Why You Won't See Kawasaki on the MotoGP Grid: The Truth Revealed 

He didn't get it quite right. The truth is this. Because of money restrictions, Kawasaki and Suzuki began sharing racing R&D. It was then agreed that Kawasaki would pursue WSBK and Suzuki would pursue MotoGp. That is why no Kawasaki in MotoGp and no Suzuki in WSBK.

I luv motorcycle racing, and am a former racer myself. Kawasaki definitely made the right choice to go with WSBK instead of MotoGP. At least there’s a direct sales correlation with superbikes, but MotoGP bikes are so prototypical that most riders understand that even their full on superbike spec machine doesn’t really have much in common with a MotoGP bike, with the exception that they both have 2 wheels of course.

Kawasaki has rarely been competitive in MotoGP going back to the 70’s. When Gary McCoy rode for them before their last exit in the early 2000’s, he was so far off the pace that he spent the last 5 laps just doing tire-smoking slides to entertain the crowd.

And then there is Yamaha : MotoGP world champion 2021 Super Bike world champion 2021

Absolutely correct- winning the Isle of Man TT sells more motorcycles than MotoGP. Super bike racing has always been more relatable to road bikes than the exotic bikes that circulate in MotoGP- although moto 2 using Triumph engines is pretty damn good.

Aprilia just 2 days after posting this video: *”…and I took that personally”*

Oh I remember the all of the mid-late 2000's Kawasaki racing teams... Joan Lascorz's efforts in WSSP were a breath of fresh air. Some of Ryan Farquar's giant killing runs in IOM and Irish Road racing too. But the ZX-10's of the time were street-bike first and race platform very distant second. Only when they switched to proper trackable chassis and cassette gearboxes in the 2011 model did it start to turn. That was race bike first, road bike second. Kawasaki has done a lot to change the perspective in the last decade and when you consider that they won WSBK WC, FIM EWC WC, Le Mans 24 Moto, Suzuka 8, Isle of Mann TT Senior - pretty much most of the Superbike Majors in one year (2019) then the gamble to focus on Superbikes paid off.

You summed it up well. I love motor bikes and motor bike racing and always wondered why Kawasaki doesn't feature in Moto GP anymore. We usually don't get enough information on the behind the scenes dynamics of all this, so kudos to you buddy. I am subscribed and have clicked the notification button. I would love it if you could also embark on a feature describing the technical features of MotoGP bikes, setting them up for race day, tyre choices, chassis make up, and all that. I will ask more questions as we go along. Cheers.

Great insight into the reasons from their absence from the top tier of motorcycle racing. 👍🏿

Always loved Kawasaki since the 2 stroke triple days.

As a huge Kawasaki fan, I would've still prefer for them to compete on MotoGP even if they don't win, I just want to see them competing with their Japanese cousins. Be that as it may, it seems like Kawasaki is heading towards a different path since they're spending huge amount of resources on electrification, hybrid tech and more recently, hydrogen ICE. I'm still gonna stick with them though.

Apart from the obvious plagiarism, it would have been nice to at least acknowledge where you got some of this from

Kawasaki are one of the GOAT manufacturers and its sad they don't get enough of a mention by channels like MCN... they are absolutely bang on with their decision... frankly I jus can't enjoy watching motogp.. it's hard to relate unless you are a motorcycle racer yourself but F1 is much more tangible to long term dedicated fans with the added technical and strategic complexity which is fascinating.... so by committing to a series which directly translates to bikes I can ride on the road Kawasaki have made an excellent choice!

Let's mention Tom Sykes he was at the forefront of the kawasaki's totally dominant

back in the day when I raced you drove an El Cameno, built your bike yourself, had maybe a total investment of $ 4,500.00 in the tools, bike, and truck, making payments on all that. Your girl went with you for support, made sure you were loved and kept lap times best they could. Gas was .90 cents a gallon and you always worked for a bike shop to be able to race. This was before Vans, before teams and sponsors, you did it all. Changed tires about twice a year, made all the local races that were about up to 400 miles away one way, did long drives yourselves but had a great fun with a bunch of guys you raced against every month some were close to where you lived. If you crashed, you drove home hurting and tired, if you won you celebrated somewhere on the way home. All this went on but you made the races wounded or not, because you loved it.

You forgot to mention that Tom sykes #66 took kawasaki to their first title and narrowly missed out on a second consecutive title for which loris baz failed to adhere to team orders handing the win to sylvan guintoli on the aprilia. The size of the companies and more so the race departments are a big part also. Suzuki for example won the motogp title with Joan mir but have been absent in wsbk and their efforts in BSB have failed to produce any real substantial fruit. Same said for aprilia too. Their journey to success has been very challenging. Like you say money is a factor but also where the company sees their biggest opportunity for success

Unfortunately money dictates everything bro. For sure Kawasaki could be successful in Moto Gp as we’ve all saw how they’ve dominated WSBK over the last 6/7 years so there’s no reason they couldn’t be successful in Moto Gp but like you’ve said it just all comes down to investing time and money.

