Kawasaki out of WSBK? Bimota in?

https://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/1047349/1/official-bimota-return-wsbk-forming-new-team-kawasaki

I’m trying to understand if this means Kawasaki is out or if it’s a second team?

 

I seriously doubt that Kawi would sacrifice a huge, global brand name for a small Italian boutique name. Anyway, it says: "forming new team with Kawasaki".

 

From the language, it appears that Kawasaki as a Factory Team is out (shifting of personnel etc..) Makes sense as they are part owners of the brand.

 

Sure reads like Kawi, as we currently know it, is out.

 

A lot of the articles going up on the intragores are saying it’s the end of Kawasaki as a factory team. Wonder if Provec Racing will remain involved or if they’ll be gone?

 

I haven't read that article.

But I did see news elsewhere Bimota to WSBK in 2025.

 

Right as my boy Axle got a factory ride, but before he (eventually) figured it out.
Oof

 

https://www.mcnews.com.au/2000-worldsbk-results-phillip-island/

 

https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2024/Bimota+returns+to+WorldSBK+in+2025

 

I believe they are, everything posted officially points to it.

 

So what are the homologation requirements for a company Bimota's size; how many bikes are they required to produce?

 

https://us.motorsport.com/wsbk/news/kawasaki-to-shut-down-factory-wsbk-team-at-end-of-2024/10602783/

 

Damn

 

Maybe this is a play from Kawasaki.
By partnering with Bimota they can have more freedom to develop a higher end bike (with whatever they need to be more competitive racing) without having to create a ZX10RRRRR that no one would buy.

 

That ain't dumb.

 

Its dumb. The reason why manuf's race is to sell bikes on Monday. Sure, Bimota will sell more bikes, but the potential market there is 1/100th of Kawasaki's.

 

How does that math work out when Kawasaki owns 49% of Bimota?

 

You know big bore superbikes don't sell anymore unless they also happen to be a status symbol from Italy (or Germany), right? Right now, ZX10RR sales probably don't do anything for Kawasaki's bottom line anyway. Oh, and they don't win anymore either. So right now, the situation is " not winning on Sunday, doesn't make a difference on Monday."

 

So Rea quit them, and they gave up just like that, after less than a half year.

 

Maybe he got a heads up