It’s a five-speed SR250 from the collection of 500cc World Motocross champion Brad Lackey, a former factory Kawasaki rider himself. It’s been restored by factory Kawasaki mechanics and features titanium nuts and bolts throughout.

It was sold this week at the Mecum auction in California for $71,000.

The latest KX450 is not only the first totally new Kawasaki flagship model for five years, but the only truly all-new machine in the 450 class from any manufacturer for 2024. It has a new motor with centre-port exhaust and new head, new aluminium frame, different bodywork, Brembo brakes, Traction Control, riding modes with handlebar-mounted switch and Bluetooth connectivity using the Rideology app. MotoHead’s Dave Willet rode the bike at an awesome facility in Spain, starting on a damp and slippery track that eventually turned tacky, right through to some night riding under the floodlights. Find out his verdict on the green meanie.

Aimed at all two-wheel enthusiasts, the Lee Dunham Racing Training Facility is a fantastic destination for everyone; from those looking to get their first experience of two wheels to experienced riders looking to go racing.

Focusing on teaching essential skills that can be transferred from off-road to on-road riding, 2022 was one of the facility’s most successful to date, with over 2,000 riders taking part. Alongside working with customers of all abilities, Lee also continued his emphasis on working with local schools and youngsters who would not normally have the opportunity to experience motorcycling.

However, one of the most exciting ventures from this year was the opportunity to work with the Royal Navy to train their riders ahead of the 2023 in-house armed forces Championship. This multiple-round series will see a team of riders from the Royal Navy, RAF and Army race against each other as part of an initiative to build teamwork and encourage more people onto two wheels.

Lee Dunham: “I was riding Kawasaki’s throughout my racing career and that relationship continues through the LDR Training Facility, so it’s fantastic to be continuing together again for 2023. Our Kawasaki Experience days are so good, that everyone with or without a road license would benefit and they are particularly good for road riders looking to increase their knowledge and skills safely off-road before transferring them to the road. 2022 has been an incredible year for our team, and we’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing people. The opportunity to help the Royal Navy is particularly exciting, and I’m looking forward to supporting that further next year.”

Donna, Royal Navy: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Motocross Team recently enjoyed the expertise that Lee Dunham at the Kawasaki experience offers in Gloucester. The team, comprising of varying abilities of rider, descended on the LDR facility from all across the UK to hone skills and build team spirit.
Personnel who have never ridden before had a chance to utilise the first-class equipment on offer alongside those riding at an intermediate level having their skills stretched and challenged. The future aspiration is to have Lee Dunham and the Kawasaki experience available to sailors across the UK as a taster session in the Royal Navy’s grassroots sports festivals.”

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK: “It’s great to be extending our relationship with Lee and his team. We have had a very long and successful partnership with them, and we have enjoyed watching them go from strength to strength. 2022 sounded like a fantastic year for them, and 2023 looks set to take that even further, so we can’t wait to see what next year brings.”  

Based just outside Stourport, Coney Grove Farm will provide the perfect backdrop for customers to truly understand the unique features of the Kawasaki Enduro range. Open to riders of all experience levels, the day will be run by the highly experienced Craig Chamberlain and Kawasaki MX Experience team.

In either a pre-booked AM or PM session, attendees will be able to ride the KX250X and/or KX450X across a range of different terrain and elevations. There are limited spaces on the day and interested riders should sign up for this free to attend event today via this link – KAWASAKI ENDURO DEMO DAY | Kawasaki Experience (kawasakimxdays.co.uk)

Craig Watson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kawasaki UK:

“Our Enduro range of machines is fantastic, and we believe that once you’ve had the chance to try one, you will be hooked! With cross-country specific tuning that encompasses the engine suspension and brakes, plus featuring an 18-inch rear wheel with skid plate and side stand, what isn’t there to like?

We hope to see as many customers as possible join us for the day and experience our “X” range first hand.”

