Guim Roda does not mind which of the two Kawasaki Racing Team riders is ahead this year, but expects a clean fight between Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea. This was explained to WorldSBK.com as Roda spoke at the Phillip Island season-opener.

“We start a new project with both riders together,” the Team Manager explained. “It will be the fourth year for Tom and the first for Rea. Let’s see how we manage!

“From the team’s point of view, our goal is always to be in front of the other manufacturers, so we have to use the tools we have to make this possible. With regards to the position between them, for us it is not that important; we just expect them to understand their roles within the team. They need to have the two bikes on the podium as much as possible and a clean fight on the track.”

Furthermore, Roda reckons that David Salom can achieve podium finishes in WorldSBK this year, as the Team Pedercini outfit running Salom receives full factory support from the Japanese marque.

“After last year, Kawasaki wanted to give a prize to David,” Roda says of Salom, who wrapped up EVO honours when the secondary class existed in World Superbike for the 2014 season. “It is kind of test to see how KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries) and Kawasaki Europe can support Pedercini, to make a private team competitive.”

Moving on to discuss possible results, Roda is full of optimism.

“For sure, it is a big challenge for the project but we are very happy to be working with Pedercini,” he continued. “We are going to try and make this possible with a successful project and hopefully we can be on the podium in some races.”

Unfortunately, Salom would miss the first two races following a heavy crash in Superpole 2, but he will be back in action for Round 2 in Thailand on 22 March.

As for the Factory Kawasaki riders, Rea took first blood with one win and one second place from pole position, while Sykes recovered from an off-track excursion for sixth place in Race 1 before finishing fourth in Race 2 later in the day.