Kawasaki is delighted to announce that six-times WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea has signed a two-year contract extension to race inside the official Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT), continuing a highly successful partnership that began in 2015.

After taking over 100 WorldSBK race wins on Kawasaki machinery Jonathan has shown characteristically high levels of motivation and confidence in the future of the overall KRT programme by extending his contract for the next two seasons. 

The Ninja ZX-10RR programme will continue to be developed and this commitment has been central to Jonathan’s decision to remain inside the official Kawasaki WorldSBK effort. 

Kawasaki has also underlined its commitment to remain in WorldSBK as it is considered the perfect World stage in which to show Kawasaki’s technical strengths and development prowess, with its flagship motorcycle products being central to the entire endeavour. 

All parties are happy to have concluded this agreement relatively early in the season, as it will allow KRT and Jonathan a clear run to concentrate on their immediate joint goal of winning the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “I am really happy and excited to renew my contract with Kawasaki, to roll on for another two more years. It has been an incredible partnership, we have enjoyed so much success together that it is almost a natural progression. There was not much negotiation needed to continue together from both sides. It was more a case of how much more motivation I had to keep racing at the highest level in the WorldSBK championship. It has been an incredible few seasons; more competitive than ever. I have realised how motivated I am to continue and to continue fighting to win. Kawasaki gave me the opportunity back in 2015 to realise a childhood dream when I won the WorldSBK championship in the first year together. As a partnership we are so solid, and I am looking forward to continue making memories and representing an incredible manufacturer and brand. My team is my racing family. I love everyone inside the team like my own family and relationships like that count for a lot in racing. Huge credit goes to every single person in the staff, from Provec Racing, all the engineers in Japan, and everyone in the Kawasaki family. I am excited to see what we can do over the next two seasons.” 

Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Since we signed Johnny for the 2015 season, and until now, we have written a nice part of WorldSBK’s history. We are so proud to be part of this Rea success story, which also means, Kawasaki’s success story. It’s going on eight seasons together now, and Johnny has been performing at the maximum, always. Nowadays, and at the age of 35, he is in his best shape, and we know there's still a lot of dancing left to be done. We have been working hard to define, with KMC, which kind of project we could create for Johnny to allow him to keep pushing at 110%. I think we gave him the motivation he needed to go for it for two years more. We can never rest on the laurels of our successful past, so we will have a hard job to cover JR’s expectations. We are ready for that. We guarantee it will be a real show for at least two more years…” 

Shigemi Tanaka, General Manager of Marketing & Sales Division at Kawasaki Motors Corporation, Japan, stated: “Since Jonathan joined KRT in 2015, we have achieved a number of significant feats together with the incredible combination of his riding talent and our Ninja ZX-10RR. We are delighted that he will take the next step together with us again for another two years aiming to reach further unprecedented heights for all Kawasaki fans across the world”. 

Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki Europe Race Planning Manager, stated: “Jonathan has been fundamental in creating an incredible relationship and a firm bond between the wider Kawasaki brand and the Ninja ZX-10RR in particular. Our six-time World Champion is undeniably part of the Kawasaki family and a history maker in his own right. Now, he has a chance to create another record-breaking chapter and we are eager to play a part in the next important phase of his racing journey.”  

Rea Statistics
Jonathan Rea: World Champion 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020
2022: Races 15, Wins 5, Podiums 13, Superpoles 2
Career Race Wins: 117 (102 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 228 (186 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 37 (33 for Kawasaki) 

Kawasaki Statistics
8 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Tom Sykes 2013, Rea 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)
6 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016, Ninja ZX-10RR 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020)
5 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019) 

Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 176 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Podiums: 503 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Poles: 102 – second overall

With action getting underway on Sunday, 29th May, it marked 1,087 days since the riders had left Glencrutchery Road with haste. However, DAO Racing Kawasaki rider Dean Harrison wasted no time in getting up to speed, finishing the opening night with the second-fastest time. This form continued throughout the week, eventually securing the third-fastest time in the Superbike and Superstock classes and fourth in the Supersport. 

The Superbike TT on Saturday 4th June saw a strong start for the Ninja ZX-10RR machine of Harrison, running third as he reached the opening timing point at Glen Helen on lap one. By the time he had reached Ramsey Hairpin, he had moved up to second, where he would remain until the chequered flag, taking Kawasaki’s first podium of the week. Dafabet Racing’s Rob Hodson was 13th, while fellow Kawasaki riders Mark Goodings and Josh Daley were 16th and 22nd, respectively. 

Monday saw the first of the Supersport races, which proved to be one of the most enthralling of the week as Dean and Michael Dunlop went head to head over four laps, separated by less than a second for much of the race. Dean was able to close the gap to as little as 0.1s by Glen Helen on the final lap but narrowly missed out on the win, in the end, taking another superb second place. Other notable Kawasaki finishes included Dom Herbertson in 9th and Craig Neve in 20th. 

