Kawasaki has become the latest manufacturer to launch its 2024 WorldSBK campaign as it prepares for its first season in almost a decade without record-breaking six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea.

The Japanese firm will feature a revised rider line-up for the new season with Alex Lowes - who enters into his fifth season with the Kawasaki Racing Team - being joined by Axel Bassani, who replaces Rea from Motocorsa Ducati.

It will also debut a new look with a lighter shade interpretation of its signature green hues to mark the start of a new era without Rea, who scored a record six WorldSBK titles with the firm during his nine-season tenure.

His move to Yamaha sees Bassani assume his place, the Italian getting his first chance with a factory team after three successful seasons on the privateer Motocorsa Ducati that yielded two independent titles and a handful of podium results.

While the ZX-10RR itself remains the oldest bike on the grid - a fact that has perpetuated a steady decline in results over the past three seasons - team principal Guim Roda feels the tweaks to the regulations for 2024 will help the manufacturer get back on a par with main rivals Yamaha and Ducati.

“For 2024 we enter into a new era where, for the first time since 2015, balancing rules have been introduced which do not go against Kawasaki’s interests. We understand it is not an easy job to balance such a diverse championship. 

“It took a lot of effort from FIM, DWO and MSMA, so we hope we can use this opportunity to be part of the show and fight to win races. 

“We have a very balanced project this year. Lowes, a fast rider with incredible capacity for speed, is trying to extend his performance for 20 laps - right to the end of long races. 

“Axel, a young and talented rider, is learning how to extract the full potential of the Ninja ZX-10RR each time he goes out on track.“