Bimota To Return To WorldSBK, Joining Forces With KRT

By David Emmett |

A new name is to enter the WorldSBK paddock. Or rather, an old name is to make a return. Today, Kawasaki announced that Italian bike builder Bimota are to take over the running of their WorldSBK program, with the KRT team switching from Kawasaki to Bimota.

Though at first glance, it looks like a withdrawal by Kawasaki and the entry of Bimota, it is a little more complicated than that. As a major shareholder in Bimota, Kawasaki have decided to switch their focus from promoting their own Kawasaki brand to marketing the more upmarket and sports-oriented Bimota brand.

The KRT team, currently fielding Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani, will continue in 2025, though they will be running Bimotas - Kawasaki ZX10-RR engines in Bimota chassis. The team will run under the name Bimota by Kawasaki, to make the link between the two clear.

Though this is a switching of focus rather than a new entry, the Bimota will need to be homologated for use, as it is sufficiently different from the ZX10-RR. The bike will have to be available for sale to the public, with 125 units produced on the date of the homologation, 250 at the end of the first year of competition (in this case, 2025), and 500 sold by 31st December the year after that.

This move would seem to indicate a shift in marketing direction for Kawasaki. By reducing the visibility of the Kawasaki name in WorldSBK, and promoting Bimota, the Japanese factory appear to be aiming to boost sales of the high-end Bimota machines, and use that as a so-called halo project. Kawasaki may then focus more on more road-based machines.

More on this from WorldSBK specialist Steve English later this week.

The press release from Kawasaki announcing the return of Bimota appears below:

Bimota returns to WorldSBK in 2025

The iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota is set to return to the world racing stage in 2025 competing in the Motul FIM WorldSBK Championship.

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.”

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Comments

I'll have to admit upfront I am a bit of a Bimota tragic, having some experience with them (owned a YB6 Exup for 20 years now, and have first hand experience of others).  My interest peters out in the late 90's though, the 'oragami' style since the relaunch of the company with the Tesi 2D and onwards doesn't appeal, and since the Kawasaki buyout even less so.  Nonetheless, still a soft spot for them and it'll be nice to see the brand out there even if it is not really what Bimota used to be.

The press release does not mention the bike, will it be their present KB4 or something new?  Is the KB4 a WSBK bike?  It doesn't really seem like it.  Merlin made a good point that this allows Kawasaki to build a high priced WSBK special without the limitations of the ZX10 street bike and the requirement to sell that at a sensible price - if indeed it even continues.

^ Bregs, interesting. How was the Marzocchi suspension for you? Always thought the FZR's were the best bike late 80's but didn't even know Bimotas existed. I still don't think I've seen one riding around in the flesh.

Kind of exciting, looks a shake up for sure! Kawasaki has been making some bikes that don't fit a need or mold recently (250 and 400 RR inline 4's just lately, 636 broke the 600 mold and was a legend a while back, H2 obviously being damn near bizarre...). Huh! Still shocked.

"Best axe I've ever had right here, replaced the handle three times and the head twice."

;)

v So now crystal balling betweenst WSBK and MotoGP bending trajectory with this...oh boy! Ok, so for sure Ezpeleta is pursuing another manu for 2027. BMW says they are interested in his flirtations. KTM has been saying they could add a third sister to make it triplets for 6 bikes, and he holds them off due to limited space in his bed. Ducati is is right now changing it's dowry size since she is so very tantalizing, some belt tightening within 2nd/3rd Teams. Done in tandem with the matchmaking of currently awkward phase ugly duckling Yamaha. Who used to treat their partners with relative disregard! Leftovers for a small rice and fish meal yet again no longer suffices!

First one Duc customer or Pramac coughs up more $/agrees to less $ support from Red...Yellow or Purple? Then, one of the remaining two gets engaged to the Blue ugly duckling. THEN no news as we are in a stable situation in GP's.

Fast fwd to Fall of 2025. We are in a tougher global economic situation. Kawasaki isn't coming to MotoGP any time soon. People are glad Honda managed to get their act together privately and are steady onward. No one looks to be leaving either MotoGP nor WSBK. BMW is enjoying WSBK, and...(no MotoGP because economic downturn?).

Out of left field though, there IS a new entry into lower barrier WSBK. From a collab of CFMOTO or QJMotors with an engine and tech/staff supplier. KTM is the most likely, and the other may surprise.

Kawasaki - Bimota "halo project" now. Chinese - (?) collab next. Let's keep keen eyes out for breadcrumbs eh? Some more are there now...one it WON'T be is Honda, they are so pissed off re being stolen from for the Chondas they would die first.

For sure the Chinese manus are coming! Will it be gassers or E-motos first? The Koreans are making the best batteries, going into the Chinese bikes that don't catch fire. I'd say gassers first, in collab w limited success. Then when MotoE goes multi manu, the Chinese are here just like the Japanese put the 1970's British in their place.

1st Chinese gasser is HERE NOW in WSS. 800cc inline 4 CBR650 thievery that isn't on the pace. 1st E-moto is in competition with the gassers on track doing just fine, Euro Energica in the USA nationals "kitchen sink" just below Supersport performance levels..."Super Hooligans." Very popular and fun.

Some serious inter breeding going on. Up in MotoGP there is a tough floor to break through. And a ceiling of grid spots. But from below we have a great changing varied organic upswell.

If you made it to here, chime in? What has your excitement or interest? Have a dissenting view?

Does the 2027 Rulebook mark the descent of gassers? Or just mirror the 800cc period? What aren't we talking about?

THIS WEEKEND MIGHT ACOSTA OR MARQUEZ WIN?! 

Wait. What?

What’s next? Suzuki returning with an all new 1K and full factory effort?

Jonathan Rea leaving Yamaha for KOVE?

Toprak moving down to SSP to ride for QJMotor? 

This move makes zero sense and seems like it would fit into an April 1 story more than reality. 🤔

It sorta makes sense from a marketing and business point of view. Kawasaki is leaning heavily into the electric motorcycle trend/future so, to them, it would make sense to distance themselves from ICE bikes. While, at the same time, they can continue ICE production under the Bimota banner and build that brand up to compete with the European manufacturers.

But ICE isn’t going away anytime soon, so Kawasaki could be hedging their bets and reducing expenses to prepare for an uncertain future. Time will tell…