The first journalists in the world to ride the amazing new Ninja ZX-10R came from the damp and gloom of a European winter to the hot and sunny Gulf State of Qatar.
With the stunning Losail track to look forward to, it was no wonder that both UK and Italian journalists were ready and waiting for the bus to the circuit at 08.00 am after flying into Qatar and checking in to the "W" hotel, Doha the previous evening.
Losail is literary a world class circuit built in the desert within sight of the towering sky-scrapers of downtown Doha which, with constant urban development taking place, are gradually creeping inexorably toward it.
At 5.3 km, the sinuous ribbon of tarmac is a real test of rider and machine and, as such, an ideal place to launch the most technically accomplished Ninja ZX-10R yet produced. With KHI development rider Pere Riba on hand for advice – plus a few surprise "guests" such as Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz – the scene was set for the debut of a machine that positively bristles with technology.
Circuit familiarisation and tracking photography over, journalists took to the track for their first high speed sessions in the early afternoon. Divided into groups, and riding 20 minute sessions each, the schedule allowed each journalist plenty of track time…and far and away enough opportunity for the photographers to take the essential action shots for magazine front covers and features.
In truth, five or six lap at a time were all the many riders wanted at first as the heat rose to a giddy 32 degrees and leather protective gear became understandably uncomfortable. Experienced rider, MCN's Trevor Franklin, was among the first to combine fast flying laps with slower "cool down" sessions and thus was able to pace himself across a demanding day.
First impressions before an early evening break in proceedings was that the two main highlighted features from the morning briefing session were indeed a step forwards for the Ninja brand.
Difficult to explain fully, the K-TRC traction control was universally praised for its efficiency and unobtrusive nature. Harnessing a claimed 200PS at the crank, journalist selected from one of three traction control modes combined with one of three modes of engine power setting, all achieved via a simple rocker switch on the left handlebar. The smoothness was the most accomplished many journalist had yet felt on a road bike and a worthy opponent for competitor products with less sophisticated sampling and monitoring systems.
The motorcycle media present certainly used their late afternoon time to good effect exploring the so-called "Delta" technology of the Kawasaki patented traction control system which uses past history to effectively "predict" future actions. In the light of crude competitor systems that simply react, this pro-active system was embraced as a genuine innovation created single handily by Kawasaki using an entirely "in-house" development team.
More familiar perhaps, the three way power mode switch also employs some useful and new technology. With a low or so-called "wet" map plus a full power mode, the middle setting is probably the one most riders will us the majority of the time.
Interesting then that in this mode the standard map which allows approximately 70% of full power to be accessed, can be "re-written" by the rider changing their style to release greater power if it be needed via more aggressive use of the throttle – again another new Ninja innovation that many magazines will seek to explain in fine detail in coming issues.
Their brief evening break over, all journalists present were delighted to find that they were being allowed a rare privilege and would ride under the famous Losail floodlights.
Changing from dark visors to clear or yellow blades, riders embarked on a series of night laps which they would remember for years to come in terms of location, experience and, of course, machine.
The final session on the morning of the second day was a much anticipated chance for the motorcycle media to test the third of Kawasaki's much talked about new Ninja features, sport style anti-lock braking.
KIBS has been carefully developed by engineers at KHI and their technology partner, Bosch, to be a genuine sport riding aid and to tie in closely with the overriding theme of the newest Ninja, the ability to maintain the ZX-10R's hard core appeal yet make the unique Kawasaki Supersport riding experience available to a wide range of riders.
A genuine look of satisfaction on the face of each journalist as they returned from riding the ABS equipped machines confirmed that the highly effectively yet unobtrusive nature of the compact system had achieved its design goal. In fact, some of the journalists, like Bike magazine's Mike Armitage, commented that after some initial modification of their riding style, they quickly reverted to "track mode" and simply forgot that the machine they were on was equipped with sport ABS braking.
Summing up as the first journalists left for the airport to make way for the second group, Marketing Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe, Jan Willem van Straten, was brimming with enthusiasm.
"What a great venue and what a tremendous reaction to the new Ninja ZX-10R. We have to thank our hosts here at Losail Circuit for such a good job. We sincerely hope that every journalist that has a chance to ride this much anticipated machine enjoys the experience as much as those in the first group and that, as soon as full scale production begins, enthusiasts across Europe can try this exciting new Ninja for themselves".
