More details of CSBK’s Ninja 300 series released

Photo: Rob O’Brien/CSBK

Grandstand already told you about the inaugural weekend for CSBK’s new Ninja 300 series; now, here are some more details.

By all reports, everyone had fun at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the series’ debut as an invitational showdown. Here’s what CSBK big boss Colin Fraser and Kawasaki marketing guy Brad Goodbody, had to say about plans for the new baby Ninja series.

The series is good for at least two years. Fraser says Lubricants specialist NOCO will be a key sponsor and have committed to 2016 and 2017, which gives the fledgling series some stability. Goodbody also confirmed that Kawasaki has committed to two years minimum to ensure that riders have the confidence in investing their time and money into the series.

There will be no maximum age for competitors. One of the beefs with the old Honda CBR250 series was that it was great fun for kids, but older riders who wanted to try it out were ineligible (until midway through the final season, when the rules changed). The new Ninja series will have no maximum age restrictions, although Fraser says there might be a minimum age of 15 and riders must come in with at least some club racing experience. Goodbody added that he sees this as its own series, not something that introduces new riders as a stepping stone to the bigger series.

Costs are still to be determined. Racers will have to install a basic kit on their bike (Hot Bodies fairings, Elka Shock, Hindle exhaust, Dynojet Power Commander, Dunlop tires) that will cost about $3,000. However, Fraser says exchange rates and other variables mean the exact price tag is still up in the air. Fraser reckons other expenses will include entry fees (about $200 per weekend, including a double-header and Friday practice) and potentially a track school or club racing fees. Of course, racers will also need gas, oil, brake pads, etc., and need a way to transport their bike to the races.

Engine modifications will be minimal. After each race, the bikes will be dyno’d. CSBK will likely set the max horsepower limit around 37 hp, keeping an emphasis on rider capability.

The plan for the 20 prepped bikes. As part of the kick off for the series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Kawasaki prepared 20 bikes to race spec for attending media, racers and industry types, so what do they intend to do with these? Goodbody says that their fate is still to be determined. He’d like to see more dealer involvement so interested dealers could possible buy one, but having some available to rent at the track for interested racers is also a possibility.

Classes? Obviously they want to have a full a grid at each round as possible, which the prepped bikes could help, and if they achieve that then they could even start subdividing into classes (a fat bastard one might be good for CMG).

Stand alone or a 300 series? Whilst it looks like the first two years will be exclusively Ninja 300, Goodbody did not close the door to expanding the series to include some of the other 300 class bikes out there, though they would need to ensure that any horsepower differences are levelled out. This, of course, requires the other manufacturers to see the benefit of jumping on board but it would give the series a stronger foundation going forwards.

Canada only? Goodbody also added that expanding into the US could be a possibility though recognized that it would have to northern US to keep travel costs down for competitors.