Kawasaki's New Bike and the 2026 WorldSBK Expectations: A Bold Leap Forward
Kawasaki is gearing up for a significant leap in its WorldSBK performance with the introduction of the updated ZX-10RR in 2026. This move comes as a response to the challenging 2025 season, where the team, now officially known as the Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, faced some setbacks.
The 2025 World Superbike season was a tough one for the team, with new signing Garrett Gerloff finishing only once inside the top-six and struggling to crack the top-10 for much of the second half of the year. However, the team is confident that the upcoming updates to the ZX-10RR will turn the tide.
Manuel Puccetti, a key figure in the team, believes the updated bike will be a "very good step ahead." He shared his optimism during a recent test in Jerez with Garrett Gerloff, highlighting the extensive updates to the bike, including improvements in aerodynamics, the front fairing, suspension, engine, and chassis.
Puccetti expressed his belief that these enhancements will propel the team to new heights, stating, "I think, in general, it will be a very good step ahead, and I believe it will be exactly what we need to take another step forward in the championship result next year for Superbike."
The team's ambition is clear: to move from the top-10 to the top-five. Puccetti emphasized the need for improvement, stating, "We need to improve the result of this year, 100 per cent."
He continued, "So, this year we were often in the top-10, one time in the top-six. We need to be more inside the top-five – this is what we believe we can achieve. We will do our best and I think we will be often in this area."
With the upcoming updates and a renewed focus, Kawasaki is poised to make a significant impact in the 2026 WorldSBK season, aiming to solidify its position as a top contender.
