Bikers Fight to Lift Nürburgring Ban, New D from Kawasaki and Bimota

We’ve bought numerous company-based motion to indicate off for this week:

A brand new crowdfunding marketing campaign has been launched to struggle the Nürburgring’s ban on among the circuit’s largest public, co-ed (mtorcycle and auto) periods.
Kawasaki and Bimota have new bikes readying for a debut on the 2026 WorldSBK season opener, together with the all-new Ninja ZX-10R and the hub-steered Tesi H2.
Indian Bike is shifting away from the entry-level newbie markets to maintain concentrate on its premium efficiency heavyweight cruisers and baggers.
Efficient April 2026, Honda is consolidating its bike, vehicle, and energy product divisions right into a unified R&D and operational move.

Let’s begin with that pesky Nürburgring Bike Ban, lets?

Saving the Ring: Nürburgring Bike Ban Conjures up Crowdfunded Marketing campaign

Reverse Restrictions on the Legendary Nordschleife!

An aerial view of the Nürburgring circuit. Media sourced from Journey Advisor.

The moto trade’s well-known Nürburgring, additionally labelled the Grüne Hölle or “Inexperienced Hell,” is going through whiplash from its 2025 determination to ban bikes from the unrestricted, self-guided, blended public “Touristenfahrten” periods that newbie and professional racers alike have come to like.

To be clear, the actual occasion that banned bikes in February of 2025 allowed each automobiles and bikes on the identical circuit earlier than that date. On the Nürburgring Nordschleife, or “North Loop” – an unlimited stretch of pavement that encompasses roughly 12.9 miles – one might think about absolutely the freedom such a big circuit can be for attendees. It additionally explains the fervour of this specific crowdfunding marketing campaign, although maybe the Nürburgring’s security transfer is warranted, contemplating people keep getting banned for dangerous driving on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (taking a look at you, Misha).

Because the Nürburgring’s Managing Director says, when internet hosting that one simultaneous participation of automobiles and bikes in vacationer journeys, motorcyclists are probably the most susceptible of all of the events that partake:

“The totally different driving dynamics can result in misunderstandings between two- and four-wheelers … On this case, motorcyclists are significantly in danger as a result of, not like automotive drivers, they don’t have any crumple zone. That’s the reason now we have determined to strictly separate automobiles and motorcyclists sooner or later and to restructure the supply for bikers in order that they’ll benefit from the Nürburgring expertise as safely as doable.”

– Ingo Böder, Nürburgring Managing Director (Visordown)

However again to the achy-breaky obligatories.

Apparently, the crowdfunders are pushing to get again on that North Loop in full capability regardless of the rise of accidents, and the initiative is led by longtime rider Ralf Bollinger, who joins in thrusting a selected “Rhineland-Palatinate legislation” on the Nürburgring ban enforcers. This legislation requires “non-discriminatory” entry to the venue

The Nürburgring has lengthy been a bucket-list vacation spot for locals and guests alike, however rising insurance coverage prices and a concentrate on four-wheel security (resembling this ban) have put some riders within the crosshairs; as such, the crowdfunding marketing campaign initiative goals to boost roughly €10,000 for an knowledgeable authorized report and a proper request to the observe operators.

The marketing campaign performs soiled, too, highlighting the Nürburgring’s cultural heritage of being a proving floor for bike improvement since 1927 whereas conceding that rider-specific security measures may very well be put in place to maintain the observe accessible to all with out pushing out the motorcycling world from a implausible 12.9-mile stretch of heaven.

Ought to these crowdfunders succeed, the initiative might set a precedent for the way lovers and observe administration work by future security bans.

For particulars on find out how to help the marketing campaign or to learn the complete context of the ban, go to the story at Visordown.

New Stuff: Kawasaki and Bimota to Tease 2026 Fashions at WorldSBK Opener

Debut to Embrace 2026 Ninja ZX-10R, Tesi H2 and KB998 Rimin

A view of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-10RR. Media sourced from Kawasaki.

It’s official; Kawasaki and Bimota are cooking up recent bikes for the upcoming using season, and each firms have confirmed they may use the season opener of the 2026 WorldSBK to tug the covers off a number of of their new fashions.

