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Under the central dome of Barcelona’s Mercat de les Flors theatre, Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea were present for Thursday night’s launch of the Ninja ZX-10R ahead of the 2015 WorldSBK season. Englishman Sykes is looking to take back the title he won in 2013, joined by Rea for the first time as the Northern Irishman makes his Kawasaki debut after finishing third overall in his best campaign to date last year.

“Today is a very special day for us because we are starting a new year and the best way to show this is to share it with other people,” explained KRT Team Manager Guim Roda. “We want everybody to join this project together to achieve all the results we work to achieve. We have a special relationship with Kawasaki, having worked with them for many years and in 2013 winning the title.”

Several representatives of the Kawasaki brand were also in attendance.

“I am representing Kawasaki Europe tonight and we could not be any more proud to be associated with this team,” commented Kawasaki Europe’s Race Planning Manager Steve Guttridge. “It is our most professional team and to be here in Barcelona, having nearly won the title again last year, is an achievement in itself.

“Before we go into 2015, we must remember that we did actually win the WorldSBK EVO Championship last year with David Salom and KRT, which was a fantastic feat in itself. Tom won so many races last year that it was a credit to the team that they all worked so strongly together. This is great for Kawasaki’s marketing. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest rider Jonathan Rea into the ‘Team Green’ family. I know he feels very welcome and has bonded with the bike. We are expecting really great things from him. And again to ‘Mr Kawasaki’, Tom Sykes. We want him to regain that title and have a fantastic year again.”

Kawasaki will also be looking to clinch the Manufacturers’ Championship this year, having missed out in 2014 by the narrow margin of 37 points.