People ride a Kawasaki's because they're a riot, not for how they do in MotoGP or any other race.

Very interesting.Cheers pal.

I have been disappointed in MotoGP since the move to four strokes. I feel the hay days of GP were wild Two Stroke racing with almost anyone could and did there hand at building up a custom built motor and bike. Now it's only a few manufacturers and millions of dollars, it's lost that grass roots racing

Great informative video! You have a new follower 👍 I especially like how you mentioned the coming electric technology as being a factor. I’ll be the first to admit, I know it’s coming, and honestly, I cringe when I think of if. I understand the level of performance they are getting out of EV’s and maybe I’ll change my opinion when I have a chance to ride one. To me however, there’s little excitement and way less emotion tied in with EV’s. I struggled to watch MotoE when I had it - It’s cool, but it just doesn’t carry the same level of excitement and emotion. When I think of electric vehicles becoming the norm, I’m reminded of the old Rush song, Red Barchetta - a song about a time when engines are outlawed. In my version, you just need to replace the Barchetta in the barn with an old dusty GSXR or R1. I guess I’ll be the old dude with the classic bikes..

Fascinating. Thank you.

Great upload!

How can KTM afford MotoGP? Is Red Bull really throwing that much money at them?

Educational content great I'm all ears.

Thank you, very good content.

Id mess with hybrid or hydrogen but NO full E bike. I need some sounds and more importantly gears!

I do not agree, I wish to see BMW and KAWA on the grid... Getting in to points and and gettings a short distance from the front runner is somethings amazing... 0.5 seconds in MotoGP is the difference from first to 20 now....How is that undervalued ? Aprilia has been amazing, even before winning. I had Aprilias before, not because of the bad results in MotoGP, because they stay true to the type of motorcycle they want to build. Nothing beats a Aprilia Tuono V4... Simply an amazing bike.

getting my first “bike” next saturday an Aprilia SR 50 30 kmh for my scooter licsense im taking the driving exam today in an hour gonna be so good to not go cycling everywhere anymore

Moto Gp would do well to implement more cost saving measures. The racing wouldn't change. Keep in mind there are lap records which haven't been topped for years

I own a 2016 ZX10R and absolutely love this bike. Can't get enough of riding it. it took me a good minute to get used to the power and handling having come off a 2001 CBR600F4i I lost in an accident but once I did manage to get used to it... what a ride! I still love the CBR1000 model and the Yamaha R1, both being considered to be added to my future plans... money pending. anyway, just thought to share a little. The Kawasaki ZX10R is a monster. I love it.

Hi, could you make a video on the CRT class that used to race in MotoGP?

I guess it depends on how, as a consumer, one feels about the brand and what it means to you if they're successful in MotoGP or WSB. I look back at my purchases and most have not been driven by a brand's race results, but it hasn't hurt either. As far as MotoGP goes, I view it as the pinnacle of engineering prowess, where to a degree the engineers are given their greatest license to show their stuff. Saying that, Kawasaki has done great in WSB so there's no shame in that.

Since the seventies with Kork Ballington in the team run by my ex father in law Kawasaki lost the plot. They never really committed to the 500 class and when the four stroke era came in they failed to jump on board. Odd but perhaps they haven't been commercial enough to raise a suitable budget.

Excellent information

Never really had that much interest in MotoGP give me WSB everytime from the 90s on it has kept me on the edge of my seat a hell of lot more !

I have the same riding suit as you got hanging there as well as my Arai RX7 GP. Dani Pedrosa edition.

bro, you failed to mention the rider that ended the losing streak in wsbk. Tom Sykes ended it in 2013!! He was World Champion on the Zed-X10 R!! Johnny Rea won all those titles on Sykes championship winning bike!

give Tom Sykes some credit man... he gave Kawasaki their first modern era title way before Rae was wearing green

Kawasaki have always had a reputation for being bulletproof and with the ZZR series been fast rocket ships however as it has always been professed more of a hobby for Kawasaki heavy industries high Breds I can sort of tolerate hydrogen better by far But you can stick electric motorcycle where the sun doesn’t shine

I've been on alot of bikes and man you talking about a bike that holds a curve it's more fun than a roller coaster

i really like these video ideas

Are kawasaki still in wsb series?

