Kawasaki scores wins at Eastern Creek
Kawasaki Racing Team was victorious in recording its best result of the season at the Australian Superbike Championship grand finale event over the weekend.
Kawasaki Racing Team was victorious in recording its best result of the season at the Australian Superbike Championship grand finale event over the weekend, with KRT winning both the Supersport and Superbike Classes.
Finishing the 2007 season on a high, both Kawasaki pilots bravely took the treacherous weather conditions head on at Eastern Creek Raceway, to come away the round winners. KRT pilot, Shannon Johnson, was fastest on board the ZX-10R Superbike recording the fastest lap of the race, a 1.51:103. Johnson pushed through the horrendously wet conditions and overcame a frightening 260kmh slide along the tracks front straight to emerge victorious, for the first time this season.
“It was incredibly slippery out there and I had a few hair raising moments during the race,” said Johnson. “I got away to a great start, leading the race from start to finish, but I had to work hard to keep my bike up on two wheels as there was so much water on the track. I had a make or break moment when I was heading down the front straight and my bike snapped loose due to the amount of water on the track. I wasn’t expecting it to and the only thing I could do was keep the throttle open and ride it out.”
“After a season which has been plagued with injuries, it was great for both the Team and I to come away round winners. The whole Team has been working towards this result all season and to win at the final round event in such tough conditions was a fitting finale to what has been a fiercely competitive season.”
Wayne Maxwell continued the green domination in the Supersport Class, as the Kawasaki pilot gallantly took second place in Race One and a daring pass on the closing turns of Race Two saw him secure his first race and round win of the season. “It is an awesome feeling to win the round,” said Maxwell.
“The racing conditions were really tough and I had to work hard to come away with the win. We have made good, consistent progress on the ZX-6R in recent testing sessions and it was only a matter of time before we secured our first race win. The Kawasaki crew have put a lot of time and effort into developing the ZX-6R’s race package and all that hard work was rewarded by the round win.”
Team Manager Dave Cullen was thrilled with the Team’s overall result. “Both riders rode really well this weekend and to dominate both Classes in such adverse conditions is a great achievement,” said Cullen. “Our extensive testing regime last month has really paid off as both riders secured excellent qualifying positions. Maxwell secured provisional pole in Saturday mornings Qualifying Session and Johnson put the ZX-10R on the front row of the grid in Qualifying Session Two.”
“Shannon and Wayne were ready to convert our testing results into podium finishes and when the weather conditions turned sour, both riders really came to the fore and used the ZX-6R and ZX-10R’s versatility to their fullest advantage to record wins in both classes. The Team has worked very hard at the track to earn these rewards and we are pleased both riders have finished their Championships on a high.”
“KRT has received terrific support from our Team Sponsors in 2007, Silkolene, NGK, Dunlop, Goodrich, AFAM, DC Chains, Kincrome, Akrapovic and Swimming with Sharks – as their contributions have made KRT a competitive package to contest both Superbike and Supersport Championships.” “It was also great to see fellow Kawasaki rider, Jamie Aitken from Aitken’s Motorcycles, win two Superstock races over the weekend onboard his ZX-6R. Jamie dug deep to overcome the wet, soggy conditions and continued Kawasaki’s domination over the event, walking away with the round win also.”