See and read more at:
Facebook: Kawasaki News UK
Twitter: Kawasaki News
With the stunning Losail track to look forward to, it was no wonder that both UK and Italian journalists were ready and waiting for the bus to the circuit at 08.00 am after flying into Qatar and checking in to the "W" hotel, Doha the previous evening.
Losail is literary a world class circuit built in the desert within sight of the towering sky-scrapers of downtown Doha which, with constant urban development taking place, are gradually creeping inexorably toward it.
At 5.3 km, the sinuous ribbon of tarmac is a real test of rider and machine and, as such, an ideal place to launch the most technically accomplished Ninja ZX-10R yet produced. With KHI development rider Pere Riba on hand for advice – plus a few surprise "guests" such as Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz – the scene was set for the debut of a machine that positively bristles with technology.
Circuit familiarisation and tracking photography over, journalists took to the track for their first high speed sessions in the early afternoon. Divided into groups, and riding 20 minute sessions each, the schedule allowed each journalist plenty of track time…and far and away enough opportunity for the photographers to take the essential action shots for magazine front covers and features.
In truth, five or six lap at a time were all the many riders wanted at first as the heat rose to a giddy 32 degrees and leather protective gear became understandably uncomfortable. Experienced rider, MCN's Trevor Franklin, was among the first to combine fast flying laps with slower "cool down" sessions and thus was able to pace himself across a demanding day.
First impressions before an early evening break in proceedings was that the two main highlighted features from the morning briefing session were indeed a step forwards for the Ninja brand.
Difficult to explain fully, the K-TRC traction control was universally praised for its efficiency and unobtrusive nature. Harnessing a claimed 200PS at the crank, journalist selected from one of three traction control modes combined with one of three modes of engine power setting, all achieved via a simple rocker switch on the left handlebar. The smoothness was the most accomplished many journalist had yet felt on a road bike and a worthy opponent for competitor products with less sophisticated sampling and monitoring systems.
The motorcycle media present certainly used their late afternoon time to good effect exploring the so-called "Delta" technology of the Kawasaki patented traction control system which uses past history to effectively "predict" future actions. In the light of crude competitor systems that simply react, this pro-active system was embraced as a genuine innovation created single handily by Kawasaki using an entirely "in-house" development team.
More familiar perhaps, the three way power mode switch also employs some useful and new technology. With a low or so-called "wet" map plus a full power mode, the middle setting is probably the one most riders will us the majority of the time.
Interesting then that in this mode the standard map which allows approximately 70% of full power to be accessed, can be "re-written" by the rider changing their style to release greater power if it be needed via more aggressive use of the throttle – again another new Ninja innovation that many magazines will seek to explain in fine detail in coming issues.
Their brief evening break over, all journalists present were delighted to find that they were being allowed a rare privilege and would ride under the famous Losail floodlights.
Changing from dark visors to clear or yellow blades, riders embarked on a series of night laps which they would remember for years to come in terms of location, experience and, of course, machine.
The final session on the morning of the second day was a much anticipated chance for the motorcycle media to test the third of Kawasaki's much talked about new Ninja features, sport style anti-lock braking.
KIBS has been carefully developed by engineers at KHI and their technology partner, Bosch, to be a genuine sport riding aid and to tie in closely with the overriding theme of the newest Ninja, the ability to maintain the ZX-10R's hard core appeal yet make the unique Kawasaki Supersport riding experience available to a wide range of riders.
A genuine look of satisfaction on the face of each journalist as they returned from riding the ABS equipped machines confirmed that the highly effectively yet unobtrusive nature of the compact system had achieved its design goal. In fact, some of the journalists, like Bike magazine's Mike Armitage, commented that after some initial modification of their riding style, they quickly reverted to "track mode" and simply forgot that the machine they were on was equipped with sport ABS braking.
Summing up as the first journalists left for the airport to make way for the second group, Marketing Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe, Jan Willem van Straten, was brimming with enthusiasm.
"What a great venue and what a tremendous reaction to the new Ninja ZX-10R. We have to thank our hosts here at Losail Circuit for such a good job. We sincerely hope that every journalist that has a chance to ride this much anticipated machine enjoys the experience as much as those in the first group and that, as soon as full scale production begins, enthusiasts across Europe can try this exciting new Ninja for themselves".
See and read more at:
Facebook: Kawasaki News UK
Twitter: Kawasaki News
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