Historic 100 WorldSBK Race Wins For Kawasaki

After KRT rider Jonathan Rea secured the race two victory at Donington on Sunday Kawasaki reached the iconic level of 100 race wins in the FIM Superbike World Championship.

Jonathan Rea celebrates victory at Donington
Jonathan Rea celebrates victory at Donington

As a long-time participant in WorldSBK Kawasaki has enjoyed success since the very first season, with French rider Adrien Morillas on a GPX750 winning the first trophy for the Japanese manufacturer at the Hungaroring in 1988.

WorldSBK - 100 wins for Kawasaki
WorldSBK – 100 wins for Kawasaki

The most recent win for Rea, on the Ninja ZX-10RR today, put Kawasaki into the history books as only the third manufacturer to reach this landmark of 100 race victories. A total of 12 riders have won races for Kawasaki at the highest level of production-derived racing.

Tom Sykes celebrating victory here at Jerez in 2013
Tom Sykes celebrating victory here at Jerez in 2013

Adrien Morillas – First winner for Kawasaki in changeable conditions during race two at the Hungaroring in 1988

“At that time I was mainly thinking about how to be the second Kawasaki race winner as well! Of course it was a great feeling to be the first winner for a brand and to know that it will remain forever in the statistics.”  Of the 100th win milestone for Kawasaki Morillas said, “Now I want to give a 100 times bigger congratulation to Kawasaki and KRT. Personally, I feel a bit older now but here’s to the 200th milestone!”

Adrien Morillas on a GPX750 won the first trophy for the Japanese manufacturer at the Hungaroring in 1988.
Adrien Morillas on a GPX750 won the first trophy for the Japanese manufacturer at the Hungaroring in 1988.

Jonathan Rea, 100th Kawasaki race winner

“There was a little bit of pressure for the 100th Kawasaki win and I was thinking about it today. From half race distance I said to myself that it has to be me today. We managed the race perfectly and I even managed a nice little stand-up wheelie at the end!”

WorldSBK - 100 wins for Kawasaki
WorldSBK – 100 wins for Kawasaki

Yasuhisa Okabe, Senior Staff Officer, KHI Riding Technology Department

“I am happy, to be honest, with reaching 100 WorldSBK race wins. We will dedicate this victory to the Kawasaki family around the world. Kawasaki will continue to develop inside the Superbike World Championship.”

WorldSBK - 100 wins for Kawasaki
WorldSBK – 100 wins for Kawasaki

WorldSBK organizers and rights holders Dorna, Championship Director Dani Carrera

“Kawasaki are a vital manufacturer for our series and to see them take their 100th win is an honour for us, as we witness history being made. They have provided the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with some fantastic racing throughout the seasons, and to have them continuing to battle in our championship is something that we are very proud of. We look forward to seeing them fight to take their 200th victory.”

The 'Horn' ma himself, Robbie Phillis also got a mention on the special board seen in the above images in recognition of his contribution towards the 100 wins effort.
The ‘Horn’ ma himself, Robbie Phillis also got a mention on the special board seen in the above images in recognition of his contribution towards the 100 wins effort.

Australians that have contributed towards that 100 win milestone include Robbie Phillis and Anthony Gobert. Robbie’s wins coming in the early years of World Superbike at Phillip Island, Manfeild (NZ), Spa (Belgium), and Jarama (Spain).

Gobert was victorious at Phillip Island, who could ever forget that first one for The Go Show! Goey also won two races at Laguna Seca to add to the four he won on home soil at Phillip Island, for a total of six. 

Kawasaki had a very lean period in the ten years between 2000 and 2010, but the results reaped after they pulled out of MotoGP to instead focus their efforts in WorldSBK, are clearly evident here.  That decision has certainly paid handsome dividends in the world’s premier ‘production’ bike category. The last few years in particular has seen Kawasaki dominate WorldSBK like never before. 