Kawasaki’s withdrawal and long-term absence from MotoGP have more to do with MotoGP’s management than they do with money. Some fans may be new to the sport so they have no recollection of what happened 15 years ago. In 2007 MotoGp switched to 800cc and 21L fuel capacity. It sent shockwaves through the paddock as the perennial front runners of MotoGP badly miscalculated the impact of the new formula. Honda, Yamaha and Michelin were reeling. Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Bridgestone were surging. Unfortunately, the new state of affairs in MotoGP upset a majority of the GPC and its sponsors who, at the time, were deeply invested in the Honda vs Yamaha (Rossi) dynamic. For the 2008 season, Rossi received Bridgestone tires, and Stoner began complaining bitterly that Bridgestone were no longer supplying the same tires available during the 2007 season. For 2009, MotoGP moved to a Bridgestone spec tire. None of these developments were in Kawasaki’s favor. They had invested large sums of money to develop for the 800cc formula, and attract solid riders, but the fruits of their labor were washed away by a torrent of rules changes. Kawasaki were sacrificed by Dorna for TV money. They knew it, and they withdrew in disgust. The specific events of the past are far more important than non-specific marketing objectives like brand prestige.

Where do you get the z from in the name Kawasaki ?

Kawasaki made arguably one of the best business decisions ever by not going into MotoGP. The bikes in MotoGP have little to no relationship to the sport bikes sold to the public. WSBK is a far more interesting platform for riders/fans like me who can purchase machines which have much of the DNA of the machines racing.

I've always strictly riden Kawasaki with me only stepping out once to own an SV650. There's just something about the green monsters that gets my blood pumping, they're so beautiful and I love to hear them scream.

As long as Suzuki is in it thats all that matters. Would love if you do a lets play of motogp 22 game.

huh... I didn't know Kawi doesn't compete. I don't watch any motorsports unfortunately, due to not wanting to pay outrageous prices for those channels. The only MGP influence that took part in my life was when I bought my 2006 600RR. It had been laid down and the fairings were trashed. I had seen the Repsol livery back in my early 20's and I always loved how it looked, so I had a set made for my bike. Still rippin around on it 7 years later. Love that machine.

Sería muy bueno que vuelva por la espectativa, que generaría y es muy buena Marca aparte de Honda que son mis favoritas 🎉👍

1:56 is that semanggi road Jakarta? right?

No opinion on Kawasaki and MotoGP but I do have one about this channel. It’s excellent. So informative and well done. This edition is one of the clearest, cleanest explanations I have ever seen on RU-vid about ANYTHING! Kudos, man!

Nice vid👍 I’d like to note the gsxr sales after mir won the motogp, I think this was a modern example of ‘win on Sunday and sell and Monday’. Personally Kawasaki are off my radar when in comes to purchasing a bike, and this is solely because they are not in the MotoGP. Even though I do watch wsbk.

would they sell more bikes? Maybe they, like BMW sell enough bikes without the expense of MGP.

You didn't mention the situation regarding harold eckl!

i don't think MotoGP is actually benefiting any of the brands financially.. it does improve the evolution of the street bikes and the tech that goes in them but i don't think MotoGP sells bikes anymore.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR Screamer .. wow that sound!!

Just like Honda left the F1 scene during the financial crisis using it as a good excuse since honda was also losing badly in the F1.

Can you please make a vid on why MV Agusta aren’t in MotoGP?

Jonny Rea is a great rider and that team have had their stuff together and have for years. No other rider has been able to do much with that brand.

One of my life's biggest question has been answered

Kawasaki is a great motorcycle factory, but, I really don't miss them in MotoGP racing...

It comes down to money, kawasaki just didn't have that much money to spend on r&d to become a competitive motogp team, especially during the economic crisis, that's why they decided to concentrate on wsbk, where they doing great, with less money spent for r&d, and whatever they researched for the bike in wsbk can immediately be applied to their commercial bikes.

The sport have been favoring exotic brands like Ducati and Aprilla, it requires engine & electronic packages that are not feasible for Japanese manufacturers to invest R&D's in to apply on their production bikes and appeal to the average middle class market. Unless Japanese manufacturers can some how rebrand themselves to be exotic and appeal to the rich fans.

I hope im the first comment n I love your videos bro❤️❤️❤️

Bad timeing to watch this as Aprilia win thier first MotoGP... I think a more pressing question is: Why does Suzuki not race in WSB since they have sucess in Endurance racing, USA and compete in other classes such as BSB and make the GSXR1000 sportsbike ?

If Suzuki and Kawasaki could collaborate they could both probably both do better is MotoGP.

Kawasaki is trying to get back in MotoGP with the zx10rr. But MotoGP will not allow it. they want Kawasaki to make a complete new prototype bike. Apparently motogp's afraid to allow a regular street bike to compete it made look bad for the rest if they start winning.

I remember when BMW,was racing in World Superbike-years back!

what about Suzuki, why haven't they pushed onward and upward, will we see them in WSBK with Kawasaki as a joint team maybe?

Kevin S. #34 helmet is awesome.

