Matt Walters will again campaign a ZX-10R in 2013.

While most of the attention will be on championship hopeful, Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes and his team mate Loris Baz at the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island this weekend, there will also be a strong representation of Kawasaki Australia supported riders doing battle in other classes.

Rover Coaches/Kawasaki Connection rider Matt Walters will start his 2013 series campaign at Phillip Island competing in the ASBK Pro Stock class.

Kawasaki will also continue support of 2012 ASBK 250cc Production Class Champion Luke Burgess, who steps up to the 600 Supersport class in 2013 on board a Ninja ZX-6R.

Burgess, from Mackay Kawasaki in QLD, will race alongside other Kawasaki supported riders in the ASBK series in 2013 including Evan Byles from SA Motorcycles and 18 year old Michael Lockart from NSW who will both race Ninja ZX-6R’s in the Supersport class.

Walters was to be joined in the Pro Stock class at Phillip Island by fellow Kawasaki Australia supported and Ninja ZX-10R rider Sean Condon. The Bikebiz Kawasaki rider from NSW unfortunately injured his shoulder in a practice crash ruling him out of competition this weekend.

Sean will undergo a shoulder reconstruction soon and is looking to be back on board his Ninja ZX-10R in time for the fourth round of the Formula Xtreme series.

Walters will look to add another series championship to his name this year after taking home the 2010 Australian 600cc Superstock Championship on board a Ninja ZX-6R. He’ll compete in the Australian FX-Superbike class on board a Ninja ZX-10R and selected ASBK races throughout 2013, feels he is fit and ready to race amongst the best in the country this year.

“I have been training hard all off season and I feel fantastic,” Walters said. “I have really put my head down at the gym and have worked hard on my cardio fitness and strength. I doubt I have ever felt fitter and I can’t wait to get the season underway.”

Walters enjoyed success in his most recent lead up race to the World Super’s at Phillip Island, winning the first round of the St George Motorcycle Club’s NSW Clubman series.

With the support of Kawasaki Australia, Matt Walters, Luke Burgess, Evan Byles and Michael Lockart will all do battle on board Kawasaki Ninja machinery at Phillip Island this weekend with Matt competing in an ASBK Prostock field where the Ninja ZX-10R accounts for almost 1/3 of the entries.

Former Australian Supersport number three Aaron Gobert will also make his return to racing aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R, the WNR machine that has had much success at Phillip Island in recent seasons.

Kawasaki wishes the best of luck to all competitors.