Ryan Taylor tries ZX-10R

Ryan Taylor tries ZX-10R with a view to ASBK 2015 | by Russell Colvin

After spending the past eight years aboard a Supersport machine, for 2015 we may just see the 2012 and 2013 Victorian Supersport champion, Ryan Taylor make the leap up to the premier Superbike class aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Taylor, 27, had his first ever ride on a stock standard road going ZX10R on the weekend at The State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford that he regarded as a “positive” shakedown test.

Thanks to Patrick Li from MotoGO Motorcycles in Bentleigh, Victoria who supplied the bike, Taylor was able to complete a total of twenty-five laps which gave him an opened eye look at what the motorcycle was all about.

“The Kawasaki ZX-10R felt pretty good,” Taylor told MCNews.com.au. “Jumping off the Yamaha R6 that I have been so used for the past few years now to a complete different brand of bike will take a bit of time to get my head around. But as for my first impressions, the ZX-10R is an amazing piece of machinery.”

After Taylor’s first run around on the ZX-10R, the quietly spoken Victorian said he didn’t quite like the traction control system as it was staying on too long. “As I was standing the bike up out of corners I applied full throttle, but the bike was not allowing me to have full power. But if we continue to go down this road and work towards the racing the ZX-10R, we will be able to get the bike sorted to the way I would like it to handle.”

The hardest thing Taylor found with the ZX-10R was to keep the front end planted firmly on the ground coming out of corners. “Leaping off the R6 to the ZX-10R, the first thing I found hardest was to keep the front end from wanting to wheel stand coming out of the corners. I would definitely have to make the bike a bit lighter to suit my riding style to make it a tad easier. But in saying that, having that ‘extra’ horsepower is so much fun” Taylor said with a cheeky smile.

For 2015, Taylor has confirmed that he will compete in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). For the time being, he is readying for the final round of the Phillip Island Championship, racing in the Supersport class which will be ran in conjunction with the Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island later this month. “I’m looking forward to getting back down to the island to race at such a big event. I have nothing to lose that weekend as I didn’t do the first round as I was doing the wildcard ride in the World Supersport, so I’ll just throw everything at it and hopefully come out with the win at the other side.”