At the end of this season, British Superbike paddock stalwarts Gearlink Kawasaki will take their final chequered flag as Team Owner Michael de Bidaph enjoys a well-deserved retirement. Having been competing for nearly two decades, the iconic green and orange machines have powered multiple riders to victories and podiums, and Kawasaki UK would like to thank Michael, Norma, and the entire team for their dedication and commitment.

First starting out in racing back in 2004 as a sponsor of a young James Hillier, Gearlink was officially formed the following year as Michael, his wife Norma, James and his dad entered the Supersport Cup. Claiming several Cup podiums that year, James and the team remained together for several more seasons enjoying strong success. 

In 2008, Gearlink became the official Kawasaki UK British Supersport team, where they would go on to achieve incredible results for Team Green. While they never quite managed to secure the elusive title, the team came close on several occasions, most notably in 2011 when Ben Wilson missed out on being crowned Champion by just one point. The team also finished runner-up in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023, cementing their success with multiple riders. Even earlier this season, Gearlink showed just how highly regarded they are when World Supersport rider Can Öncü rode for them at Donington Park, taking victory and second place. 

Of course, it wasn’t just in the Supersport class where Gearlink shone. The team were regular points scorers in the prestige British Superbike class during their tenure in the premier class, while wins and podiums came aplenty at the North West 200. The most notable of these came in 2016 when the Gearlink Ninja ZX-6R powered Alastair Seeley to victory in the Supersport class, seeing him named the most successful rider around the ‘Triangle’ in the process. 

As the team prepares for its final few races, Kawasaki UK would like to say a massive congratulations and heartfelt thank you for everything the Gearlink Kawasaki team has achieved.  

Michael de Bidaph, Gearlink Kawasaki Team Owner
“It would be fitting to say that this is the end of an era that started in 2004. My darling Norma and I part sponsored James Hillier that year and at the end of that season decided to set up our own team. In 2005 we competed in the Supersport cup series with James, his dad, a Transit van and a small camper for the two of us. Throughout the past twenty years we have had highs and lows with many race wins by different riders and have thoroughly enjoyed life in the paddock making many friends along the way. 

I must admit that we never set out to achieve such success ending up with an Arctic, a forty-foot Motorhome, several race bikes and numerous race equipment but I think our deep passion for this wonderful sport has been a contributing factor towards this feat. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dear friends Ben & Louise Wilson for doing such a great job in running the team over the past few years, Ross Burridge at Kawasaki UK, Stuart Higgs and the MSVR staff and all of our sponsors especially product suppliers as without them none of this would have been possible” 

Ben Wilson, Gearlink Kawasaki Team Manager
“Gearlink Kawasaki has been a massive part of my life and really has moulded me into the person I am today. I've had some big highs and equally some big lows, chased championships and had the privilege of standing on the podium many times in the iconic green and orange livery. The past few years of running the team have been an honour and a privilege, and we have enjoyed much success along the way. We never quite managed a Championship title, but we came pretty close! This is the end of an era now, and it will leave a huge hole in mine and my family's life, but the time feels right now to make this Gearlink’s last season” 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department:
“Wow, what can I say? This truly is an end of an era with Kawasaki UK working with Gearlink for so many years. Michael, Norma, Ben and Lou have always been some of the most professional, enthusiastic and dedicated people we have had the pleasure of working with and they will be sorely missed from the paddock. That green and orange livery is synonymous with the Supersport class and visions of Michael and Norma hanging over the pit wall celebrating their many race wins will stay with us forever. It’s criminal that they never won that elusive Supersport title, but we all collectively had a lot of fun trying to achieve it along the way. We wish them all the very best.”

A lifelong biker, Carl has always had a passion for two wheels and is a big supporter of multiple racers and race teams via his Carl Cox Motorsport outfit. Currently in the midst of a busy summer of gigs and festivals in the northern hemisphere, the electronic music pioneer has shaken up his show for 2024 with the introduction of the Hybrid Set, a unique show that combines traditional DJing with live electronic music created on stage. 

