The Ninja ZX-RR machines on which Kawasaki’s Randy de Puniet and Anthony West will return to action at this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix will look decidedly different to the bikes they stepped off at Laguna Seca ahead of the three week summer break.
For the remainder of the 2007 MotoGP season the Kawasaki Racing Team will run in the traditional Kawasaki lime green, rather than the metallic green that made it’s first appearance on the Japanese manufacturer’s Ninja ZX-RR machines during pre-season testing.
While the metallic green was popular in some quarters, the overall consensus amongst Kawasaki fans worldwide was that the new colour didn’t properly reflect Kawasaki’s rich racing heritage, built on the back of success with on and off road competition machines sporting the traditional Kawasaki lime green livery.
“The metallic green we ran on our Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP bikes during the first part of the season generated some lively discussion amongst Kawasaki fans worldwide, ” commented Ian Wheeler, Kawasaki’s Communications Manager. “But, while the colour was well received by some, research by our colleagues in Japan clearly showed that the majority of Kawasaki fans worldwide felt the traditional lime green a more appropriate colour for Kawasaki’s factory MotoGP machines. For this reason, the Ninja ZX-RR bikes of Randy de Puniet and Anthony West will run the traditional lime green livery from Brno onwards. “
“It’s meant a lot of work during the summer break for quite a few people, both in Europe and Japan, as we’ve had to change the livery on not only the bikes, but also the race transporters, the pit display and a whole host of other items. But, this is what Kawasaki’s loyal racing fans have told us that they want, so we’re happy to do it. It will be strange to see the bikes back in the traditional colour at Brno, but sort of reassuring at the same time: Kawasaki’s racing bikes have been lime green for a good few years, and it looks like they will remain so for some time to come, ” concluded Wheeler.
The lime green liveried Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR machines will make their first appearance on track during Friday morning’s opening practice session ahead of this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix.
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