Kawasaki Announce 2008 Riders

KRT Kawasaki Australia have announced the rider lineup for the 2008 Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships.

Kawasaki is proud to announce that Shannon Johnson has renewed his contract with the Kawasaki Racing Team and will be on board the all new Kawasaki ZX-10R in the Australian Superbike Series in 2008. Joining Shannon in the Superbike Series is Victorian, Scott Charlton.

Scott will also contest the Australian Supersport Series on board a Kawasaki ZX-6R. They will be joined in the pits by Kawasaki supported rider, Shaun Geronimi. Shaun will be competing on a Kawasaki ZX-6R in the Supersport Series. Racing identity, Dave Cullen will be going into his second year as Team Manager at KRT in 2008. Shannon heads into the 2008 season on the back of a final round win in the 2007 Australian Superbike Series.

Shannon is a proven race winner. He was the winner of the 2004 Australian Supermoto Championship Series and winner of the 2002 Australian Supersport Championship Series. He boasts a 2nd place finish in the 2004 Australian SBK Championship Series and an impressive podium finish taking 3rd in the 2003 Australian Supersport Championship Series. Shannon’s racing career started at the age of 11 and has taken him to podium finishes overseas and on home soil. Shannon joined KRT in 2006 and has grown from strength to strength ever since.

His all new race-bred 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R will be brandishing the number 42 again in 2008. With an all new Motorcycle for 2008, there is a buzz in the air at KRT headquarters and high expectations for the up coming season. “I’m really looking forward to 2008” says Shannon. “I’m very grateful and excited to continue my relationship with Kawasaki and KRT. I’m going into my 3rd year now with KRT and I think it’s very important for a rider to have a good, solid relationship with their race team and staff and I have that with KRT”

“I’m very happy with the new ZX-10R. With its improved engine and handling, I believe it’s the right tool to get the job done in 2008. Injury hampered my 2007 season so there’s no reason why I can’t be at the top of the time sheets in 2008 on board the new ZX-10R!”

Shannon’s team mate in the Super Bike Series is the talented Scott “Eddie” Charlton. Scott, who has been a privateer for the last 5 years, joins KRT with a wealth of racing knowledge and podium finishes under his belt. Scott was the winner of the 2007 Australian Naked Bike Championships. He was 2nd in the Australian Supersport Series in 2002 and won the 250cc class at the World Superbike Champioships in 1998 and 1999. Scott also finished an impressive 5th at the 2006 Australian Superbike Series.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to ride in the Supersport and Superbike Series for KRT in 2008. I just can’t wait to get on the track and put the ZX-6R and all new ZX-10R through their paces. The word is that the all new ZX-10R is going to be very very competive on the track and I can’t wait to get on board! I’m really looking forward to having a successful year with Team Green in 2008!”

Shaun Geronimi will share the KRT garage as a Kawasaki supported rider on board a Kawasaki ZX-6R in the Australian Supersport Series in 2008. Shaun has achieved outstanding results throughout his racing career including winning the Australian 250cc Championship Series in 1999, 2000, and 2004. He won the Australian Pro Twins Championships in 2003 and ran strongly in 2nd place throughout the 2006 Australian Supersport Series until a broken heel halted his hopes for a podium finish to the season. Shaun also raced for the Paton Racing Team in the 500cc Moto GP in 2001.

Shaun is very excited about the upcoming season. “After taking a year off, I can’t wait to climb on board the fantastic Kawasaki ZX-6R in 2008 and put Kawasaki on top! The bike looks to be right on the money, I’m really excited about my prospects in 2008”

Taking hold of the reigns and calling the shots once again at KRT in 2008 is industry personality, Dave ‘Radar’ Cullen. Cullen has been in the Motorcycle industry for more than 35 years and amongst his achievements, has claimed several Australian Supersport and Formula Extreme Titles as Team Manager and was the Crew Chief of the Kawasaki Race Team that finished on the podium at the World Superbike Championships in 1991 and 1992.

Dave says, “I’m really excited to be entering my second year as Team Manager at KRT in 2008. We’re also proud to announce that we’re continuing our relationships with Silkolene and NGK with more industry sponsors to be confirmed in the new year. The rider line up for 2008 is fantastic, as is the all new Kawasaki ZX-10R. This new bike looks great! It is track ready straight out of the box with new features that suit racing. There is also vast improvement in the chassis and rider feedback has been really positive. Reports from testing abroad have proved that the engine is very very fast. Journalists at the press launch in Qatar claimed that it is possibly the class leader in engine performance so we’re going into 2008 very confidently!”

“The rider line up is very exciting. Shannon Johnson has the focus and intensity to win the championship! He showed he has the speed by winning the last race of the 2007 season. Scott Charlton’s smooth, fast and fluent style stands him in good steed to be a front runner in 2008 and Shaun Geronimi’s numerous 250cc wins shows he has the ability and bodes him well in the 600cc Supersport class where high corner speed is crucial. “

“The riders have the ability, the all new ZX-10R looks to be something very special, 2008 is set to be a huge year for KRT. We can’t wait for the season to start!”

KRT will be starting their 2008 racing campaign in the support races at the World Superbike round at Phillip Island on 1-2 February 2008.