Kawasaki Racing adds EVO entry

The official Kawasaki Racing factory team has confirmed it will enter the newly-created World Superbike EVO class in 2014 with a view to getting a head-start on development for new regulations in 2015.

The official Kawasaki team, which won the 2013 World Superbike Championship with Tom Sykes, had been tipped to expand into the new category after entering an EVO-specification ZX-10R for David Salom during private off-season testing.

Seen as an opportunity to get a head-start on development for 2015, when the series is expected to introduce EVO-inspired regulations across the grid, Salom will ride with full support from Provec Racing-run outfit alongside Sykes and Loris Baz.

A return to full-time WSBK competition for Salom, who participated in a handful of races last season as a replacement for the injured Baz, the Spaniard is setting his sights on the inaugural EVO title.

"I am very happy with this opportunity because it is a very good project and a very good team. Helping with the developing the bike is very important for me and the main part of my job is to prepare for 2015 when everyone will be riding on an EVO bike.

"I am not sure what we can achieve in terms of race results this year but we have tested the bike at Motorland Aragon, Jerez and Almeria and the lap times have been very good. I think we can fight at the front of the EVO class but even more important is the positive development of the machine. The Kawasaki is a very good bike to start with in the EVO class, as all aspects of it work well. We have not changed many parts so far but we have still posted fast lap times."

Part of Kawasaki's plan to maintain development of the ZX-10R throughout the season and into 2015, KRT Racing Manager Steve Gutteridge is delighted to see his title-winning team expanding.

"It is very good news that we will enter an official EVO Superbike inside our Kawasaki Racing Team this season. The FIM Superbike World Championship is changing under the new promoters Dorna, and we need to evolve with the rules of the series if we are to maintain our current momentum of success in this category.

"The team has the knowledge, and importantly the full support of the factory, to work on the extra EVO bike project within KRT's overall set up this season. In David Salom we have a great all-round Kawasaki-minded rider, to not only help make the required developments for 2015 but also to race for top EVO class honours come the end of the 2014 series."