Breaking news
World Superbike
Kawasaki unveils 2019 World Superbike challenger
Dominant World Superbike manufacturer Kawasaki has revealed its 2019-specification ZX-10RR, the bike Jonathan Rea hopes will carry him to a fifth straight title.
David Gruz
Edited: Feb 16, 2019, 9:59 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Rea was again unbeatable in WSBK last year, becoming the rider with the most race wins in the series' history as he claimed his fourth straight championship crown with ease.
The Ulsterman signed a new contract to remain with the Provec Racing-run outfit for a further two seasons, rejecting possible opportunities to switch to MotoGP.
But Kawasaki has made a change in its WSBK line-up for the first time since 2015, with reigning British Superbike champion Leon Haslam returning to the series to replace Tom Sykes.
"It's like a dream," Haslam said. "I had nine good years in WSBK but I never had an opportunity like this, to be involved with KRT, joining the team that's dominated the last four years.
"I want to get the most out of this bike and package and if I do that, I should be fighting hopefully with Jonathan.
"I'm not going to give myself any targets, I just want to get the most out of myself and the bike and enjoy my racing.
"Always the aim is to win and that is what I am here to do."
Sykes, who's now part of the works BMW team, had endured his worst season since his 2013 title last year as he won just two races and scored 373 points versus Rea's haul of 545.
Haslam, a one-time 500cc full-timer with the Hardwick Honda outfit back in 2001, will embark on his first full campaign in WSBK since 2015.
Kawasaki will be the sixth different bike the 35-year-old has ridden in the series after Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, BMW and Aprilia. He finished runner-up to Max Biaggi in 2010 with Suzuki.
The team has enjoyed a strong start to the season in pre-season testing, with Rea setting the pace at Jerez and Haslam taking third behind Yamaha's Alex Lowes.
Rea was again fastest in the following test at Portimao, with Haslam ending up fourth.
"[Testing] has gone really smooth this year," Rea said. "With the new bike, generally it's taken me quite a lot of time to adapt in the past, but it seems like Kawasaki are not just taking the new regulations but all my comments for these last years and applying it to the bike.
"I felt straight away in the winter we understood what we need to do and step by step we arrived."
Testing continues on Monday at Phillip Island ahead of next weekend's season opener at the Australian track.
4
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bautista: Ducati V4 still "too immature" to win
Next article Honda unveils bike for factory World Superbike return
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Gruz
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
World Superbike
World Superbike Feb 21, 2020
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
World Superbike
World Superbike Feb 18, 2020
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
MotoGP
MotoGP
Sepang February testing
Feb 13, 2020
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
More from
Leon Haslam
BMW calls up Haslam for Imola after Sykes' Donington crash
World Superbike
World Superbike
Imola
Jul 11, 2023
BMW calls up Haslam for Imola after Sykes' Donington crash
Kawasaki "can't be disappointed" with second in Suzuka 8 Hours
FIM Endurance
FIM Endurance
Suzuka 8 Hours
Aug 8, 2022
Kawasaki "can't be disappointed" with second in Suzuka 8 Hours
Kawasaki to enter factory team in 2022 Suzuka 8 Hours
FIM Endurance
FIM Endurance May 25, 2022
Kawasaki to enter factory team in 2022 Suzuka 8 Hours
More from
Kawasaki Racing
Kawasaki to shut down factory WSBK team at end of 2024
World Superbike
World Superbike Apr 24, 2024
Kawasaki to shut down factory WSBK team at end of 2024
Kawasaki signs Bassani to replace Yamaha-bound Rea in WSBK
World Superbike
World Superbike Sep 29, 2023
Kawasaki signs Bassani to replace Yamaha-bound Rea in WSBK
Lowes to skip Aragon WSBK round after knee surgery
World Superbike
World Superbike
Aragon
Sep 21, 2023
Lowes to skip Aragon WSBK round after knee surgery
Latest news
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe