Canadian Kawasaki is gearing up for another historic run at the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship in 2026 with three fully-fledged superbikes on the grid plus a host of support class contenders.
The unparalleled support from Kawasaki and associated dealers includes a whopping $150,000 contingency prize pool, the most of any manufacturer in over a decade.
Fourteen-time CSBK champion Jordan Szoke will headline the Kawasaki efforts with help from fellow Ninja ZX-10RR pilots Connor Campbell and Alex Michel. Szoke tested some new developments on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR during the Bridgestone V03 slick tire test in April and enters this season feeling confident.
“I am really excited for this year I feel with the improvements we have made to the bike we have the package now to win another championship.” says Szoke. “I would love to win one more especially for AIM insurance, Kawasaki and the crew as well as all our sponsors who have given me so much support.”
After a series of setbacks Connor Campbell returns aboard his Ninja ZX-10R superbike and with a new teammate in the form of breakout sportbike star Alex Michel. The duo will race with support from Kawasaki, Superior Crane, and B&T MacFarlane.
“I’m stoked to be back for the 2026 season on board our Canadian Kawasaki Motors Ninja ZX-10R!” said Campbell. “Had a couple rough seasons back-to-back, but we are ready to battle at the front for this season!”
Michel says he’s grateful for the opportunity to step up to superbike and thanks Mathias Sport & Marine for their help making the leap possible. “I’m excited to be going up a class from what was a pretty good year aboard my Ninja ZX-6R and looking forward to what I can do. I’m hoping to get on the podium this year again!” says the Quebec resident.
That trio will be joined on the grid by the newest Kawasaki recruit, Quebec phenom Laurent Liberte Girard who enters the fray with support from Quebec dealer Moto Falardeau.
LLG as he’s affectionately known will pilot an ex-Michel Ninja ZX-6R in his second year of pro competition, and intends to repeat his iron-man performance of double duty in Pro SuperSport and Pro Superbike classes at each of the 5 rounds.
Rounding out the Kawasaki-supported efforts is the Snow City Cycle superteam of Mack Weil, Jared Walker, and Stefan Tanasic.
Weil returns on his Ninja ZX-6R to the Pro SuperSport ranks intent on racing for the podium and will also run a Kawasaki KX450 in the new Supermoto Canada series. Kawasaki offers contingency prizes in that series too.
Walker will launch a full-season title chase above a Ninja ZX-4RR, while Tanasic will step up to the lightweight class after cutting his teeth in the Canadian MiniSBK series.
The first round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike championship kicks off May 16 at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Ontario.
From a press release
