With a guest list of journalists that spanned the globe, the 5.54km race venue proved an ideal location to put the new machine through its paces and for riders to Get Closer to riding perfection. 

Benefiting from the most advanced electronic rider aid package the company has ever designed, the event was attended by the Project Leader of the new machine, Yoshimoto Matsuda, who was keen to pass on his accumulated knowledge to the many guests explaining Kawasaki’s electronic rider aid philosophy.

Day long riding sessions for each guest included a chance to experience the latest KTRC sports traction control and the new Cornering Management Function that assists accurate cornering while braking employing the state-of-the-art ABS system.

“Our system was already advanced but now we are at the next stage”, stated Matsuda-San during the machine presentation. “Previous Kawasaki systems were setting and then reaction types, now we move to a feedback type with an Inertial Measurement Unit and unique Kawasaki software which measures your actual riding situation rather than forcing you to use rigid set parameters. It puts us on another level and ahead of our competitors”.

As a product developed in the white heat of the World Superbike Championship, the new Ninja ZX-10R enjoys many mechanical, chassis and electronic innovations including stunning new Showa Balance Free front Forks (BFF) and a balance free cushion type rear shock absorber, another facet that was highly acclaimed by journalists and KRT team members who attended the launch.

Since 2011, Tom Sykes and his crew chief, Marcel Duinker, gradually developed the Ninja ZX-10R taking the 2013 title and two runner-up spots in four racing seasons. Having both of them at the Sepang launch event underscored the KRT partnership with the KHI development team and Tom was proud of the sheer number of his development wishes incorporated into the new machine.   

“The first few laps I did put a smile on my face - because it is the work we have done over the last few years that have defined the bike that we have now. Kawasaki has done a great job and we have a much better base for 2016.”

And for 2015 World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea, Sepang delivered the chance to really get to know the machine that will form the basis of his title defence. Along with two KRT technicians and his Crew Chief, Pere Riba, track time on the new bike revealed its qualities to the Northern Irish rider.

“I got three good days on track and did a lot of riding on the new model, which is an amazing bike in itself. It seems Kawasaki have built a production bike really close to the race bike; it feels really good.”
As media reports are published and appear on-line Kawasaki dealers across Europe are gearing up for customer deliveries of the three initial colour options of KRT edition in classic racing Lime Green, a Metallic Matt Carbon Grey model and the KRT Winter Test Edition in Flat Ebony with its “Snowflake” graphic treatment.