieved the second victory. But the period that most distinguished the brand was between 2015 and 2020 when Rea won six consecutive titles.
Now, Kawasaki will make way for Bimota, although its identity will not be forgotten or hidden. Another highlight is given to the legendary Italian brand, whose majority shareholder is Kawasaki. In fact, although the chassis will be from Bimota, the engine will be from Kawasaki, which will thus continue to be present in the paddock in some form.