In synergy, 2024 has seen Kawasaki shakeup the world of two wheels with the introduction of the world’s first strong hybrid machines, the Z 7 Hybrid and Ninja 7 Hybrid. Equipped with a 451cc parallel twin, water-cooled four-stroke engine, and a traction motor plus battery; a futuristic combination that offers a number of new riding experiences plus an engine power of 43.5 kw rising to an impressive hybrid net power of 51.1kw thanks to “e-boost”. This means the innovative new bike offers a new riding experience, providing the acceleration of a 1,000cc-class supersport model with fuel economy on par with the 250cc class. 

No stranger to Kawasaki machinery, owning a 1974 Z900 and H2, Carl was eager to try the latest technology on a recent break in his tour schedule. Experiencing all four seasons in the day, Carl said:
“I’ve just ridden the amazing Z 7 Hybrid. As anyone who knows me knows, I love motorcycles, so it was great to try this new bike. The boost button gives it a real kick, and the bike felt super planted. I had to do a bit of a turnaround at one point on a tricky camber and the reverse feature is something you didn’t know you needed until you have it! 

I’ve been playing my Hybrid sets for a while now with the concept being mixing existing tracks and making new music at the same time, so with this in mind I thought it was time to try the world’s first Hybrid from Kawasaki and I glad I did!” 

Visitors to his show in London next month may well spot the Z 7 Hybrid up close, as Carl will be bringing it to the iconic Camden Roundhouse, on September 8th. 

This weekend, stunt rider Jonny Davies, AKA JD Stunts, set a new Guinness World Record for being the fastest person to be dragged behind a motorcycle. Using the supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, he recorded an incredible 159.52mph, breaking the 25-year-old existing record.

Taking place at Elvington Airfield as part of the 2024 Ultimate Supercar Event, JD Stunts wowed the crowds with his incredible feat. Already a two-time Guinness World Record holder, late last year, Jonny set his sights on breaking the record for the fastest speed dragged behind a motorcycle, which was previously set by Gary Rothwell in 1999. 

After speaking with Kawasaki at Motorcycle Live last year, it was clear the supercharged Ninja H2 SX would be the perfect machine for accelerating hard in the short distance available while maintaining stability. The bike remained completely stock, apart from a specially fitted secondary throttle at the rear of the machine that would allow Jonny to continue accelerating while skiing behind. 

Having had several practice runs over the summer, all eyes were on JD on Sunday, August 18th to see if he could break the long-standing record. With two official attempts, the County Durham rider fell just 2mph short on his first run before setting a new Guinness World Record of 159.52mph on his second. 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department:
“As soon as Jonny came to see us at Motorcycle Live last year and explained what he wanted to do, we were hooked! We discussed a couple of different bikes in our range, but the Ninja H2 SX was by far the best tool for the job. His dedication and attention to detail are unrivalled, and we are so pleased to see Jonny break the record! It was a nerve-wracking experience watching the attempt, but it was fantastic to witness the achievement along with a huge supportive crowd!” 

Jonny Davies:
“One word to sum up my feelings after breaking the world record… overwhelmed! It was brilliant to see so many people turn out to support the attempt on the day.  

It has been amazing having the support from Kawasaki UK, putting their trust in me at the very beginning of the project, supplying a specially adapted Ninja H2SX, which was the perfect tool for the job. The bike passed the ultimate stability test of 159.522mph with no rider and pulled like a train even with me getting dragged along the floor behind it!  

Now for what’s next…”

The popular Versys 650 adventure tourer and much-loved Vulcan S are both set for a colour refresh for the 2025 sales season.

A relatively recent and welcome addition to the Kawasaki range, the Eliminator 500 will continue to be available in two model specifications in 2025 with potential owners being able to select from three new colour ways.

On July 20, Kawasaki Motors, a member of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, conducted the world's first public demonstration run of a hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) motorcycle by a mass-production motorcycle manufacturer at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

With 2024 marking 25 years since the initial record of 156mph was set by Gary Rothwell, County Durham’s Jonny Davies aims to increase that to 160mph or more this August. The two-time Guinness World Record holder will be using a modified Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, which features a secondary throttle fitted to the rear of the bike to allow him to continue to accelerate while skiing behind.

