Former factory rider Jake Weimer has opened up about his difficult years with Kawasaki, claiming the team’s resistance to setup changes played a major role in derailing his career.
Weimer says the bike he raced suffered from extreme front-end rigidity and poor overall balance, and despite repeatedly asking to test stock triple clamps and other options, those requests were denied. According to him, the lack of flexibility hurt his confidence, results, and ultimately his long-term contract opportunities.
He also pushed back on the idea that teammate Ryan Villopoto was always free to run whatever setup he wanted, suggesting even championship-winning packages were physically demanding and far from easy to ride.
While acknowledging the team did help homologate an updated frame and organize suspension testing during his tenure, Weimer maintains the core chassis problems were never fully solved. After keeping his frustrations private for more than a decade, he says recent public comments prompted him to finally speak out and call for an apology.
Hear Jake Weimer whole interview
