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Kawasaki Racing Team has launched the 2020 ZX-10RR that will be piloted by five-time reigning champion Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes in the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

The well-attended team presentation took place at Kawasaki’s European headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, where both riders donned their 2020 look for the first time.

“We have had a solid pre-season where I felt fast and consistent and the target is to win another championship – for the team, Kawasaki and myself,” Rea commented. “Tonight is the start of another great year together.”

“This is the time when it all becomes real and it is really fitting to do it in our team workshop where all the hard work goes in preparing our bike and our season. It has been particularly nice to do it in front of many of our sponsors and the family and friend of our mechanics. Not long until the season starts now!”

Proven WorldSBK race winner KRT newcomer added: “I have been with the team for a few months now but we have had the chance to show our supporters and sponsors the final colours for our championship challenge tonight.

“It has been great to be part of this team and it was really nice to be seen in Kawasaki green for the first time. This has been a fantastic event, especially with all the team here in their own regular working environment. After this, it is down to Australia for the first race of the season.”

The WorldSBK head to Phillip Island on 27 February-1 March for the opening round of the series.

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Team Suzuki Ecstar has rolled out a new-look GSX-RR for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship, the squad launching its new colours with Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

The livery takes a nod to Suzuki’s history as they celebrate 60 years in racing, the colourway featuring the familiar blue mixed with a more traditional slate silver.

“I will carry the special livery for the 60 years in racing and this makes me proud,” said Mir. “One of the best things about being with Suzuki is that I feel a real family atmosphere, I don’t know if it was also like that in the past, but to me it feels like something they have in the Suzuki DNA, together with constantly striving to win, and I think this really makes a difference.

“Now in 2020 we have to stay focused and get good results, more podiums for sure and hopefully also more wins. This is the path to success, I believe; little by little, step by step, with hard work all together.”

Teammate Mir commented: “I’m really eager to get on my MotoGP machine again in Sepang and start to improve further. It’s going to be an important year for Suzuki and the blue-silver livery looks amazing on my GSX-RR, I’m proud to be part of this historic year and carry such racing heritage on my fairing.”

Both riders are on-track today and this weekend in Sepang, Malaysia, for the opening pre-season test of the year.

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The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team staged its team presentation event at Sepang this week, introducing its 2020 YZR-M1 alongside riders Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi.

The colour scheme of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bike remains the same for 2020, the M1 also featuring subtle blue stripes that add a further dynamic to the sleek design.

“At the end of last season we were in decent shape, so I‘m really excited to start working again on our goal to get the title and as many wins as possible,” Vinales explained. “For sure, I‘m looking forward to riding my M1 again. The last time I rode it here in Malaysia was during the 2019 season and we won.

“It‘s a really positive memory and it also means we have a good starting point here in terms of set-up, so we should be able to get straight to work tomorrow on Day 1 of the Sepang Test. I‘ve used the winter months really well.

“I‘ve done a lot of physical training and riding to make sure my body and mind are in top shape. We need to work hard and be focused on our goal right from the start, so that‘s exactly what we‘ll do!”

Rossi added: “For some reason the winter months always seem a lot longer than the summer months during the MotoGP season – those seem to just fly by! Anyway, I‘m happy to be on track and to start riding again.

“I‘ve been able to relax during the stop and also do some fun riding events, but now it‘s time to get serious about 2020. I‘m very curious to see what steps we can make during the Sepang Test.

“For sure, Yamaha have prepared some new things for us to try, and anyway the first laps of the year on a MotoGP bike after the winter break are always a unique sensation – it‘s always something I really enjoy. For sure we have a lot of work ahead of us, but the team and I are ready for it.”

The squad will be in action today and this weekend at Sepang for the first official pre-season test.

The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) has determined the initial rev limits set for 2020 as the all-new Honda Fireblade and updated Yamaha YZF-R1 are rolled out this season.

The performance balancing algorithm has been used to determine the RPM of each of the five manufacturers and their respected models. The performances are based on the final three rounds of the 2019 season.

The 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R (SP) Fireblade with its all-new engine has a limit based on the maximum rpm of the homologated street machine, while the 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1M with its engine incrementally revised for EU4 legislation has a rev limit based on the performance balancing algorithm following the 2019 season.

The championship-winning Kawasaki ZX-10RR has been capped at 14,600rpm, with the Ducati Panigale V4 R coming in at 16,100rpm and the Yamaha YZF-R1 at 14,950rpm. The BMW S 1000 RR is set to 14,950rpm and the new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R at 15,600rpm.

The opening round of the 2020 WorldSBK season kicks off on 27 February-1 March at Phillip Island.

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Recently retired Jorge Lorenzo says the Yamaha YZR-M1’s characteristics are still the same after making his return to the manufacturer a the Sepang MotoGP shakedown test, the multi-time world champion admitting he was concerned they would be worse prior to stepping aboard the motorcycle in Malaysia.

The Spaniard, who earned three world titles with Yamaha in the premier class, seemingly adapted quickly to the M1 as he completed 46 laps, setting a time similar to that of his qualifying lap at the venue in 2019 on the Repsol Honda RC213V.

Lorenzo mentioned the initial laps were emotional, although he found comfort in the bike’s characteristics being familiar to what brought him so much success in his decorated career.

“It was a very emotional day, because after three years, I’ve come back to Yamaha as a test rider for the team,” Lorenzo commented. “The Yamaha made me very excited coming here, and the first laps were emotional. Suddenly I could feel the characteristics of the bike didn’t change too much, so this was very positive because I was afraid the characteristics could be worse – the bike is very competitive already. It has a lot of potential, and we already have some ideas for the future.

“My physical condition was okay – I didn’t have pain on the bike, the bike wasn’t physical, so it was a very satisfying day. Obviously, I still need more laps to understand the best way to take the bike.”

It’s not yet clear if Lorenzo will be out on track at the official pre-season test this week in Malaysia.