Kawasaki has just announced that it will no longer participate in the Australian Superbike Championship with immediate effect. MCNews Australia has reported that Kawasaki Motors Australia is withdrawing all racing support in ASBK for 2022, following the tough couple of frustrating seasons that manufacturers have had in racing.
Kelvin Reilly, Owner/Manager, Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team, expressed his disappointment in a statement, saying, “I spent my UK racing career with Kawasaki, and it was a goal of mine to take the Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team to a championship in the ASBK series. The achievement of that goal has eluded the team to this point. We are proud of everything the team has done to date. As a supported team, the presentation and performance have always been on-point. The small family-oriented team has strived to take it to the factory teams. There have been superb highs – like Bryan’s winning round in ASBK at The Bend in SA.”
He went on to say, “Through the years, some of Australia’s best riders have stepped into the team, and we thank all of them. This year Bryan Staring and Josh Waters put in the hours and energy, but the racing season was again interrupted, and their potential on the 2021 Ninja ZX-10RR was left unrealized. We wish both riders all the best for 2022. BCperformance Racing Team is now focussing forward to great things in 2022. Thank you to Kawasaki Australia for the support through the years. This change of direction is severely disappointing, personally and for Australian Racing, but we look forward to the next era.”
As it stands, the BCperformance Kawasaki team, with riders Bryan Staring and Josh Waters, will not be participating in the final round of the 2021 ASBK Championship that is set to take place at The Bend in South Australia early next month. MCNews points out that this is rather unfortunate considering the fact that the team was quite successful the last time it was here, with Bryan Staring racking up three race wins from three starts.
Bryan Staring is currently at a joint fifth — with Ducati’s Oli Bayliss — in the 2021 Australian Superbike Championship with 87 points. His teammate sits tenth in the standings with 53 points.
Robert Walker, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Kawasaki Motors Australia, mentioned, “Kawasaki Australia is grateful to have collaborated with great riders and teams through the years. Kelvin Reilly has proven to be a passionate and capable owner/manager who supplied valuable feedback on the Ninja ZX-10RR. Over the years, Kawasaki has been privileged to work with A-Grade riders; in Australia and internationally, Kawasaki has enjoyed long-term relationships with Bryan Staring and Matt Walters. We thank them for many years of solid riding.”