Bimota is making a grand return to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2025 with the newly formed Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, featuring Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani aboard the KB998 Rimini. This marks the Italian brand’s first appearance in WorldSBK since 2014, and with Kawasaki Heavy Industries now backing the effort, expectations are high. The team unveiled their striking new red, white, and black livery, a departure from Kawasaki’s signature green, as they prepare for an ambitious comeback.
The history of Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team in WorldSBK dates back to the championship’s origins. The inaugural WorldSBK race in 1988 saw Davide Tardozzi take victory aboard a Bimota, securing five wins that season and helping the brand amass seven wins in total. Three more victories followed in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2000 that Anthony Gobert secured Bimota’s last win at Phillip Island. After a short-lived return in 2014, the brand faded from competition—until now. With a Bimota chassis and a Kawasaki engine, the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team is determined to be a part of the big show.
The KB998 Rimini is built around a 998cc inline-four engine delivering over 220 horsepower, with top speeds reaching 198.84 mph. A split chassis combining a steel front trellis with aluminum alloy plates enhances rigidity and handling. Showa suspension and Brembo brakes provide top-tier performance.
Excitement surrounds Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team as they enter their first season back in WorldSBK after a decade-long absence. Despite the challenge of developing a new platform, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani have already shown promise in testing. Lowes, who finished fourth in 2024 with Kawasaki, has expressed confidence in the new package, stating that the KB998 Rimini is already performing at the level of the ZX-10RR from last season. Lowes believes the team has a shot at victory at Round 1 in Australia, where he won twice in 2024, emphasizing that the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team has the potential to be immediately competitive.
Axel Bassani, who struggled in 2024 with Superpole performances and race pace, is showing significant improvement with the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team package. Bassani’s goal for 2025 is clear: fight for podiums, race wins, and return Bimota to the top of WorldSBK.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team is ready to challenge the competition with a fresh identity and a promising new machine.
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