Kawasaki 'as good as Ducati' - EXCLUSIVE

[Lone Wolf]

From: http://www.crash.net

Results so far this season might not reflect it, but the view from inside the Kawasaki Racing Team is that the Ninja ZX-RR is now 'on a par with the Yamaha and Ducati'.
With the first five rounds of the 2007 MotoGP World Championship complete, Kawasaki is listed just fifth in the constructors' championship - behind Ducati, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki - but in terms of pure performance many, both inside and outside the paddock, rate the ZX-RR much more highly.

But what does Kawasaki itself believe? Crash.net asked Kawasaki Racing Team communications manager Ian Wheeler where he thinks the ZX-RR currently stands in the new 800cc hierarchy.

Kawasaki approached the 2007 season with more than just the new engine rules to overcome; lead rider Shinya Nakano left the team for a Honda ride, while the lack of a firm debut date for the company's 800 saw other leading riders also commit elsewhere.

Kawasaki turned to test rider Olivier Jacque to fill the void alongside 2006 rookie Randy de Puniet, but much bigger changes were occurring behind the scenes as the factory split from team principal Harald Eckl and brought its race team 'in-house' under the guidance of new racing director Ichiro Yoda.

Such upheaval might sound like a recipe for disaster, but Kawasaki was determined to prove its doubters wrong - and the new ZX-RR was quick from the word go, then heavily developed, resulting in an eye-catching 12BHP increase since the opening round...

"As you say, the development of the Ninja ZX-RR has been fairly rapid over the past few months," began Wheeler. "The bike we rolled out for pre-season testing was competitive from the off, because the fundamental design was good. However, it was pretty obvious straight away that there was a top speed deficit when you compared our bike to the Yamaha and, especially, the Ducati.

"After the Jerez race we tested some minor modifications to the fuel injection system and the electronics package, which gave us an increase in power of around 6 BHP. The changes also allowed us to increase our rev limit by a significant amount, without impacting on fuel consumption.

"At the Chinese Grand Prix we tested some more modifications to the engine and fuel injection system that offered a further increase of around 6 BHP and the results of this increase could be clearly seen with the top speed figures at the end of the 1.2 kilometre straight in Shanghai, where Randy and Olivier were regularly top five through the speed trap."

Unfortunately, such technical advances have yet to translate directly into race results, with de Puniet finishing a best of eighth (twice) and former 250cc world champion Jacque just 12th so far this year. Nevertheless, Wheeler believes the machine itself is now as good anything on the MotoGP grid, including the triple race-winning Ducati and Valentino Rossi's Yamaha (one race win).

"At this point in time I would say that our Ninja ZX-RR is on a par with the Yamaha and the Ducati, although the Ducati still has a significant advantage when it comes to top speed," he stated. "The results might say otherwise at the moment, but I think we're currently ahead of both Honda and [Le Mans winner] Suzuki.

"Our biggest problem is that, so far, we haven't had a result that truly reflects the progress we've made with the Ninja ZX-RR since the start of the season. Both Randy and Olivier have had some bad luck so far this season and, as a result, neither of them has been able to fully realise the potential of the Ninja ZX-RR yet. We hope this will change in the very near future."

Jacque's bad luck includes triggering a first lap accident at Istanbul, then suffering a nasty arm injury next time out at Shanghai - ruling him out of his home French Grand Prix. Countryman de Puniet led a premier-class race for the first time in the wet conditions at Le Mans, only to fall before he had chance to pit for a bike change.

The French GP was the second event this season to feature an all-Bridgestone podium and Wheeler was quick to credit Kawasaki's tyre supplier for their part in improving the ZX-RR.

"I have to say, while we've definitely made some big steps forward with the Ninja ZX-RR, the same is also true of Bridgestone this year, and the tyres that they have supplied so far are a major contributory factor in the competitiveness of our Ninja ZX-RR," he said.

Such competitiveness has recently been acknowledged by the likes of Rossi's crew chief Jerry Burgess and, in a reversal of the 990cc era - when Kawasaki struggled to attract a leading rider - Wheeler revealed that the team has already been approached by 'a number of top riders' regarding a 2008 seat.

"Despite the disappointing results so far, people are starting to notice just how competitive a package Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR, together with the Bridgestone tyres, is," he said. "And not just Jerry Burgess; already we've had approaches from a number of top riders about the possibility of riding for Kawasaki in 2008, which never happened with the previous 990cc version of the Ninja ZX-RR."

[Wattie]

i hate all that swearing...

"fuel consumption"

my ass, make the farker GO!!

[Rusty]

Translation: "We've got the bike, now we just need some riders."

[Wattie]

nail says

"ouch! Rusty hit my head"

[Neka79]

interesting....

wonder if rossi is up for a new challenge?? being that the yamy isnt good enuf to challenge casey..maybe he will beg honda for another ride??

cant go out a loser can he??

[mfzx6r]

Neka Rossi has signed with yamaha for the next 2 years I think.

As said they have the bike but need the riders ........

I think Nakers is spewing that move to Honda was a real winner !

[Neka79]

Neka Rossi has signed with yamaha for the next 2 years I think.



I think Nakers is spewing that move to Honda was a real winner !

yes i kno...and yes i agree....

still, rossi has the skill to develop the kwak...and how many kwaks would sell if vale rode one!!