The FIM and Dorna have announced Ducati and Kawasaki will have their maximum rev limits adjusted ahead of this weekend’s seventh round of the 2023 WorldSBK Championship at Imola.

As part of the tweaks, Ducati will see a 250rpm reduction in the maximum rev limit permitted on its Panigale V4 R, while Kawasaki will receive an extra 250rpm after utilising some of its concession allowance for upgrades.

It marks the second time this season that runaway WorldSBK Championship leaders Ducati have been forced to scale back the revs on its dominant Panigale V4 R package.

It comes as part of the FIM and Dorna’s strategy of assessing the balance of performance between the five participating models every three rounds, with Alvaro Bautista’s steamroll to 16 wins in 18 races so far this year proving decisive in the latest revision.

It means the Ducati Panigale V4 R will run with 15,600rpm for the next three events, starting with Imola this weekend, having started the year 16,100rpm.

Kawasaki, meanwhile, will receive a 250rpm increase after choosing to use five of the concession points available to it for in-season tweaks to the ZX-10RR package. 

It means the factory Kawasaki Racing Team - featuring Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes - Puccetti Racing, Orelac Racing and TPR Vinales Racing will run with a maximum rev limit of 15,100rpm.

It has been a tough season for Kawasaki thus far with the manufacturer still win-less after six events, its longest streak without a WorldSBK victory since 2011.