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KAWASAKI RACING TEAM MXGP

The Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP enters a new era in 2022 with the direct strategic commitment of the Japanese parent concern, Kawasaki Motors Ltd, to the FIM World Motocross Championship.

Established in 1994 under the direction of legendary Dutch engineer Jan de Groot, the Kawasaki Racing Team clinched its first world title in the then-premier 250cc class in 1995 with Stefan Everts and followed up with multiple titles during the next decade with Sebastien Tortelli and Mickael Maschio. In the wake of the untimely death of the de Groot in 2007 the responsibility for KRT motocross racing activities passed to French entrepreneur Thierry Chizat Suzzoni and the Green machines recorded a succession of MXGP victories on an annual basis with Gautier Paulin, US superstar Ryan Villopoto, Clement Desalle and, most-recently, Romain Febvre - the Frenchman taking the title battle down to the wire before narrowly surrendering the championship at the very last moto of the 2021 series.

The intimate working relationship and technical exchange between Kawasaki Motors Europe, Kawasaki Japan and American Kawasaki Motors in recent years has proven a key factor in the outstanding success of the KX450-SR factory machine, the flagship of the off-road range, and provided invaluable feedback for the on-going development of the entire off-road range which delivers riding pleasure and success to Kawasaki customers worldwide. So much so that a limited edition production machine for the US market is now named SR reflecting the name of the factory machine.

The importance of this project is further intensified from this year through an even more direct presence of Kawasaki Motors Ltd, the newly-established independent branch of the parent firm devoted specifically to the motorcycle and consumer products arena, and its Research and Development division in the premier off-road racing programme.

Responsibility for the official Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP racing activities passes this year to the long-established team set-up headed by ex-GP winner Antti Pyrhonen on behalf of team principal Kimi Räikkönen; the F1 legend has been a life-long motocross enthusiast and, following retirement from his own racing activities, he will devote more time and his extensive strategic experience as Team Principle to Kawasaki’s challenge for the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship title.

With considerable experience already in the MXGP paddock, the team that hails from Finland, and is based near Lommel in Belgium, is relishes the opportunity to represent Kawasaki on the world stage.

KRT enters the 2022 season with a thrilling twin-spearhead, a combination of experience and youth as France’s Romain Febvre (who is part way through a two year deal direct with the Kawasaki factory) seeking the ultimate goal of clinching the MXGP world championship in his third season in Green after so narrowly missing the title at the very last round last year. Team newcomer, Ben Watson, sets his sights on a top-five standing after finishing top-ten no less than ten times during an impressive rookie season. A new season and new start for Kawasaki in MXGP means expectations are high with these being matched equally by the ambition of team and riders – 2022 will be an exciting year!