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31 Červenec 2020

Kawasaki’s WorldSSP300 Riders Gather In Spain

After its first season of competitive life in 2017 the FIM WorldSSP300 championship has grown and expanded into an oversubscribed category of competitive racing, in which Kawasaki’s Ninja 400 has enjoyed real and repeated success.

The 2019 champion, Manuel Gonzalez, has been promoted to the WorldSSP championship for 2020 but a host of competitive Kawasaki riders will take to the tracks for the first round of the new season – including 2018 world champion Ana Carrasco (Provec Kawasaki).

Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) is a serial race winner and championship contender in this small-capacity category of racing that uses very lightly modified streetbike machinery. Deroue and Carrasco each start the 2020 season as joint record holders in terms of race wins, with five apiece.

The usual strong line up alongside Deroue in his experienced team features a new face - Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) - plus familiar riders like proven race winner Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) and strong 2019 rookie Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki Motoport).

Competitive Ninja 400 riders abound in the vast field of young hopefuls, with Nick Kalinin (Battley-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) back again, looking for a win to add to his two career podiums.

Johan Gimbert and Gabriele Mastroluca, both GP Project Kawasaki riders, will compete under a wider team awning featuring Alfonso Coppola (Kawasaki GP Project), Kevin Sabatucci (Kawasaki GP Project) and recent podium man, Bruno Ieraci (Kawasaki GP Project)

Perennial competitor in this class, Mika Perez (Prodina Ircos Team Kawasaki) comes back as another proven winner.

Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team) and Tom Bramich (Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) make up a small but determined Australian duo again this season.

Thomas Brianti (Prodina Ircos Team Kawasaki) and Tom Booth Amos (RT Motorsports by SKM–Kawasaki) are newer names to conjure with in 2020.
No fewer than 31 of the 55 riders entered for the Jerez race weekend will compete on Kawasaki Ninja 400 machines at what promises to be a steamy and exciting opening weekend of action between, 31 July and 2 August.

After the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the originally scheduled championship calendar, each event from now on will feature two WorldSSP300 races per weekend. The opening round at Jerez, for example, will feature ten lap races on both Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August.

There will be some new pre-race rules for all to follow in 2020. The first 30 riders qualified will be seeded directly into Superpole and then the race itself, with the remaining riders outside the top 30 competing in a last chance race. The best six across the line then join the existing qualifiers for race one on Saturday afternoon.

Ana Carrasco, stated: “It’s been a strange year for everyone, but it has allowed me to train hard and focus on my objective, but I’m really keen to start the season. I believe I am prepared! I’m very happy with all the team, with the work we’ve carried out during this time and I’m very excited and eager to put in a good season, and so be able to pay back my team with good results for all the effort of these months giving me their best. I would also like to thank the sponsors who continue in the project for another year despite all the difficulties that this year presents and to those that have joined us for the trust placed in this project in spite of the current situation.”

Scott Deroue, stated: “The first race always gives some extra excitement. We tested quite a bit, but other riders trained on different tracks. We therefore have to wait and see who will be quick and who will not. Last year we were on stage in Jerez. I don't think it's an easy job, but we got there quickly in recent years. The last test in Cartagena was very positive and we are therefore ready for the start of the world championship. It is important to find a good setup with the new tyres on Friday. The goal is to continue building from there to make it a good weekend!”

                                          #NinjaSpirit