Ninja 300 series kickoff a success

Photo: Rob O’Brien

Along with regularly scheduled Superbike and Sport Bike races, last weekend also saw the start of CSBK’s new Ninja 300 series at CTMP.

Officially titled the Kawasaki Ninja 300 series (at least, until more sponsors get on board), the kickoff saw an initial race Friday and then two invitational races, one Saturday and one Sunday. The grid was made up of a combination of journalists, former racers and other notables. Racers included CMG tester Costa Mouzouris, former CSBK champ Michael Taylor, ex-racer Matt McBride, flat track star Doug Lawrence, ARL ace Ron Munroe and Amy Szoke, wife of CSBK champ Jordan Szoke..

Taylor won the first race Friday, with Costa second. Taylor then won the first invitational on Saturday, with Doug Lawrence second in the 10-lap race. It was Lawrence’s first roadracing event. A US-based Kawasaki employee, Adam Faussett, was third.

On Sunday, the win went to Matt McBride, with former Canadian 250 GP racer Adam Roberts in second and Doug Lawrence in third — not bad for a guy at his first roadracing weekend! Lawrence took the win in the two-race invitational series on points.

Lawrence said that he’d had no idea where the flags were, or what lap it was, but he was able to use the same strategy as he used in racing Mile flat-track events — “You’re probably not going to break away in the lead. You just drag your eyes across to where you want to be, whether or not you’re going to be there, and use drafting.

“I felt comfortable with the pace the second day, but everyone stepped it up so much today [Sunday]. Even if they got by me in the turns, I could always get them back on the draft.”

The 20 bikes used over the weekend had been tested by John Sharrad of Accelerated Technologies and Brooklin Cycle Racing’s Rob Egan before taking to track. Modifications included rear shocks from Elka and updated fork internals from Accelerated Technologies. Hindle provided Titanium Evolution exhaust systems and hangers, as well as front and rear stands.

Dynojet Power Commander Fives worked in conjunction with the upgraded exhausts to make more power. The bikes had custom fairings thanks to Hot Bodies Racing. Next year, Dunlop Sportmax Alpha 13 tires will be available at each race for the 300s, as well as other slick and DOT race tires from Dunlop.

Next summer, there will be Ninja 300 races at all CSBK events. Competitors can either purchase one of the already-kitted motorcycles, or build their own. We don’t have any word on prices for the existing bikes yet.

One of the most interesting developments from the weekend was Faussett’s participation. Faussett organized a Ninja 250 series in the US in the past, and it seems the wheels are turning in his brain again. Maybe a continent-wide 300 series could be around the corner?