Kawasaki uncovers 2017 World Superbike challenger

Kawasaki, the championship's most successful team of this decade, showed off its revised ZX-10R and livery in a launch in Barcelona near its base.

The Japanese marque has won three titles in the past five years, and only narrowly missed out on the other two; 2015 and 2016 champion Jonathan Rea alone has collected 23 wins and 46 podium finishes during his two seasons with the team.

The Northern Irishman returns for a third season with Kawasaki alongside long-time team member Tom Sykes, who won the series in 2013 but has failed to threaten Rea in the past two seasons.

Kawasaki kicked off the 2017 season in promising fashion as Rea topped both days of the first Jerez test last month, but skipped the Portimao test in favour of another two days at Jerez.

KRT Team Manager Guim Roda said: "2016 was a very successful year for us. We achieved all the objectives within our reach.

"Our riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes topped the first two positions in the overall classification and Kawasaki obtained the manufacturers’ title for second consecutive year in the World Superbike Championship.

"But, after that nearly perfect season, we’re back to work to challenge again in 2017. Every season needs to start from scratch and there’s no place for old kudos.

"This is our message for this year and the motto of this team launch.”

Kawasaki's riders will be present along with the rest of the WSBK field for the official test at Phillip Island later this month prior to the first race weekend at the Australian track on 24-26 February.