RACER TEST
P48
TOM SYKES' KAWASAKI ZX-10R
The ZX-10RR is
much improved over
last year's model.
A radical change
to the geometry of
the bike late last
season gave Sykes
the front-end grip he
was looking for.
That's quite a display of dominance, although the Aprilia duo
of Eugene Laverty and Sylvain
Guintoli did keep Sykes honest
until the very last round.
But it wasn't until I was invited
to ride the bike at Jerez - the day
after he clinched the title there
in the final round of the season
- that I fully appreciated how significantly more refined the 2013
version of the ZX-10R's performance had become. KHI/Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Superbike
Project Director Ichiro Yoda and
his squad of engineers in the
Spanish-based Provec team had
already created a very fine Superbike race package in 2012.
Now they've smoothed out the
rough edges.
"Basically, for this season we
put effort into obtaining consistency in performance by improving engine management and
handling," said Yoda. "Engine
management we got from driveby-wire modification, and chassis
side we had support from Showa
with a new fork to improve frontend feel. This year's fork is a little
more forgiving, to absorb negative grip. Also, the 17-inch tires
we must use this season helped
give better front grip and longer
tire life at rear."
After monitoring the relentless
improvement in Sykes' factory
Kawasaki from the hot seat, by
riding each year's version since
this all-new ZX-10R model debuted in 2011, was pretty fulfilling.
As well as frankly dumbfounding.
How so? Because this is a genuine switch-hitting motorcycle, a
schizophrenic Superbike that
one moment thinks it's a twin,
then the next instant a four. But all
in such a controlled manner that
there are no surprises beyond
a sense of wonderment that so
much horsepower – 240 horsepower at the gearbox sprocket at
15,500 rpm, 4 hp and 300 rpm
up from last year, according to
Yoda-san – could be so smoothly
and efficiently harnessed.
For the introduction of rideby-wire on the Kawasaki last
season gave it a huge improve-
