One Kawasaki ZX-10RR (track only). Pristine condition. One careful but blindingly fast owner named Jonathan Rea. SOLD!
Motorcycles are supposed to be born equal but when it comes to this Kawasaki ZX-10RR, well its purpose in life was to be a particularly special one for it was to be owned and steered by the fair hand of one Jonathan Rea.
We aren’t talking about a bespoke motorcycle, but perhaps something more special in that this is a generation of Kawasaki’s venerable Ninja that not only had to impress the general populous but had to out-perform, out-handle and out-last each of its rivals to win more WorldSBK titles.
Which is why this particular machine you see here is so special. It was gifted to Rea as his track day training equipment-cum-play thing where he could spend winters honing his (already sharp) skills to prepare himself for a season spent chasing the chequered flag on the equivalent race-ready WorldSBK version.
This is the bike that kept him match fit. But it belongs to him no more.
Last month Rea put this very model up for auction, we assume because he is starting to run out of room in what must now be a veritable museum of race-winning machines, roadgoing options and more than 100 victory trophies. Also because it raises money for charity.
Pleasingly, for anyone daunted by arm-waving auctions and having to choose between scratching the itch on your nose and risk buying a house, the Provec Racing team that runs the Kawasaki Racing Team effort skirted this by putting it on eBay to give (serious-ish) bidders a fair crack at landing this very special creation.
It had the reserve of €25,000 but, unsurprisingly, that was quickly exceeded by as many as 55 genuine bids right up until the auction came to a close with the winning bid coming in at… (drum roll please) €46,100
A nice hearty sum with which to pass on to those in need who will gladly receive it, the lucky owner who gets to shuffle his bottom in the same grooves as six-time WorldSBK Champion Rea is also getting a helmet, overalls and boots from the man himself thrown in too, plus an ultra VIP trip to a WorldSBK event.
That sounds like money well spent on something fairly invaluable. Well done everyone!