After a fourth place in the Superstock TT, Dean was ready to make amends in the second Supersport outing, where he returned to the podium with third. However, in between those two races was the Supertwin TT, which saw Paul Jordan claim his maiden Isle of Man TT podium with third place. 

After a rain delay on Friday postponed the Senior TT to the Saturday, all eyes were on Dean to see if he could repeat his success in 2019. After leading by half a second at Glen Helen on lap one, a collision with a bird around the opening lap saw a large hole in the screen of his Superbike. Despite this, Dean was able to maintain his pace to eventually finish second place. Rob Hodson finished 14th while Lukas Maurer also received a bronze replica in 23rd. 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK:

“The 2022 Isle of Man TT proved to be a fortnight of highs and lows, but it was amazing to see the island buzzing with bikers again. Dean and the entire DAO Kawasaki team worked tirelessly over the fortnight, and their efforts were rewarded with four podiums in the toughest race in the world. It was also great to see Paul take his first, of what I’m sure will be many, podium in the Supertwin race.

After a three-year hiatus, the Isle of Man TT returned over the last two weeks, and it proved a fantastic event for Kawasaki, with podiums coming in the Superbike, Supersport, Supertwin, and Senior TT races.  

With action getting underway on Sunday, 29th May, it marked 1,087 days since the riders had left Glencrutchery Road with haste. However, DAO Racing Kawasaki rider Dean Harrison wasted no time in getting up to speed, finishing the opening night with the second-fastest time. 

This form continued throughout the week, eventually securing the third-fastest time in the Superbike and Superstock classes and fourth in the Supersport. The Superbike TT on Saturday 4th June saw a strong start for the Ninja ZX-10RR machine of Harrison, running third as he reached the opening timing point at Glen Helen on lap one. By the time he had reached Ramsey Hairpin, he had moved up to second, where he would remain until the chequered flag, taking Kawasaki’s first podium of the week. 

Dafabet Racing’s Rob Hodson was 13th, while fellow Kawasaki riders Mark Goodings and Josh Daley were 16th and 22nd, respectively. Monday saw the first of the Supersport races, which proved to be one of the most enthralling of the week as Dean and Michael Dunlop went head to head over four laps, separated by less than a second for much of the race. 

Dean was able to close the gap to as little as 0.1s by Glen Helen on the final lap but narrowly missed out on the win, in the end, taking another superb second place. Other notable Kawasaki finishes included Dom Herbertson in 9th and Craig Neve in 20th. After a fourth place in the Superstock TT, Dean was ready to make amends in the second Supersport outing, where he returned to the podium with third. However, in between those two races was the Supertwin TT, which saw Paul Jordan claim his maiden Isle of Man TT podium with third place. 

After a rain delay on Friday postponed the Senior TT to the Saturday, all eyes were on Dean to see if he could repeat his success in 2019. After leading by half a second at Glen Helen on lap one, a collision with a bird around the opening lap saw a large hole in the screen of his Superbike. 

Despite this, Dean was able to maintain his pace to eventually finish second place. Rob Hodson finished 14th while Lukas Maurer also received a bronze replica in 23rd. 

“The 2022 Isle of Man TT proved to be a fortnight of highs and lows, but it was amazing to see the island buzzing with bikers again. Dean and the entire DAO Kawasaki team worked tirelessly over the fortnight, and their efforts were rewarded with four podiums in the toughest race in the world. It was also great to see Paul take his first, of what I’m sure will be many, podium in the Supertwin race.

Two of Kawasaki’s stand-out A2 licence compliant machines of recent years make a welcome return for the 2023 model year line up.

As the naked style category continues to expand in size and popularity, the Z400 will ably fulfil the need for a Z model for A2 licence holders fashioned in the same style as its Sugomi styled Z siblings. 2022 has witnessed celebrations highlighting 50 years of the famous Z range providing a springboard for the re-introduction of the Euro5 compliant Z400 complete with its 399 cm3 parallel twin water-cooled engine delivering 33.4 kW (45PS) and 37 N.m (3.8kg-m) of torque at 8,000 rpm.   

Complete with an assist and slipper clutch and a trellis frame mirroring the chassis of the range-leading Z H2, the Z400 provides a big bike personality in a manageable package for those making their way up the capacity ladder or those who feel the 400cc class is their ideal destination.

A seat height of 785 mm contributes towards admirable manoeuvrability while Kawasaki’s unique ERGO-fit optional seat enhances riding comfort for taller riders, making the Z400 the most logical choice in class.

