Kawasaki back in MotoGP?

Moto2 contender Dominique Aegerter is at Jerez today testing an evolution of the Avinta Kawasaki CRT bike used in 2014. The project appeared to have no official connection with the current factory Kawasaki squad of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea, instead being run by engineering company Akira.

Akira are long time technical partners with Kawasaki and the company that has led engine development of the ZX-10R throughout its long history in WSB. The bike Aegertar was riding was run on Michelin tyres, the same spec as used in the Spanish CEV championship.

 Information was limited on the exact spec of the bike, but it is believed to be based on a ZX-10R engine with the possible introduction of pneumatic valves. It ran carbon brakes with body work from Kawasakis official Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP effort back in 2008.

Speaking to MCN, Aegerter said: “We have support from Kawasaki but this is a project from Akira and is a development of the old bike. The power is incredible, but at the moment I am lapping slower than I did in Moto2. The bike feels heavy and there is a lot of push into corners. To start with I am riding the bike with no electronics to try and understand the grip and performance.”