Bassani (24) is one of the most exciting talents to rise from inside the WorldSBK paddock in recent years. He has amassed six podium finishes since he made the jump to WorldSBK racing in 2021, finishing ninth overall that year and scoring his first podium at KRT’s home round of Barcelona – Catalunya, on his MotoCorsa Ducati.

The ambitious and increasingly skilled Bassani would score three podiums the next season as he finished seventh overall. He was the top competitor in the Independent Riders’ standings in 2022, beating his closest opposition by over 100 points.

At time of writing he is fifth in the overall WorldSBK standings in 2023, and easily the best Independent Rider with two rounds to go.

His relative youth and obvious talent has made him an attractive proposition for many teams and with Jonathan Rea leaving the KRT set-up for 2024, Bassani was seen as the best prospect to be teamed up with Alex Lowes for a full campaign next year.

Bassani has scored six WorldSBK podiums already and is looking forward to having his first ride on the official KRT Ninja ZX-10RR machine once his contract with his current team expires. 

Axel Bassani, stated: “I'm really happy for the important opportunity that Kawasaki is offering me. I will give the best of myself on and off the track to achieve the best possible results, hoping to give all the Kawasaki fans great emotions and satisfaction! I want to thank my family for the sacrifices made and Lorenzo Mauri for the path we have taken together which has allowed me to stand out in recent years. See you soon on the track.”

Guim Roda, Team Manager of KRT, stated: “Our 2024 strategy was set months ago, but Rea's move made us rethink the organisational logic at KRT. We spoke internally with KMC and the decision was to take a younger rider with the potential to win races and who knew how to take advantage of all the KRT experience. His image is fresh, sincere, fun and has a lot of potential to represent Kawasaki's image in the world. Alex Lowes will now need to apply all of his experience, while Axel will have a bit of time to learn. We are very happy with the structure we have proposed for 2024 and we are very motivated to enjoy racing and take advantage of the best aspects of the Ninja ZX-10RR. I hope the fans enjoy next season with this latest project we are working on.”

Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki Motors Europe, Race Planning Manager, stated: “While we continue to compete for wins and podiums in the remaining races of the 2023 season with Jonathan and Alex, already the Kawasaki Racing Team is long-term planning for next season. It is almost impossible to express the impact that Jonathan has had within the Kawasaki racing family and as he leaves us at the end of the season there is a golden opportunity for a rider new to our racing project to make an impression. We are delighted to have signed Axel and our feeling is that his impressive track record so far is only a small indication of his future potential. We look forward to realizing that potential and seeing him blossom on the KRT Ninja ZX-10RR.”

Shigemi Tanaka, General Manager of Marketing and Sales Division, Kawasaki Motors Ltd., Japan, concluded: “Our WorldSBK racing project has achieved multiple manufacturer and rider World Championships in recent years; first with Tom Sykes and then thanks to Jonathan Rea. The news that Jonathan will move elsewhere in 2024 signifies the end of one incredible chapter and the beginning of another in Kawasaki’s illustrious racing history. The global Kawasaki family welcomes the news that Axel Bassani joins the KRT racing project for the coming season and we are confident that, in partnership with Alex Lowes, we will once again field two exciting and success hungry riders on our iconic Ninja machinery in the 2024 WorldSBK Championship.”

First announced in July, the series is designed to provide a valuable stepping stone for young riders, with each entrant racing the all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR. After a series of test sessions at the final rounds of the British Superbike Championship, combined with rave reviews of the bike in the press, grid spots are filling up fast ahead of the opening round at Oulton Park in May. 

Alongside prominent branding on each Superteen bike, in turn raising awareness of its offering to the next generation of riders, Tracker has also become an official partner of Kawasaki UK. This exciting collaboration enables all new Kawasaki owners to purchase Tracker Vantage – the ultimate defence in the event of bike theft – through their local Genuine Kawasaki dealer. 

Tracker Vantage boasts integrated GPS technology supported nationwide by UK police forces. In addition to its unique police partnership, Tracker offers its customers a wide range of security features including geofence alert, bike down safety feature and movement alert. Customers choosing to equip their new Kawasaki with Tracker Vantage will also enjoy lower premiums when purchasing through Kawasaki Insurance.  

Mark Rose, Managing Director at Tracker:

“We have been protecting riders for decades against the risk of theft. Our stolen vehicle recovery solutions won’t prevent a bike from being stolen but it will significantly improve the chances of it being quickly located by the police and returned to its rightful owner. We are thrilled to not only have this opportunity to showcase our brand to track side enthusiasts during the series but also partner with Kawasaki UK to safeguard its customers.” 

