Honda rider Bautista made the remark during last week’s post-season test at Jerez, where Kawasaki unveiled the 2021 version of its ultra-successful ZX-10RR machine featuring radically revised front bodywork and an updated engine.
Jonathan Rea set the fastest time of the test using the new bike at Jerez, and is back in action for another two-day test this week at Aragon.
While Kawasaki’s 2021 machine represents its biggest year-on-year change in some seasons, the Japanese manufacturer has not gone down the route of producing a ‘homologation special’ in the mould of Ducati’s V4 Panigale R or BMW’s M1000RR.
Asked if he was surprised about Kawasaki’s decision, Bautista replied: “When the bike is working well, why change? They keep winning, so why change the bike?
“Maybe you think it’s a normal Superbike, but them for it’s like a MotoGP [bike] because they don’t have any other championships and they put all the effort in this championship. Maybe the bike looks normal, but inside is the secret.”
Ex-MotoGP rider Bautista was eighth-fastest of the 11 WSBK riders present at Jerez, three places behind Honda teammate Leon Haslam.
The Spanish rider said he found “some good points but also some bad points” experimenting with different set-ups, as the CBR1000RR-R goes into its second season of competition.