Having held several practice runs already, Jonny will have a few more practices before attempting to break the record on Sunday, August 18th, at Elvington Airfield. The record attempt will be part of the lineup for the 2024 Ultimate Supercar event, which will see dozens of elite sports and supercars showcase their own top speeds.

“It has been exciting watching Jonny’s progress with the Ninja H2 SX so far and to now have the record attempt date and location confirmed is fantastic. We are pleased that it’s taking place at such a well-attended event and look forward to our Supercharged machine being showcased in front of thousands of motorsport enthusiasts!” 

“I’m really excited to confirm the date and set my sights on securing a new Guinness World Record. I’ve already done several runs on the Ninja H2 SX, and while these have primarily been to start testing the throttle and other components, we have already been able to reach 120mph! I have a couple more practices before the 18th, where I will be looking to build on that speed and ensure everything is in place for the big day!”

Winners of the 1980 350cc World Championship fielding Jon Ekerold on a two-cylinder, two stroke Bimota YB3 machine, success was also achieved in TT Formula 1 with legend Virginio Ferrari aboard a YB4R taking the Championship honours in1987. No strangers to four stroke machinery, Bimota won no less than seven races in the very first World Superbike Championship year of 1988 thanks to Davide Tardozzi (5) and Stephane Mertens (2). Even as late as the year 2000, Bimota were still able to achieve a WorldSBK race win thanks to the late, great Anthony Gobert aboard an SB8R machine mounting the top step of the podium at a wet Phillip Island race weekend.

For the 2025 season, Bimota is partnering with Kawasaki in a joint venture which will result in a Bimota chassis with Kawasaki engine (plus allied technology), competing in WorldSBK. Not only will the donor Ninja ZX-10RR powerplant be familiar, but also many of the team staff as Kawasaki transfers its efforts into the Bimota racing program marking a landmark moment in the journey of the Kawasaki Racing Team after nearly four decades in the premier global racing series based on production machines that can be purchased at dealerships.

Recognising not just the legacy of Kawasaki in Superbike racing, but also the close cooperation and synergies between majority Bimota shareholder, Kawasaki, and the Rimini based Italian manufacturer, the new team will operate under the title of Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.

Fielding a machine jointly developed by Bimota and Kawasaki, the new team will play a pivotal role in the wider global recognition and market presence of the Bimota brand as well as being crucial in highlighting the hand built craftsmanship and care that goes into the creation of every Bimota product. This wider appreciation of the Bimota brand and its core racing DNA is also expected to create increased demand and sales of Bimota street motorcycles. 

Speaking about the new direction for Kawasaki in WorldSBK, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. Hiroshi Ito, stated: “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”.  

On behalf of Bimota, COO, Pierluigi Marconi, commented:
“The engineering, technology and day to day business support already offered by Kawasaki has put Bimota firmly back into the consciousness of the media and potential customers, now it is time to take a next step in our evolution.Bimota has had racing as part of its DNA from day one and to compete in WorldSBK alongside developing our new product range, while expanding the European and global dealer network, has an undeniable logic to it.

With the unparalleled experience of the existing Kawasaki racing team experts plus the full support and cooperation of Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. in Japan fills us with pride and optimism. The Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team will surely form the foundations of the next chapter in the Bimota story”.

KRT Team Manager, Guim Roda, concluded:
“In the past thirteen years, myself, and all of those at the KRT workshop in Granollers, have dedicated ourselves wholeheartedly to the Kawasaki Superbike project and garnered seven WorldSBK rider titles in that time plus numerous team and manufacturer awards. Now – after Kawasaki competing for nearly four decades in the Superbike championship – we are proud to be part of a new era forming the infrastructure of the new Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.

For sure we will spare some time to reflect on and celebrate the heritage of Kawasaki in Superbike racing, but we are also extremely excited to be a core component of this new Bimota and Kawasaki joint venture. This is an evolution for Kawasaki’s approach to the top level of production racing and we are honoured to play our role in this new project. I am confident we have the technology and human resources necessary to succeed and it will be a fresh, energising experience fielding an impressive two rider team in the 2025 Motul FIM WorldSBK Championship.”   

Kawasaki UK is excited to announce that James Hillier will be returning to Team Green for the 2024 Isle of Man TT, reuniting with long-time partner Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing to compete in the Supersport class aboard a 40th anniversary-liveried Ninja ZX-6R! 