Kawasaki’s WorldSBK Race winners
  1. 1988 – Hungaroring 2 – Adrien Morillas (GPX750)
  2. 1990 – Brainerd 2 – Doug Chandler (ZXR750)
  3. 1990 – Sugo 2 – Doug Chandler (ZXR750)
  4. 1990 – Phillip Island 2 – Robbie Phillis (ZXR750)
  5. 1990 – Manfield 2 – Robbie Phillis (ZXR750)
  6. 1992 – Albacete 1 – Aaron Slight (ZXR750)
  7. 1992 – Spa Francorchamps – Robbie Phillis (ZXR750)
  8. 1992 – Jarama 1 – Robbie Phillis (ZXR750)
  9. 1993 – Hockenheim 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  10. 1993 – Brno 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  11. 1993 – Sugo 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  12. 1993 – Monza 1 – Aaron Slight (ZXR750)
  13. 1993 – Donington 1 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  14. 1993 – Donington 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  15. 1994 – Donington 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  16. 1994 – Hockenheim 1 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  17. 1994 – Hockenheim 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  18. 1994 – Misano 1 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  19. 1994 – Sugo 1 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  20. 1994 – Sugo 2 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  21. 1994 – Mugello 1 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  22. 1994 – Donington 3 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  23. 1994 – Donington 4 – Scott Russell (ZXR750)
  24. 1994 – Phillip Island 2 – Anthony Gobert (ZXR750)
  25. 1994 – Laguna Seca 1 – Anthony Gobert (ZXR750)
  26. 1995 – Phillip Island 2 – Anthony Gobert (ZXR750)
  27. 1996 – Laguna Seca 2 – Anthony Gobert (ZX-7RR)
  28. 1996 – Phillip Island 1 – Anthony Gobert (ZX-7RR)
  29. 1996 – Phillip Island 2 – Anthony Gobert (ZX-7RR)
  30. 1997 – A1-Ring 2 – Akira Yanagawa (ZX-7RR)
  31. 1997 – Sugo 1 – Akira Yanagawa (ZX-7RR)
  32. 1999 – Sugo 2 – Akira Yanagawa (ZX-7RR)
  33. 2000 – Sugo 1 – Hitoyasu Izutsu (ZX-7RR)
  34. 2000 – Sugo 2 – Hitoyasu Izutsu (ZX-7RR)
  35. 2006 – Assen 1 – Chris Walker (ZX-10R)
  36. 2011 – Nürburgring 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  37. 2012 – Monza 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  38. 2012 – Silverstone 1 Loris Baz (ZX-10R)
  39. 2012 – Moscow 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  40. 2012 – Portimao 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  41. 2012 – Magny-Cours 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  42. 2013 – Assen 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  43. 2013 – Donington 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  44. 2013 – Donington 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  45. 2013 – Imola 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  46. 2013 – Imola 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  47. 2013 – Silverstone 2 – Loris Baz (ZX-10R)
  48. 2013 – Nürburgring 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  49. 2013 – Laguna Seca 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  50. 2013 – Magny-Cours 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  51. 2013 – Magny-Cours 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  52. 2014 – Motorland 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  53. 2014 – Motorland 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  54. 2014 – Donington 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  55. 2014 – Donington 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  56. 2014 – Misano 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  57. 2014 – Misano 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  58. 2014 – Algarve 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  59. 2014 – Laguna Seca 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  60. 2015 – Phillip Island 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  61. 2015 – Buriram 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  62. 2015 – Buriram 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  63. 2015 – Motorland 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  64. 2015 – Assen 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  65. 2015 – Assen 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  66. 2015 – Imola 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  67. 2015 – Imola 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  68. 2015 – Donington 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  69. 2015 – Donington 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  70. 2015 – Algarve 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  71. 2015 – Algarve 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  72. 2015 – Misano 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  73. 2015 – Misano 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  74. 2015 – Sepang 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  75. 2015 – Jerez 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  76. 2015 – Magny-Cours 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  77. 2015 – Magny-Cours 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  78. 2016 – Phillip Island 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  79. 2016 – Phillip Island 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  80. 2016 – Buriram 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  81. 2016 – Buriram 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  82. 2016 – Assen 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  83. 2016 – Assen 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  84. 2016 – Sepang 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  85. 2016 – Donington 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  86. 2016 – Donington 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  87. 2016 – Misano 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  88. 2016 – Misano 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  89. 2016 – Laguna Seca 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  90. 2016 – Lagnua Seca 2 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10R)
  91. 2016 – Lausitzring 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10R)
  92. 2017 – Phillip Island 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  93. 2017 – Phillip Island 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  94. 2017 – Buriram 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  95. 2017 – Buriram 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  96. 2017 – Motorland 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  97. 2017 – Assen 1 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  98. 2017 – Assen 2 – Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
  99. 2017 – Donington 1 – Tom Sykes (ZX-10RR)
  100. 2017 – Donington 2 Jonathan Rea (ZX-10RR)
Robbie Phillis was recognised for his contribution towards the 100 wins effort for Kawasaki in WorldSBK
Robbie Phillis was recognised for his contribution towards the 100 wins effort for Kawasaki in WorldSBK
Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
  • 4 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Sykes 2013, Rea 2015 & 2016), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)
  • 2 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016)
  • 2 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015 & 2016)
Tom Sykes in 2011 at Nurburgring
Tom Sykes in 2011 at Nurburgring
Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
  • Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 100 – third overall
  • Total Kawasaki Podiums: 328 – third overall
  • Total Kawasaki Poles: 67 – second overall
Chris Walker on top of the podium at Assen in 2006. Alongside him here is Australian Andrew Pitt
Chris Walker on top of the podium at Assen in 2006. Alongside him here is Australian Andrew Pitt

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