Kawasaki's Secret Four-Stroke On-Track

KAWASAKI'S SECRET FOUR-STROKE ON-TRACK

kawasaki, the last of Japan's Big Four bike-makers to reveal its four-stroke Mo toGP plans, began on-track testing of its new powerplant at Malaysia's Sepang circuit this past February. The engine-design and displacement of which have not been disclosed, though a big inline-Four is almost a given-was shoehorned into a "more rigid" version of the current ZX-7RR chassis. Ridden by former World Superbike racer Akira Yanagawa and factory test rider Katsuke Shimizu, the bike was equipped with a large "letterbox" air intake located in the nose of the fairing, simi lar to that of the Honda RC51. "There is a lot more torque, especially at low revs," said Yanagawa. "I have never rid den a big Twin, but I imagine this is what if feels like." Kawasaki will debut the new bike later this year, and make an all-out run for the title in 2003.

Matthew Miles