Whitham and Kawasaki’s missing WorldSBK edge

WorldSBK 2023 hasn’t got off to the strongest of starts for KRT’s Jonathan Rea leaving two rounds of competition with just one podium to his name.

James Whitham explains how the six-time world champion is hoping that test sessions between now and the next round at Assen will give his Kawasaki the extra poke it needs to compete with Ducati.

“I don’t quite know what’s going on with Jonathan,” Whitham told Bikesportnews.com as he attempted to analyse the great man’s attempt to make history with his seventh title. “But I’ve actually thought for two or three years, like I’ve told you, that the bike isn’t the best in the championship.

“Over the last few years, and with no disrespect to Alex [Lowes] who is a bloody good rider, he is more the benchmark of where the Kawasaki is. And I think everything else that Jonathan has done has been mainly because of Jonathan’s riding, his work ethic and the way he is able to ride round and not be on the most competitive bike.

“The Yamaha and especially Ducati have moved on and the bar has been pushed up a little bit,’ he continued. “You can tell by the way riders like [Axel] Bassani and [Michael] Rinaldi have raised their game and, of course, [Alvaro] Bautista. I know he fell off at Mandalika but that one seems to be the most treacherous circuit - with grip on line but no grip offline - that I have ever seen. It is a place which will catch people out really, really easily.”

BSN:”But going back to Jonathan, in the last couple of years he has been riding more aggressively than ever, certainly last year.”

Whitham:”But I think he’s had to, because of the difference with that bike. He’s had to raise his game and raise his game. They’ve come up with little solutions to make the bike better but