Great video mate. Never seen any of your stuff before but a new Sub today. Kawasaki also stated that they will be all electric by 2035 - It’s possible that they may enter the Moto-E World Cup, but I doubt it at this stage.

always wanted to know why they dont show up in motogP??

Interesting. I do follow world superbike world championship and to certain amount motogp, but such has no influence at all on my choice of bike for the road. I go by bike reviews and experience of various models.

The decision to opt for the SuperBike series is good, say anyone who is looking for a motorcycle with extreme performance knows that the suberbike series are based on factory motorcycles. I am bothered by the limit of 1000 cm3 power limit because the durability decreases

Also, Kawasaki and Suzuki pool their racing research and development, wsbk and motogp.

I think if I was part of the Kawasaki team I'd be more inclined to concentrate more funding in Evtol making a two and four person one and then a public transit one making the battery range last at least 1000-1500 miles and then Racing them, then every five years come out with four versions of electric motorcycles with one of them being a evtol one! Kawasaki is awesome to ride!

The best thing about MotoGP is the skill of the riders. They concept fastest, highest tech and most expensive bikes in the world is a silly side show. The combination makes for not enough saddle time for the riders and undependable bikes. They should just use the same bike standards as World Superbike.

Interesting Discussion! Why Kawasaki not in Motogp is mostly due to Commercial reason! Probably it a wise decision it's not technical, These days they have most advance Motorcycle with lots of Next gen Technology . But Motogp is definitely a money sipper. Hypothetically if Kawasaki races in Motogp in coming years they would like to finish of in top 3 level at Constructor championship. Otherwise it's not justified the investment and even with that results it's not sure to return the desired ROI. So without that now they are in good spot with WSBK. However like to See Kawasaki on Motogp grid at least to finish within top 10 . But most unlikely to happen. Ride safely.

I think it's a great loss to motorcycle racing not to have the mean, green racing machines on the premier grid, letting rip as the hammer around the world's best circuits. Kawasaki as a company is huge and I hope one day soon, a CEO comes along who is also a bike racing nut and once again, Kawasaki joins the premier league of racing where it belongs. They should take a look how Suzuki have returned and are now once again doing so well.

Well explained but I would love team green on the moto gp grid

Love rye my gramps gardener own a house she rents out opposite the harbour there near that lovely Italian!

Motogp is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing for a reason. The competition is the toughest in the world, the machines are the most advanced in he world, and the riders are the best ones in the world. So anything that can't keep up with that criteria doesn't survive.

Attack Performance attempted to go to MOTO GP using a crossplane Kawasaki ZX-10RR engine with a prototype frame.

Can you make a video on why Suzuki or Aprilia are not racing in world superbike?

MotoGP doesn't filter down into bikes you can purchase from a dealer. WSBK is bikes you can purchase.

Random observation, but I don't know whose graphic you were using at 1:57, but trust me, you will never ever see the Semanggi interchange in Jakarta that free flowing!

Its simple why spend alot of money when you can spend alot less money and have amazing run of finishing in the top 2 in the championships between 2012 and 2021.Motogp would not make sence.

I’m team green. I’ll follow it anywhere. I own 9 including 2 H2’s for a reason

Motogp isn’t about selling bikes anymore. Maybe Back in the early 500cc days and up through the final wave of American riders before the introduction of MotoGP. The bread and butter of the big Japanese motorcycle manufacturers aren’t sport bikes, it is in scooter sales in the developing countries. The real benefit of racing is training engineers and team management to transfer over to production work. It also trickles down some technology over to production bikes like electronics and fuel efficiency.

Why would you enter MotoGP? When you do get on the grid (if that is your aim) you will have to supply brand new, up to date bikes for a non factory team also. And their primary business is ship building.

I'm die hard fans motorcycle especially kawasaki, I'm still loyal to waiting until Kawasaki back to GP once more

Good on you bud. A

Race on Sunday sell on Monday is less and less a thing these days. We used to watch races to determine who the best brands were. Now most people obsess endlessly over spec sheets like they are engineers. MotoGP is useless when it comes to sales because they are not available. SBK bikes look like their street counterparts and they do give a better representation but still, many of their parts are unavailable. Looking at classes like Stock1000 in MotoAmerica can give us better ideas of who is king of the streets. Personally, I’d like to see Moto2 get away from using spec Triumph engines and opt more for a stock class bike similar to what Stock1000 does.

world superbike champ for a many years, did a good job, but moto GP is very expensive to develop with bikes costing up to 1,000,000.00 per unit.

DENDEN RACING It is such a pity that Kawasaki did not make the cut in MotoGP I think they would have been a force to recon with if they had continued.

Why BMW also not in moto gp?

Lost me at the eco stuff. Kork Ballington on the KR500

great question , would have been better if you had an answer !

I wonder why Semanggi Jakarta comes to your mind in minutes 1:57 :)