Equipped with five speed transmissions and manual clutches, the trio of KLX R models begins with the KLX140R. With its low seat height of just 780mm, this is the first chance for many young riders to experience not just the thrill of two wheels but also opportunity to master the operation of a manual clutch and five close ratio competition style gears.

Equipped with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes and sharing the same aggressive track-ready looks of the competition focused KX stable, the KLX140R is for many lucky young riders a “lime green hello” to the world of riding and Kawasaki.

Moving on physically – and appealing to riders further up the height and age scale – is the KLX140R L. Sporting 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels, the KLX140R L rider will enjoy an 800mm seat height and a curb mass of just 95Kg making the machine easy to manoeuvre when riding and a cinch to load after a long day of enjoyable riding.

At the zenith of the KLX140R range for 2023 is the KLX140R F equipped with adult off road bike sized 21-inch front and 19 inch rear wheels.  Making full use of the 8.3kW (11PS) power and 12Nm (1.2kgm) torque at 6000 rpm that is a characteristic of all machines in the KLX140R range, the KLX140R F pilot can relish similar chassis dimensions to an adult MX machine while having the reassurance of predictable and manageable power delivery plus adjustable rear suspension. As a final step before entering the full-on competition arena, the KLX140R F model is a great choice of machine.

From juniors first tentative steps to pushing the door wide open on adult riding, the highly regarded KLX140R range is ready and willing to add fun and enjoyment in 2023.  Available from early November, prices for the three models include:

• KLX140R – £3499
• KLX140R L – £3749
• KLX140R F – £3999

Although at first glance it doesn’t look hugely different to the current bike, on closer inspection the cylinder head is totally different and much shorter, looking very like the KX350 twin-cam design. And the frame has new mounting points with the subframe is bolted on much higher. The rear suspension linkage is new, and the bike runs Brembo brakes rather than Nissin.

A carbon cover hides the rear shock, which is a new-style Showa unit. And the bars have a new electronic control units that is much bigger than before. As the bike is a pre-production prototype rather than a full-factory race machine, it runs standard-style engine covers rather than CNC-machined covers and a plastic fuel tank instead of carbon.

The bike was raced by Chihiro Motsuro who works for the Kawasaki R&D team. He led the first moto until he fell. He remounted then fell again on the last lap, finishing tenth. Second time out he was second behind Yamaha’s Toshiki Tomita who won both motos.

You can see the whole day of racing below, and there is an English commentary for the IA1 450 classes from an excitable Japanese girl.

The first MXGP of the 2022 season has been postponed to the 26 and 27 February due to bad weather. Due to take place this weekend at the scenic location of Matterley Basin near Winchester in the UK, the event set up was severely affected by storm Eunice that swept across the UK on Thursday and Friday with its focus on the south of the country where the event site is located.

With so many teams relying on awnings and semi-permanent structures in the paddock the effect of the storm and some of the highest winds ever recorded in the Winchester area caused significant delay in the normal set up preparations for the event and, for a number, extensive damage to equipment.

Speaking from the team hotel on Saturday morning as KRT staff waited to be let back on site, Team Manager, Antti Pyrhonen commented. “Like the fans, the whole team was looking forward to this first MXGP event – especially as it would be our GP debut for Kawasaki. Ben has had a great run up to the season start and we are working well as a team and anticipating this initial chance to show what we can do. Having said that, the damage caused in the UK to property and vehicles is considerable and we feel for anyone who has been injured or who wakes up today to find their house or car damaged.

The organisers at Matterley have done a great job keeping us informed and ensuring that our team personnel and anyone associated with the event are safe. It’s a regrettable decision but it’s the right one. We lost so much time in the set up and there has been so much damage that it will take some time to regroup and be ready to race. We will return to our base in Belgium now and be back in a few days to compete on 26 and 27 February at this wonderful venue of Matterley Basin. We wish Steve Dixon and all the event staff all the best in the rebuilding process. We know they will work day and night to make it happen.”

