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Kawasaki secure 2024 WorldSSP300 Manufacturers’ Championship with one round left

Thursday, 3 October 2024 09:37 GMT

Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki took their sixth WorldSSP300 crown at the Aragon Round, holding an unassailable lead over Yamaha with a round to spare

While the battle for the Riders’ Championship in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship rages on, the Manufacturers’ Championship was wrapped up at MotorLand Aragon. Kawasaki have now won the last two titles with their Ninja 400 machine and six in total, with riders on the machine fighting for this year’s Riders’ Championship crown, while a Kawasaki-powered team lead the Teams’ Championship.

Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) and Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) still have a chance of this year’s Riders’ Championship heading into the season finale at Jerez, and the pair have made significant contributions to the manufacturer’s success this season. The duo have five wins between them out of a possible 14 so far, although they’re not the only riders to win on the Ninja 400.

Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) has three wins – two at Portimao, one at Aragon – although is out of title contention. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) also has two wins, adding to a successful season for Kawasaki, while Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki duo Petr Svoboda, and his replacement rider following the Czech rider’s injury, Carter Thompson, have all added valuable points to Kawasaki’s tally, as did Italian rider Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PL Performances).

 

In total, Kawasaki have 10 wins and 22 podiums in seven races this season and, with a round to spare, have an unassailable lead over Yamaha. Kawasaki have amassed 302 points in 14 races this season, with Yamaha railing them by 72 points with 50 available across the Spanish Round that concludes the 2024 campaign.

Steve Guttridge, Race Planning Manager at Kawasaki Motor Europe, said: “Kawasaki is understandably proud to have added to our existing Championship success in WorldSSP300 by achieving the manufacturer title honour once more in 2024. This is now our sixth success as a brand from eight attempts, but the real credit has to go to our teams and their riders for delivering such consistently strong results on the Ninja 400. With no less than four riders sharing the top step of the podium so far in 2024, this Championship provides real excitement and – being part of the WorldSBK paddock – creates a great ladder of opportunity for aspiring riders. For now, we will celebrate… and tomorrow we make plans for further manufacturers’ titles!”

With the Spanish Round at Jerez to go, Kawasaki have two competitors fighting for the Riders’ Championship crown, although neither lead the way heading to Jerez. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) is P1 in the standings and the Indonesian rider holds a 16-point lead over Veneman, while Iglesias sits 32 back from the Yamaha rider. Although it’s an advantage for Mahendra at Jerez, it’s possible Kawasaki walk away with the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Championship, while MTM Kawasaki also lead the Teams’ Championship with a round to go.

Watch all the action from the WorldSSP300 season finale at Jerez using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!