English
Italiano
The watchword is redemption, because a worse start to the season wasn’t imaginable for Kawasaki. Rea and KRT arrived in Assen forced to chase, and the situation is certainly not simple.
Guim Roda took stock of the situation as he analyzes what happened, along with future expectations.
“The results of this start of the season do not correspond to our expectations, and I think that’s evident,” he began. “We had other ambitions. Instead, we’re forced to recuperate almost seventy points from Bautista. Given the current level of Ducati and Alvaro, it’ll be very difficult to recuperate the disadvantage.”
What do you expect from Assen?
“I’m convinced that we’ll be much more competitive, and we can aim to fight for the victory. But we’re aware of our weaknesses, and the regulation doesn’t help. In the end, this is the SBK and not the MotoGP, where there’s ample room to intervene. So we have to deal with a particularly strict regulation.”
Guim, from a regulatory aspect, what do you think should be done?
“Right now, we’re not in a position to give Rea everything he needs to be fast. So we have to find the possibility, along with the other constructors, to have a regulation that balances the championship when it comes to performance, in terms of electronics, frame, and engine power. Right now, the difference between Bautista and the other riders is evident in certain races.”
You mentioned Bautista.
“Ducati’s superiority is pure mathematics. Alvaro weighs twenty kilos less, stresses the tires less, and the bike has a very high potential.”
“I don’t think this Kawasaki needs engine revs. Or, better yet, if they want to give them to us, all the better. The fact is that, having more engine revs, doesn’t mean having more power, which would be what we need. I think that in order to balance out performance, several engine updates would be enough. But, at the moment, they’re not allowed.”
In recent years, we’ve seen Ducati, Honda, and BMW bring new bikes to the track. What else can you get out of this Kawasaki?
“To build a new bike, you have to understand if it’s worth it or not. In my opinion, by making some regulatory changes, our Kawasaki could be competitive and fill part of the gap that separates it from Ducati. With Dorna and FIM, we’re constantly talking about how to balance out performance. We've put some proposals on the table, but I can’t say more.”
Is there any way to convince the Japanese to build a new bike?
“Two things must be taken into account. The budget and the market. We’re in a moment of great evolution, where electrics are gaining ground, and this new technology has no small impact on investments. With this, I don’t mean that Kawasaki no longer intends to invest in the SBK. On the contrary. Kawasaki will continue its commitment in the SBK. But before building a new bike, we need to reason on whether it’s convenient or not.”
Some claim that the V4 engine has overtaken the inline one. Do you agree?
“I don’t think it makes sense for Kawasaki to switch to a V4 engine. The performance of our engine is particularly appreciated, especially on the market, so I don'’t think that’s what we need.”
Guim, why doesn’t Kawasaki have the same cooperation there is between the Ducati and Yamaha satellite teams?
“Ducati has its own racing department that supports all independents. Kawasaki is, instead, continuing its efforts from Japan in support of KRT. It’s a policy adopted by the Japanese, different from Ducati’s and Yamaha’s.”
