New Ninja shines in Superstock
Now with some major wins to its credit, the brand new 2011 Ninja ZX-10R is proving its worth in Superstock racing, one of the most relevant competition classes for road riders.
Sharing the same basic specification as a machine bought from any Kawasaki dealer – and with very few modifications from standard allowed by the strict Superstock rules – these bikes can truly be said to be most like those ridden to events and owned by Kawasaki enthusiasts. And while the more complicated evolution of the machine into a Superbike contender continues apace, there is much to take note of and applaud according to Racing Coordinator for Kawasaki Motors UK, Ross Burridge.
“What a great springboard Michael Dunlop’s Superstock win in the Royal London 360 Superstock race at the TT in June was. With most race laps knocking on the door of a 130mph average, and a gruelling four laps of the 37 ¾ mountain course to navigate, that’s over 150 miles of tooth and nail racing on the world’s toughest course. Michael’s win was fantastic – especially as it was by such a margin over second place man, John McGuiness and fellow TT specialist, Guy Martin.
Add to that Michael’s spectacular recent win at the super-fast Ulster Grand Prix, again ahead of Guy Martin with Gary Johnston in third and Ninja ZX-10R mounted Ian Lougher in a solid fourth, and you can see this is a great real roads machine .”
Establishing its credentials on the fast and often bumpy roads circuits of the TT and on the Irish mainland in the hands of skilled exponents like Dunlop, Cummins plus, of course, KMR Kawasaki rider, Ryan Farquhar, the range leading Ninja is proving that as both a road race bike and a full-out circuit racer it has what it takes in stock or near stock form.
With five major wins so far on a combination of roads and tight, twisty mainlined circuits, Ryan Farquhar is certainly getting to grips with the mighty Ninja according to Burridge.
“Like other riders and teams who have taken delivery of a brand new bike this year, there is a certain amount of set up chassis-wise that has to be discovered either in pre-season testing or during practice. The TT, in particular, was challenging for Ryan as it is such a special set of circumstances. Overall, the zone in which the new ZX-10R works is becoming more familiar and paying dividends as Ryan’s two Cookstown and three Scarborough wins on his KME Superstock bike attest to.”
On the BSB trail too, the latest in the long and auspicious Ninja line has put riders on all steps of the podium in its very first season of racing. Team Green rider, Danny Buchan, had an early season flush of success on his MSS Colchester Kawasaki Superstock bike and quickly created a comfortable lead in the Metzeler Superstock 1000 Series run in conjunction with the British Superbike Championship. But for an uncharacteristic fall as a guest rider in a European race, the Essex youngster might well have a greater margin of comfort – not that this is of much worry to team mate, Howie Mainwaring who put himself on the top step of the podium at Brands Hatch recently doing his own Championship chances a world of good.
“Can’t say enough about the bike to be fair”,commented Howie.“Just look at the lap times, it’s nearly on par with a full Superbike at some tracks and the power and handling are superb. I had not won since 2009 and to be able to push so hard, be overtaken and then snatch the lead back so convincingly for the win was awesome. It’s so close to a road bike I bet road riders must love the whole power, handling and braking package of the 10R…I know I do! It’s not just me and Danny though, at Brands there were seven Ninja ZX-10R riders in the top fifteen and three in the top ten. That proves what a popular and successful Superstock bike its turning out to be”.
For Ross Burridge, this continuing wave of Superstock success points towards eventual results in the very much more demanding Superbike arena.
“I can’t praise the achievements highly enough of the road racers and those on short circuits who have adopted the new Ninja ZX-10R as their ride of choice in Superstock. It’s proven to be a great base package and we congratulate them on their success.Now we have established this platform, it’s time to push on for similar success in Superbike racing. It might take a while, but if the enthusiasm of Michael, Howie, Danny, Ryan and others is matched in the BSB and WSB paddock, then success will surely come”.
Pics by:
KMUK, Jon Jessop, Glynne Lewis, Pacemaker Press International, Double Red