Currently being shipped to dealers, some lucky owners have already had a “one-on-one” with the KB998 Rimini including a primary personal sponsor of  BbKRT rider, Alex Lowes. Having supported Lowes over a number of years, businessman Simon Thorpe requested an early “low number” machine to add to an already impressive private collection which features another machine from the bimota stable with a race track image, a rare 500cc two-stroke V-due.
 
Assigned machine number 22 to mirror the racing number used by Lowes, Simon attended the recent Portimao WorldSBK race and a bimota brand presentation hosted by Kawasaki Portugal examining a KB998 Rimini and to meet Chairman of the Board of bimota, Mr Shigemi Tanaka.
 
Joining a number of machines in his collection that are focused on pure track use, Simon highlighted the significance of the machine in terms of the evolution of the bimota brand and the key relationship that the Rimini-based company promotes between racing and product innovation.
 
“I was as excited as everyone else when I heard about the BbKRT project in WorldSBK; it’s a new and interesting journey for Alex and myself plus a significant step for the bimota brand. Collecting iconic motorcycles is my hobby so I was keen to secure one of the very first production KB998 Rimini machines.
 
What an amazing piece of workmanship this bike is, exquisite form and race functionality in one unique package. It looked good in pictures but in real life its incredible. I am now looking forward to Alex’s first podium on his racing version of the same machine!”
 
With the first customer deliveries during April, the momentum for the bimota brand continues to gain pace while BbKRT pursue WorldSBK success.
 
Note: Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. is the sole distributor of bimota products within Europe. The KB998 Rimini is not homologated for public road use within Europe.