With so much expectation focused on him as the lone rider for KRT at present due the Romain Febvre’s injury, Ben Watson was understandably frustrated as the postponement but also pragmatic. “The pre-season was good and it was all focused on funnelling me into my home GP at Matterley Basin. I wanted to race here as much for the fans as myself. Mentally I have been counting down to the first MXGP and now I have to re-set my focus and start that preparation process again. But it’s not like the racing is cancelled, it’s only delayed by a week so the UK fans will still get to see the first GP event of the new Kawasaki Racing Team and me riding the factory KX450-SR. The organisers have done a great job in tough circumstances and some teams like F&H Kawasaki have lost expensive awnings and equipment. My heart goes out to all those in the UK affected by this huge storm and, like KRT, I hope everyone can fix the damage and rebuild.

The relationship, which has run for thirteen seasons, will formally conclude at the end of the current contract period which includes the 2021 World Motocross MXGP Championship. Speaking about the decision, Steve Guttridge, Race Planning Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe (KME), offered his thanks for work the team had done in over a decade of competing as the official Kawasaki factory entry in MXGP.

“I would like to put on record our thanks to Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni, the owner and driving force behind the MX ESCA team. His hard work and commitment over such an extended period have been considerable and both KME and KHI appreciate his highly professional approach and obvious passion for MXGP.

KME and KHI would additionally also like to offer our gratitude and thanks to all team staff both past and present plus all those riders that have offered so much commitment and contributed so much to this project.

For 2021 there is still a job to do, and Kawasaki maintains its commitment to KRT according to our mutually agreed and legally binding contract. Our clear focus remains winning and working alongside the team to achieve the best results possible across the 2021 season”.

Not so many technicians in the paddock have such a vast experience of racing on both sides of the Atlantic; for Vincent, who still divides his time between Europe and the USA, everything started near Le Mans, one of the most iconic venues for motorsport fans worldwide.

“My first job as a mechanic was in a team involved in Endurance and Supersport but after a few months I had the opportunity to work with Tony Bégué, a French motocross rider. Then I worked with Pascal Leuret, who raced the GPs, and later I joined the KTM factory and was the mechanic to Yves Demaria when he won his first world title,” he recalls. America was a dream for many French riders, and also for Vincent who had the opportunity to move to the USA after five seasons working in the FIM World Championship. “Everyone thinks that life is nice and easy in the US, but that’s not really the reality and you need to be strong to be successful there. I worked for several teams before joining Kawasaki Pro Circuit; I had four great seasons with Mitch Payton and his staff, but then I had the opportunity to take another career step with an Australian team where I had much more responsibilities than being just a mechanic.”

When this team retired from racing Vincent had acquired a wide experience and knowledge, and he joined Akira Technology, a French company involved in competition with several manufacturers including Kawasaki in both Superbike and Motocross. For the first time Vincent had the opportunity to work with KRT and, when Ryan Villopoto signed with the team to race the FIM MXGP World Championship, Thierry Chizat Suzzoni asked him to join the squad as he had the best profile to help Ryan in his new challenge. When former team manager François Lemariey retired from racing last winter, Vincent took on more responsibilities and he now shares team management duties with team owner Thierry Chizat Suzzoni.

“Just to be clear my main job continues to be as technical manager, working with our technical partners, with KHI in Japan, and being the team reference for the Japanese engineers,” explains Vincent, who now has several roles. “Honestly it’s a big challenge, the biggest of my life even if it’s not the first one. Thierry is supporting us a lot; he has been involved for many years with the team to represent Kawasaki at the highest level in MXGP. Personally I have the advantage to have managed the team technically for several years so that part is not new, but dealing with authorities such as Infront or the FIM and sponsors is new for me, even if I already had that relationship with the technical partners. We work hard to give our sponsors and partners excellent feedback for their investment; with our communications manager we have been working on social media to give the team an even better image, and the benefits are clear as we have increased our followers on social media by more than 120%. Maybe it’s partly due to Covid as people can’t go to the races, but we are also creating new videos, even more content and we have some exciting projects in the pipeline to develop our audience yet further.”

