STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE (POWER)’S MOUTH...

As we speak, the first day of the Ninja ZX-10R press launch has been completed and ‘hot off the press,’ Martin Lambert has sent the following information to give you a flavour of how the Qatar launch of this impressive litre Supersports machine is unfolding…..

“Looking for “guaranteed” good weather has meant casting the net further than normal for the debut of the all important 2008 Ninja ZX-10R. In fact, the net has stretched as far as the Losail circuit just down the slightly sandy road from the city of Doha in Qatar.

Playing host, amongst the first journalists to ride the new ZX-10R were from the UK, America, Italy, Germany and Sweden. The 5.4km ribbon of tarmac twists sinuously thorough the rocky desert and has provided a great test of man and machine on the first riding day of the launch.

Combining a series of fast straights, sweeping corners and some quite complex curves, the ZX-10R has certainly been through its paces and is showing what a strong balance of poise, performance and excitement the new package is.

With a heady, and quite amazing, 200ps to call on with the Ram Air effect fully employed, the new bike is certainly powerful… and fast. Witness the comments of the Superbike journalist John Pearson who admitted that it was the fastest he had been round Losail on any machine – bar none.

MCN were also impressed with the quick reactions of the machine and its ability to change direction quickly. Out of the final turn, tester Adam “Chad” Child maxed the Ninja through the gears and was rewarded lap after lap with a speed of 180mph on the main straight before consistently heavy yet controlled and predictable braking for turn one.

With many journalists on deadline and writing copy, any negative comments so far remain far outweighed by the positive accolades accrued for a machine judged to have combined all the finest features of both the original “C” and recent “D”  models of Ninja ZX-10R… and as far as most are concerned, it's that elusive thing - the best of both worlds”.

Positive words indeed! Plus, with the ‘08 Ninja ZX-10R having a maximum power of some 13ps higher than ’07 model at 188ps (200ps with ram air), the specifications illustrate what an incredible this machine is.

First shipments are expected in February with plans afoot to market this machine strongly at its launch in early ’08.

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