MotoGP 2002 - Kawasaki's new machine

Kawasaki are releasing more details on their coming MotoGP machine. The engine will be a conventional in-line four cylinder with DOHC and ram-air. As you can see from this CAD image Kawasaki are taking an interesting approach to aerodynamics.

Rider: Akira Yanagawa - “I’ve come back from riding the test machine at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. Actually, it was my first time to ride at Sepang, but the machine is really easy to ride so my lap times are coming along nicely. Having raced Superbikes until last year, I find that the characteristics of the new machine are not all that different; maybe that’s why I find it easy to ride. However, it is after all a MotoGP machine, so there are many new things that we want to test. see the bike evolve into its final form.”

Team Manager: Takashi Yasui - “Overall, the test was very positive. Since it was Akira’s first time at Sepang, we have no data for direct comparison, but his times are steadily improving. Of course, the bike is still under development, but I think the results from this test show that we are definitely on the right track. For now we’ll just have to deal with the problem areas as they appear and have them solved come race time.”