The pressure to repeat the success of the past three years as rider, team and manufacturer champions is increased for the 2018 season as a result of rule changes implemented by the organiser of the championship.

Limiting the maximum engine revs of all competing manufacturers for the new season, the championship organisers have imposed the most stringent limit on Kawasaki and the Ninja ZX-10RR with a rev limit 1,100rpm lower than that of 2017 at 14,100rpm.

In a bid to challenge the perceived dominance of KRT riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, the series organisers have reserved the right to further reduce the peak engine revs of any machine that achieves a position of dominance as the season unfolds.

Understandably  as the most affected at season start – and possibly being the first to have their engine peak rev limit further reduced – Kawasaki have spent as much time as has been available pre-season to develop a Ninja ZX-10RR package that will perform to its maximum within the framework of the new regulations.

Accepting the challenge directly, Kawasaki is determined to preserve its formidable run of success in the WorldSBK Championship and, in doing so, is harnessing corporate and fan sentiment with the hashtag #NinjaSpirit.

Embodying the ethos of the Ninja brand itself, #NinjaSpirit will be used by KRT and other Kawasaki teams in their 2018 communications – as well as being promoted to fans to use in their social networking posts – it is expected that the hashtag will be a clarion call for Kawasaki in the ongoing struggle for WorldSBK supremacy.