Bimota will be returning to the world of racing, competing in the Motul FIM WorldSBK Championship. They are set to return in 2025.
In 1980, South African Jon Ekerold won the 350cc World Championship on a two-cylinder, two-stroke Bimota YB3 which was a self modified Yamaha TZ350 motor in a Bimota chassis.
A few years later in 1987 Virginio Ferrari won the TT Formula 1 Championship on a Bimota YB4R. Bimota also achieved seven race wins in the first World Superbike Championship on four-stroke bikes in 1988 by team riders Stephane Mertens and Davide Tardozzi.
Let’s not forget the wet race at Phillip Island that was won by the great Anthony Gobert on his SB8R machine back in the year 2000.
Bimota will join Kawasaki for the 2025 season, running a Kawasaki ZX-10RR motor wrapped in a Bimota chassis. The legacy of Kawasaki will live on in superbike racing – just under the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team banner.
Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes will be the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders, with Florian Marino as the test rider.
The aim of Bimota and Kawasaki joining forces is to bring Bimota back into the spotlight and to be recognised again for their hand built craftsmanship of every Bimota product.
Bimota’s core racing DNA is also expected to rekindle the demand and sales of Bimota street bikes.
“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”.
President and CEO of Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. Hiroshi Ito.
COO, Pierluigi Marconi of Bimota 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.”
Sounds like some great synergy!