In accordance with MCNews, Kawasaki’s 2026 Ninja ZX-10R is making its first public look alongside a curated show representing the Italian craftsmanship of Bimota, that includes the hub-center-steered Tesi H2 and the race-ready KB998 Rimini. These of you who recall these OEMs may also recall the robust ties between the 2 producers:

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) acquired a 49.9% stake in Bimota six years in the past, in 2019.
Kawasaki gives the capital and provide chain stability to Bimota that the traditionally struggling Bimota lacks, whereas Bimota presents Kawasaki a strategy to promote “ultra-premium” bikes that command a lot increased costs than an ordinary Ninja.
Final 12 months (and persevering with into this 12 months), Kawasaki formally transferred its manufacturing unit World Superbike (WorldSBK) efforts to the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Group (BbKRT).

Given the deep collaboration that sees Kawasaki’s powertrain dominance paired with Bimota’s radical chassis innovation, the anticipation for this second 12 months of the “BbKRT” mission is thru the roof. Phillip Island’s demanding format gives a perfect backdrop for the reveal of each Kawasaki and Bimota’s beauties earlier than the primary inexperienced flag of the season.

To remain up to date on the Phillip Island reveals and the technical specs of the brand new Bimota lineup, go to MCNews.

Premium Efficiency: Indian Bikes Commits to Massive-Bore Lineup

CEO Mike Kennedy Outlines a Future Targeted on Efficiency and Heritage

A view of two riders enjoying their Indian Chief Vintage bikes. Media sourced from Indian Motorcycles.

Now that Indian Bike has finalized its separation from Polaris and formally stands as an unbiased entity, CEO Mike Kennedy is losing no time clarifying the corporate’s persevering with identification and focus for the occasions forward.

In a strategic replace following the Carolwood LP acquisition, Kennedy made it clear: Indian Bikes won’t be a model for beginner-level displacement. Slightly than chasing the “mini-moto” or learner-legal entry market, Indian is doubling down on its “premium-performance” fashions, persevering with to prioritize high-output engineering and craftsmanship. The thought to honor the previous by aggressively driving the model right into a extra unique, performance-driven future is a reduction for a lot of die-hard Indian followers

“Fairly frankly, there have been distractions over the past 5 – 6 years with this model making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. I’m absolutely satisfied that once we concentrate on these segments, we’ll pace up the sting we have already got.”

– CEO Mike Kennedy, CEO (VikingBags)

The demographic for this section is especially skilled riders who view their machine as an aspirational, long-term funding – a major departure from the Gen-Z demographic that tends to encourage the trade at massive to mass-produce versatile, small-displacement machines.

For the devoted fanatic, Kennedy and the Indian crew’s determination to speculate much more of their heavyweight cruiser and bagger classes implies that we will look ahead to the Indian badge remaining an emblem of top-tier American motorcycling for the subsequent 125 years to return.

For the complete breakdown of Indian’s new unbiased technique and the A hundred and twenty fifth-anniversary roadmap, go to the complete report at Motorcycle News.

Business Insider: Honda Reorganizes R&D Division for a Aggressive 12 months

Consolidating Bike, Auto, and Energy Product Operations = Newer, Higher Stuff

A look at Honda's rather diverse R&D department. Media sourced from Honda.

Honda is present process a large overhaul, efficient April 1, 2026. The objective is easy: Change into a extra aggressive participant within the trade’s rising tendencies by breaking down the partitions between its bike, vehicle, and energy product divisions.

In accordance with Honda’s recent press release, this restructure will streamline Massive Crimson’s R&D departments in addition to the corporate’s provide chain administration, centralizing its engineering expertise and manufacturing assets within the bid to push more durable into EV energy and superior rider support choices – a transfer that may unify the corporate’s bike and auto R&D efforts for the primary time since 2020.

For the bike fan, this “all for one, one for all” construction will result in smarter use of assets within the EV sector. Staying forward of each conventional rivals and rising worldwide opponents is the numero uno focus for Honda proper now, particularly because the breakout of AI techniques has additional spiked superior automotive-scale sensor know-how and battery administration system evolution throughout our good trade.

In an period the place software program and battery tech are rising in significance to the bike’s engine itself, we look ahead to seeing what Honda has in retailer.

To see the technical particulars of Honda’s 2026 reorganization and monetary roadmap, take a look at Honda’s recent press release.