News

Regulation updates in 2022 began a trend in the FIM Supersport World Championship developing new bikes, and 2025 will see two more new motorcycles homologated! Yamaha will be retiring their successful Yamaha R6 platform in favor of their new R9, with notable changes to the engine and aero changes to the bike. For Kawasaki, their new edition of the ZX-6R 636 Ninja will feature among other changes, a larger displacement engine and a new fairing. These two new bikes will join several other ‘new generation’ bikes which were introduced since regulation changes in 2022.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Yamaha’s next chapter in their World Supersport story

On May 2nd of 1999, Yamaha’s R6 bike won its first World Supersport victory at Donington Park, now more than 25 years, 10 Rider’s and 10 Manufacturer’s Championships later, Yamaha is counting down the weeks until their new R9 sees its first taste of World Supersport competition.  The new R9 street spec bike will feature an 890cc, three-cylinder engine, Yamaha’s lightest-ever chassis, weighing just 9.7 kg, and KYB suspension. Developed in secret by Yamaha’s engineers, Yamaha Motor Racing Europe received their first prototype in April 2023. After receiving feedback from World Supersport and WorldSBK riders Stefano Manzi and Andrea Locatelli, Yamaha engineers are continuing to implement improvements to the new homologation.

A WORK IN PROGRESS: Yamaha hopes to hit the ground running with the R9, and improve with time

Yamaha Motor Europe Motorsport Road Racing’s Technical Manager Riccardo Tisci sounded off on the new R9 bike which will see use in World Supersport. “The R9 is a completely different concept to the R6, it is a pure racing bike with different engine characteristics, so we want to have it ready for the season start with a completely different bike. Our riders have told us they appreciate the higher torque, however as we are at the beginning of this project with the bike, we still have some negative feedback from riders we will use to improve the bike. Our main focus is to understand the bike better and collect data on the bike. we have very high-level riders, so I think our goal is to be competitive but a reasonable target is to be on the podium.”

KAWASAKI’S UPGRADED NINJA: Engine displacement upgraded from 599cc to 636cc

Yamaha are not the only manufacturers providing new toys for their riders, Kawasaki is preparing their new ZX-6R 636 Ninja for its World Supersport debut in Australia’s Round 1. The new Ninja is receiving an updated aero, electronics, a new fairing, and an engine upgrade, going up in displacement from 599cc to 636cc while maintaining their same 4-cylinder system. The previous version 599cc version of the Ninja first competed in World Supersport back in 2002, distinguishing itself to the world when it propelled Kenan Sofuoglu to three Rider’s Championships. This newest iteration will show its legs in the World Supersport competition for the first time in Round 1 in Phillip Island.

“WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL”: Kawasaki WorldSSP Team’s Manuel Puccetti

“We are in the first stage of this project because of Jeremy’s injury in Moto2™ in November, across Jerez and Portimao’s testing, we only did about 150 laps, not enough to understand the new bike but now we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” Said Team Manager Manuel Puccetti “We are starting to be more competitive, and I think the more kilometers he does on the bike the better we will understand the bike we are giving to him.”

2022 REGULATION CHANGES: Rule updates precipitated many of these new changes

To adapt to changing customer trends, emissions regulations around the world, and allow more manufacturers to enter into the World Supersport category, the ‘Supersport Next Generation’ regulations, which set the table for these new models to be introduced. As countries around the world impose new restrictions on emissions, several of the bikes on the grid found themselves being ruled out of certain markets, and so in order to maintain customer representation in the championship, new regulations were introduced to World Supersport including the ‘Supersport Next Generation’ rules for 2022 opening up the grid to more bikes, such as the Panigale V2, Triumph Street Triple RS 765 and MV Agusta F3 800 RR. These bikes were the first of the ‘new generation’ which were introduced in 2022 when the rule changes in effect permitted their homologation. With these new bikes on the grid and their teams still growing accustomed to them, this season’s title looks to be up in the air, making for an interesting season of racing to come.

Catch every moment of World Supersport action this season including full race sessions and behind-the-scenes footage via the WorldSBK VideoPass!