Track focused fans also have good reason to rejoice in 2023 as the range partner for the Z model will be the highly popular Ninja 400. The base machine for race and Championship winning machinery in the highly competitive WorldSSP300 Championship, the handling and performance credentials of the Ninja need no further amplification. 

The chosen mount of current champion, Adrian Huertas, the new 2023 Ninja 400 shares its A2 licence compliance with the Z400 along with a tubular trellis chassis and powerful 286mm front disc brake coupled with an equally effective 193mm rear rotor.

Ninja style never goes out of fashion and the Ninja 400 revels in its family resemblance to the mighty Ninja ZX-10R, a machine that has achieved unparalleled levels of WorldSBK Championship success. And like its Ninja big brother, the 400-class machine also features an assist and slipper clutch facilitating smooth gear down changes and a 20% lighter lever pull at the handlebar.   

Anticipation for the re-introduction of not one but two A2 licence compliant 400cc class machines in Euro5 specification will build towards their addition to a comprehensive range for the 2023 model year creating tough yet enjoyable choice for prospective owners. Naked style or Ninja style, Kawasaki has the 2023 mid-capacity class bases covered.

Both machines will be available from mid-August with the prices to be confirmed. 

Ahead of practice kicking off on Saturday, 28th May, we thought we would catch up with reigning Senior TT winner Dean Harrison to find out the five key parts of the course for a fast lap and the five best places to watch from. 

Five sections for a fast lap

As one of the fastest men ever around the legendary TT course, Dean talks us through the five key sections to a quick lap:

1 – The Pit Stop
This is definitely one of the most important parts of any race, and with margins so close, a pit stop can be the difference between standing on the top step of the podium and not. For the Supersport and Supertwin races, we usually just fill up with fuel, while for the Superbike races, it also requires a tyre change. 

This can be a tense time for my team, but everyone has a specific role. One of them will focus on the rear tyre and making sure the spindle goes in correctly and doesn’t become threaded. Another will focus on filling the bike up with fuel, while another will help with replacing my visor and cleaning the screen. If all goes to plan, then it will take just over 50 seconds.

2 – Quarry Bends
When it comes to a fast lap, Quarry Bends is a crucial part of the course. This is around half way around the lap and the entry is essential if you want to get a fast run onto the Sulby Straight, which is the fastest part of the course. This can be a very physical part of the course as you have to lean the bike over from side to side at incredible speeds. While it’s tough, it can also be a lot of fun when you get it right.

3 – Rhencullen Jump
Another important part of the course is the run through Rhencullen. This is a very bumpy section of the track, and you really have to wrestle your machine to keep it on line. Getting the jump right here is crucial, as although you don’t really gain time if you do, it can be very easy to lose time if you get it wrong.

4 – Ballagarey
There’s a reason this section is nicknamed Ballascary! It’s an incredibly fast blind corner, and you are completely flat out on the approach, and it is one where you have to be perfect every lap as there’s no runoff, just stone walls on either side of the road. As you enter the corner, I will click down a gear, and then as you hit the apex, you’re doing around 130mph and are then back on the throttle again immediately as you head towards Crosby.

5 – The Mountain Run
The Mountain is one of the most iconic parts of the course, and it is the key to a fast lap. This section has a bit of everything from slow corners to flat out high speeds. Brandywell is one of the most essential parts; it’s the highest point on the course, and getting the run into this section right from Hailwood’s Rise is essential. The run back down towards the Grandstand is equally as important, and coming past the Creg, which is always packed with fans, is special, particularly on the last lap! Five sections to watch fromWhile those might be the key locations to a fast lap, where is the best place to watch from? 

Dean tells us his five favourite spots: 
1 – Bray Hill
Bray Hill might be one of the more popular places to watch from, but it’s definitely one of the best. Sitting in the gardens and watching a bike come flying through at over 180mph is something you won’t forget.

2 – Greeba Bridge
The exit of Greeba Bridge is another great space to watch, and if you head to The Hawthorn pub, you can watch as the riders exit and head down towards Gorselea and Ballacraine.

3 – Barregarrow
This is an incredibly fast corner, and the sense of speed is incredible; if you watch from the top, then you get a great view of the bikes leant over at high speed. Take a walk down to the bottom to watch the bikes bottom out – get there early, though, as space is limited! 

4 – Kirk Michael
Spectator spots are a little limited in Kirk Michael, but Whitehouse Park is one of the better options and offers great views through the village. There are also several spots on the side roads that you can watch from. 

5 – End of the Mountain Mile
The Mountain is always a special place to watch from, and the end of the Mountain Mile is a great place to see the bikes at incredible speeds alongside spectacular views over the island. 

Everyone here at Kawasaki Motors UK wishes Dean and the DAO Racing team the best of luck and hope to see as many people as possible cheering him on from the hedges!