MTM Kawasaki And Kawasaki Motors Europe Confirm Champion Artigas For 2027

Reigning FIM Sportbike World Champion Xavi Artigas will return to defend his title in the 2027 championship with his MTM Kawasaki team, once again riding the championship-winning Ninja ZX-6R 636.

After securing a dramatic last round championship success just a few weeks ago the 23-year-old Spanish rider will stay inside his MTM team setup, where he will enjoy official support from KME as he carries the number one plate into a second WorldSPB campaign.

In the first season of the WorldSPB Championship’s existence Artigas won four races (twice as many as any other riders) and secured seven podiums in all. He also set two fastest laps during races in what was a highly competitive season, which featured ten different race winning riders from five different manufacturers.

There will be eight WorldSPB rounds in 2027, starting in March and ending in October. Xavi will have two home rounds to compete in through the year – at Valencia and Motorland Aragon – as well as rounds in Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, and France.

Xavi Artigas, MTM Kawasaki rider, stated: “I’m really happy to continue my journey with the Kawasaki Motor Europe family and doing it as World Champion makes it even more special. After clinching the world title, my next challenge will be trying to repeat it and I’m in the best place possible to try to achieve this target. I feel very confident with Ludo and all the MTM Kawasaki team and I look forward to one more season with them, with the target to try to win again and make further steps together. I want to thank all at KME, Steve and Ludo for giving me this opportunity.”

Ludo Van der Veken, MTM Kawasaki owner, stated: “It’s a very good news to be able to have the World Champion racing for us next year and trying to go again for the title challenge. I’m very happy for Xavi and it’s great to see how he made steps in his career and I’m proud we could help him reaching some of his targets together with Kawasaki. It’s a pleasure to work with him and I’m thrilled to start the new challenge into the next season. I want to thank KME for their trust.”

Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki Europe Race Planning Manager, stated, “Watching Xavi and the team grow and learn together as one focused unit this season has been amazing! Xavi had to learn the race craft needed to ultimately be competitive inside the all new WorldSPB category, where so many talented youngsters can battle inside the same second for the entire race. He managed to combine his talent and experience with tactics and fighting spirit at every race but especially from mid-season. He thoroughly deserved to ultimately become the first World Champion in the category for Kawasaki and in doing so continue the long history of winners born inside our excellent MTM team too.”

Words and images courtesy of Kawasaki Press Service