The pairing have enjoyed a rich history at the iconic event, securing multiple podium finishes together across multiple classes. However, it’s been the Supersport class where they have enjoyed the most success, scoring five podiums with the Ninja ZX-6R. 

After several years away, the Bournemouth Kawasaki team is returning to the Isle of Man TT and will be partnering with Hillier once again. With 2024 marking the 40th anniversary of the iconic Kawasaki Ninja brand, the team will be running the latest ZX-6R in the highly popular green, white and blue anniversary colours. 

James Hillier:
“I’m excited to be back with Pete and the team at Bournemouth Kawasaki once again for the Supersport races. We collectively have a lot of knowledge and data after many years racing together and at the TT that’s a crucial element to being competitive.” 

Pete Extance, Bournemouth Kawasaki Team Owner:
“We are really looking forward to our return to the Isle of Man TT as Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing, which we are proud to say is an in-house dealer effort. The TT is, without doubt, the best road race in the world, and we are over the moon to be back involved in 2024. It’s a great honour to be running James again, and even more so with the 40th Anniversary liveried Ninja machine. Big thanks to Kawasaki UK for the support.” 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department:
“We are really happy to welcome James back into the Kawasaki fold for the Supersport races this year. Together with Pete and the Bournemouth Kawasaki team we have collectively enjoyed a great deal of success over the years, so we are really hopeful of more trophies in 2024! We’d like to thank both Pete and James for pulling this together, and we can’t wait to see him head off down Bray Hill on what will be a stunning retro-themed Ninja ZX-6R!”

Voted for by fans, the three stunning machines were revealed live on the Kawasaki stand at Motorcycle Live today and are available to order from dealers now.

With 2024 marking the 40th anniversary of the Ninja brand, Kawasaki UK worked with Kar Lee Design to create a range of liveries for the ZX-10RR inspired by retro colourways from the last four decades. Kawasaki’s social media followers voted for their favourite, with UK specialist SprayBay then turning the three most popular ones into reality before their appearance on the Kawasaki UK Motorcycle Live stand. 

There are just 40 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RRs available, each with anniversary plates set into the top yokes bearing the special moniker of 1 of only 40 and the anniversary logo.  Customers will be able to choose their favourite from the three designs. 

In addition to the unique colourways, each bike will be a Performance Edition, featuring an Akrapovic muffler, pillion seat cover, smoked windshield and tank pad. Customers will also receive a paddock stand, a special bike cover, and a Ninja 40th anniversary keyring. 

The anniversary ZX-10RR will cost £26,599 and is available to order from dealers now.  

Having already unveiled several 40th anniversary Ninja models for the 2024 range in the racetrack influenced ZXR livery of blue, white and green, Kawasaki has now gone full throttle with the announcement of two further celebration models – but with a twist. 

Reimagining the famous 1985 Ninja 900 colours for a today’s riding generation, the new season line will now include 40th Anniversary Editions of the Ninja 1000SX and Ninja 650, resplendent in black, silver and red livery redolent of early USA market Ninja models retailed in Europe under the GPz brand name.

The unmistakable two-tone Firecracker Red and Ebony colours are inspired by the 1985 Kawasaki GPZ900R with the colour of the silver line separating the red and ebony panels carefully selected to match the brightness of the original.

Additionally, on top of the fuel tank, a 40th anniversary emblem sit proudly. Designed in a style similar to a championship sticker and reminiscent of the 1980s racing scene, the outline of the “Ninja” logo was reproduced using the original designs while the “Liquid-Cooled” logo used elsewhere symbolises the transition from air-cooled to liquid-cooled engines in the late 80s.Attention to detail abounds with the eye-catching addition of silver-coloured wheel rim tape representing the texture of the machined wheels of the 1980s.

Predicted to be a highly popular and collectable iteration of the Ninja family, all 40th Edition models will be available in showrooms alongside a vibrant range of standard colourways for the 2024 season.

Making the future a feature of today, Kawasaki hopes that a new generation of riders will enjoy and celebrate four decades of Ninja in the nest way possible; on the open road at the controls of an iconic sports machine.