The Ninja ZX-RR is a race bike from Kawasaki

Kawasaki Motorcycle Corporation

Kawasaki motorycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries at plants in Japan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. The motorcycles have been produced since 1954.-History:...

, which was raced in the MotoGP world championship. The bike made its debut towards the end of the 2002 MotoGP season with riders Australia's Andrew Pitt and the Japan's Akira Yanagawa

Akira Yanagawa

is a motorcycle road racer from Japan. He won three World Superbike Championship races and finished on the podium on 20 further occasions....

.

In 2004, Shinya Nakano

Shinya Nakano

is a retired Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Superbike rider. He is not related to the former Formula One racer Shinji Nakano.-Early years:...

 joined the team and managed to get ZX-RR's first podium with a third place at the Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix

The Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:...

. In 2005, Olivier Jacque

Olivier Jacque

Olivier Jacque is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He was second in the 250cc European Championship in 1994, before moving on to the 250cc World Championship. He achieved a top ten finish in the points standings every year he competed...

 scored a second place at the Chinese Grand Prix

Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix

The Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the World Motorcycle Racing season, from 2005 until 2008.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:...

. The next year Nakano finished second at the Dutch TT

Dutch TT

The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP...

. In 2007, Randy de Puniet

Randy de Puniet

Randy de Puniet is a French Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is currently racing for the Pramac Ducati team in MotoGP, having raced in this class regularly since 2006...

 scored a second place at the Japanese Grand Prix. In 2008, it was ridden by John Hopkins

John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)

John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...

 and Anthony West

Anthony West (motorcycle racer)

Anthony "Ant" West is an Australian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has won one race, the 2003 Dutch TT in the 250cc class...

.

The ZX-RR struggled in 2008, with the best results being two fifth place finishes from John Hopkins in Portugal and Anthony West in Brno. Hopkins and West blamed both a lack of feeling in the front end and rear traction on corner exit. Previous ZX-RRs have been difficult to ride, but beyond the limited statements by the riders it is unclear what the problems with the 2008 bike were.

At the end of the 2008 season, Kawasaki announced its retirement from the MotoGP world championship.

Riders

2002: Andrew Pitt

2003: Garry McCoy

Garry McCoy

Garry McCoy is a professional motorcycle racer. He has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is noted for his oversteering style of riding, earning him the nickname "The Slide King".McCoy was born in Sydney...

, Alex Hofmann

Alex Hofmann

Alexander Hofmann is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, who now works on German television coverage of the sport...

, Andrew Pitt

2004: Shinya Nakano

Shinya Nakano

is a retired Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Superbike rider. He is not related to the former Formula One racer Shinji Nakano.-Early years:...

, Alex Hofmann

2005: Shinya Nakano, Olivier Jacque

Olivier Jacque

Olivier Jacque is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He was second in the 250cc European Championship in 1994, before moving on to the 250cc World Championship. He achieved a top ten finish in the points standings every year he competed...

, Alex Hofmann

2006: Shinya Nakano, Randy de Puniet

Randy de Puniet

Randy de Puniet is a French Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is currently racing for the Pramac Ducati team in MotoGP, having raced in this class regularly since 2006...

2007: Randy de Puniet, Anthony West

Anthony West (motorcycle racer)

Anthony "Ant" West is an Australian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has won one race, the 2003 Dutch TT in the 250cc class...

, Olivier Jacque, Fonsi Nieto

Fonsi Nieto

Alfonso Gonzalez Nieto is a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. As the nephew of successful Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Ángel Nieto, it was no surprise when he started competing in the sport himself. After success in the 250cc class he moved to World Superbikes, while he also has made one...

 (1 race), Akira Yanagawa

Akira Yanagawa

is a motorcycle road racer from Japan. He won three World Superbike Championship races and finished on the podium on 20 further occasions....

 (1 race)

2008: John Hopkins

John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)

John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...

, Anthony West, Jamie Hacking

Jamie Hacking

Jamie Alexander Hacking , nicknamed The Hacker, is a professional motorcycle racer who has spent his entire career in the United States. He has chosen to sit out the 2010 due to limited options....

 (1 race)

2009: Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Team

	2006	2007
Engine
Type	Four-stroke
Configuration	Inline four-cylinder
Induction System	DOHC, four valves per cylinder	DOHC Pneumatic system, four valves per cylinder
Displacement	990 cc	798 cc
Lubrication	Wet sump
Fuel System	Electronic Fuel Injection
Exhaust System	Four-into-two-into-one	Titanium, four-into-two-into-one
Maximum Power	In excess of 240 bhp	In excess of 200 bhp
Maximum Speed	In excess of 320 km/h (198.8 mph)	In excess of 300 km/h (186.4 mph)
Transmission
Gearbox	Six speed, cassette type
Primary Drive	Gear
Clutch	Dry multi-plate slipper clutch
Final Drive	Chain
Chassis
Frame	Aluminium twin-spar
Front Suspension	Inverted telescopic forks
Rear Suspension	Monoshock	Unit-trak Monoshock
Steering Damper	Hydraulic Adjustable
Bodywork	Carbon Fibre
Wheels	Front: 16.5 inch Rear: 16.5 inch
Tires	Bridgestone Bridgestone The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
Brakes
Front	2 x 314 mm carbon discs, 2 x radial mount, monoblock, four piston calipers
Rear	1 x 203 mm ventilated steel disc, 1 x four piston caliper	1 x 200 mm ventilated steel disc, 1 x two piston caliper
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Variable	1460 millimetres (57.5 in)
Overall Length	2090 millimetres (82.3 in)	2080 millimetres (81.9 in)
Castor (Rake/Trail)	Variable
Seat Height	colspan=2 | 850 millimetres (33.5 in)
Dry Weight	Over 145 kilograms (319.7 lb)	Over 148 kilograms (326.3 lb)
Fuel Capacity	22 l (46.5 US pt)	21 l (44.4 US pt)
Key Suppliers
	Lubricants Elf Elf Aquitaine Elf Aquitaine was a French oil company which merged with TotalFina to form TotalFinaElf. The new company changed its name to Total in 2003...   Tires: Bridgestone Bridgestone The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese.... Brakes: Brembo Brembo Brembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961. Soon after the company was formed, it specialised in disc brakes, which were exclusively imported from the United Kingdom at the time... Exhaust System: Akrapovic Data Acquisition System: 2D Datarecording Suspension: Öhlins Öhlins Öhlins or Öhlins Racing AB, is a manufacturer of high-performance suspension systems for automotive, motorcycle, snowmobile, and ATV use. It is based in Upplands Väsby just north of Stockholm, Sweden... Clutch: FCC Spark Plugs: NGK NGK is a Public Company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK is involved in the manufacture and sale of spark plugs and related products for internal-combustion engines and new ceramics and applicable products.-Organization:... Sprockets: AFAM Chain: EK

External links