In common with their rivals the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team is impatient to return to racing again after a long winter even if the team had raced successfully in Italy earlier this season.

“Winter was not easy; it was very, very long. But that doesn’t mean that we were sleeping; we were working and travelling a lot and spent many hours to organise everything to be able to travel. Our main goal all winter long was to focus on our riders, on their preparation, on their training, on their bikes, all to achieve the best possible results. Today the staff is more compact than in the past, but everyone is so motivated! We have the opportunity this year to have two riders who train together, who work together, who test together, who laugh together. I never saw this atmosphere previously, and for sure our riders help us to be so strong. Both Romain and Ivo are easy to work with, and as they train together it’s easier and better for the mechanics who can share time together. We knew Romain already last year; he’s a great rider and a great person, always positive. And we have seen Ivo improving a lot since he joined us and that give a strong motivation to the entire staff,” added Vincent, who is regularly in contact with Kawasaki in Japan and is fully aware what KHI expects for the team in the future. “Our strategy with Japan is to work as they do in Superbike, to have a similar image, let’s say even more professional. We are professional, but it’s difficult to compare Superbike and MXGP as everything depends on the budgets of course.”

Last season Infront offered a great exposure to teams and riders with eighteen rounds of the FIM MXGP World Championship all over Europe. It was a long and tough season for everyone, and 2021 could be similar.

“Last year was financially difficult for everyone, both the teams and Infront, the promoter of MXGP. The promoter did a great job to build a championship, and we see that it’s still very complicated to create a calendar. In common with every sport MXGP still faces a difficult time to rebuild from Covid and 2021 will be a strenuous time for teams, riders, mechanics and promoter as the series is compressed into a more limited time-scale but we will be strong together to maintain the high profile of our sport.”

Entry point into the addictive world of off-road riding remains covered with the compact four stroke KLX110 with its semi-auto gearbox, kick and electric start systems plus tutor friendly adjustable throttle stop. For those seeking their very first taste of competition, the KX65 provides a sturdy, easy to maintain and thoroughly competitive place in the Kawasaki pack with the venerable KX85 on the near horizon as “next bike” for many young and fast-growing riders.

Both the KX85 small wheel and big wheel models benefited recently from upgrades chief amongst which are redesigned radiator shrouds creating a distinct synergy with adult KX models delivering increased cooling air flow to the radiator of the water-cooled two-stroke paddock favourite.

Moving up the range, there are two quarter litre offerings, one the KX250X enduro/trail machine with its refocussed suspension settings, bash plate, electric start and side stand that benefits greatly from its MX sibling, the KX250.

Inheriting much of its advanced specification from its larger capacity stablemate, the KX250 has a KX450 type frame and swinging arm, the same hydraulic clutch set up as the 450 and the useful integration of Ninja superbike technology thanks to finger followers in the valve train allowing more consistent high rev performance and an increased lift capacity for the camshafts.

At the top of the capacity scale, the green team will offer an impressive two machine range in 2022 with the KX450X and KX450. Offering an enduro/trail targeted machine in the KX450X and the race and championship winning potential of the awesome KX450, the complete eight model 2022 range has both breadth and depth and is sure to strike a chord with fans young and old, those new to the sport or engrossed in motocross: plus those obsessed with enduro and trail riding for weekend fun or full-on competition.

The KX65, KLX110, KX450 and KX450X will be arriving in the UK from June. The KX250X will be available in July, followed by the KX250 in August and the KX85 in October. Full pricing is as below:

KX65 – £3,099
KX85 / KX85 II – £4,049 / £4,149
KLX110 – £2,349
KX250 – £7,699
KX450 – £7,999
KX250X – £7,799
KX450X – £8,199