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

“We are delighted to welcome Tracker as the title partner of our new series and also to Kawasaki UK. We are really excited about the Superteen Championship in 2024 and look forward to seeing a packed grid of riders all on board our Ninja ZX-4RR machines with the Tracker logo sitting pride of place on each bike. We also fully endorse their fantastic SVR solution, which will be available to purchase with your new Kawasaki at every genuine dealer.”

2024 will be the first time that Australian rider O’Halloran will ride for Kawasaki, but the 26-time British Superbike race winner has already got his first taste of the Ninja ZX-10RR at a positive shakedown test last month. Joining the experienced Aussie will be Cook, who remains with the team following an impressive debut Superbike season in 2023. 

The team welcome new title sponsor Completely Motorbikes for 2024, alongside AJN Steelstock, with both brands featuring prominently on the FS-3 Racing prepared Kawasaki. The team have continued with the popular retro-inspired livery for next year, mirroring the special Ninja 40th anniversary edition of the road-going Ninja ZX-10R, which will be available from Kawasaki dealers from January. 

“The retro scheme has always gone down incredibly well with race fans, so that, combined with the fact customers can now purchase a ZX-10R in similar colours, meant it made sense to continue with this theme for 2024. It’s a stunning look and one that stands out incredibly well on track, and we can’t wait for it to do so once again in 2024, hopefully at the front of the pack!”

Kawasaki Z e-1 and Ninja e-1 riders can also amaze their friends with a walk mode that allows these machines to manoeuvre at walking pace in both forward AND reverse – particularly useful for tight parking spots or moving backwards up an incline. 

Enjoying a unique Metallic Bright Silver and Metallic Matte Lime Green appearance – which is to be the signature livery of future Kawasaki EV models – the rider view is pleasingly dominated by a TFT meter with smartphone connectivity. Relaying such things as machine riding status, range, availability of boost function and riding level selected (Road or Eco), the TFT meter seamlessly combines with the easy-to-use throttle and 400cc motorcycle class ABS brakes and trellis type chassis to create genuine on road presence and the riding reassurance that has so far been missing in the entry level EV powered two-wheeler class. 

Charging options include a charge docking station which a battery can be placed in or via a lead which can link the off-board charger unit to the machine via an under-seat socket with batteries still in place. Cool features about the advanced Li-Ion batteries include inbuilt charge indicators plus a symmetrical design allowing easier placement within the machine plus a handy lockable stowage area above the batteries below the battery cover.   

With a range of accessories including +30mm Ergo-Fit seats and various charging solutions, the naked Sugomi style Z e-1 and sleek fully cowled Ninja e-1 models from Kawasaki are set to create another chapter in the company’s illustrious history and open the door to a greener future for two-wheel fans globally – truly a spark of innovation for a new era.   

Both machines will arrive in the UK next month, with prices to be confirmed soon.

In September of 2023, Kawasaki Motors celebrates its 70th anniversary of making motorcycles having first made forays into the motorcycle business in 1953.

After the end of World War II, Kawasaki produced motorcycle engines under the name of “Kawasaki Machine Works.” Since then, Kawasaki has continued to Let the Good Times Roll and has strived to share its “Fun to Ride” philosophy with customers around the world. Today, Kawasaki motorcycles are sold in more than 90 countries and regions. 

To commemorate Kawasaki Motorcycles’ 70-year anniversary, AKM (American Kawasaki Motors) will mount a special exhibition to be held at the AKM Heritage Hall in Foothill Ranch, California as well as Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan starting in September 2023. The displays will focus on the history of the motorcycle business in the U.S. market, which marked a major turning point in Kawasaki's overseas trading strategy.

Kawasaki’s path to success in the motorcycle industry, which began with the launch of the KE-1 motorcycle engine in 1953, was not a smooth one. Several efforts were made to try to expand sales, including working with trading companies to expand to overseas markets, in addition to a business alliance and subsequent merger with the Meguro Manufacturing Company. However, each of these efforts failed to produce the sales results that the Kawasaki factory in Japan had hoped for.

It was decided that selling directly to dealers would be the better business model, so in 1966 American Kawasaki Motors (USA) was established. Kawasaki’s US operations began with only 10 employees and adopted an innovative policy of “localism” before going on to develop motorcycles like the Kawasaki A1 Samurai 250, Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III and iconic Kawasaki Z1 900 for the U.S. market. Early on, Kawasaki USA launched a new kind of sales policy aimed at expansion that included the industry's first model year system and worked to strengthen relationships with dealers by setting up branches in every region of the U.S., thereby consolidating its base in the U.S. market.

In 1974, Kawasaki made a $20 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska to be in-line with a coming shift to a floating exchange rate in the U.S. In fact, Kawasaki’s Lincoln plant became the first plant built by any Japanese car or motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. It remains Kawasaki’s main plant outside of Japan to this day. It is where all Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft and side by are still manufactured today.

Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. 

Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths using both internal combustions engines and green technologies such as EV and HEV which will surely give birth to new legends.