New Supersport EVO class opens NZSBK grid to latest small-capacity sportsbikes

• Supersport EVO will debut alongside Supersport 300 at the three-round 2027 NZSBK series.
• Eligible bikes include Aprilia’s RS 457, CFMOTO’s 450SR and Kawasaki’s Ninja 500.
• Championship status is targeted for 2028, with a separate Yamaha R3 Cup proposed.

New Zealand’s small-capacity racing grid is getting ready for its next chapter, with NZSBK confirming a new Supersport EVO class for 2027. But existing Supersport 300 racers won’t be asked to park their bikes just yet.

The new category will bring a wider selection of modern sportsbikes onto the grid at the 2027 Better Finance New Zealand Superbike Championship, presented by Bridgestone.

Eligible machinery includes the Kawasaki Ninja 500, CFMOTO 450SR, Honda CBR500R and Aprilia RS 457, plus the Kawasaki Ninja 400 in unrestricted form. That opens the door to a different mix of bikes, reflecting the models now appearing in showroom windows.

Eligible for Supersport EVO: Kawasaki Ninja 500, CFMOTO 450SR, Honda CBR500R, Aprilia RS 457 and the unrestricted Kawasaki Ninja 400.

There is an important distinction for the first season, though. Supersport EVO bikes will share the Supersport 300 grid, but won’t be part of the existing championship. The 2027 Supersport 300 title will continue under its current regulations.

Making room for the next generation

The announcement follows six months of work by Supersport 300 class co-ordinator Sloan Frost, who has been working with manufacturers and the MNZ Race Commission to identify suitable bikes and establish a performance parity framework.

With different capacities and models sharing the track, getting that balance right will be central to the new category’s development. Initial parity testing has already taken place, with the longer-term aim of introducing EVO championship status from 2028.

“As such, we won’t be making changes to the existing class structure for 2027.”

Andy Skelton

“Supersport 300 has been one of the backbones of both NZSBK and our Club Series for many years,” says MNZ Race Commissioner Andy Skelton. “As such, we won’t be making changes to the existing class structure for 2027.”

For riders considering the move, the first season will therefore be an opportunity to get involved as the category develops. For those already racing in Supersport 300, it means continuity while the next step takes shape.

There is already at least one rider ready to join the new grid. NZSBK says Lucas Hyslop will race his Aprilia RS 457 in Supersport EVO in 2027, having recently battled with Yamaha R3-mounted Ryder Chamberlain at the King of Canterbury meeting at Euromarque Motorsport Park.

Yamaha R3 riders remain part of the plan

Championship status for EVO in 2028 is the intention, rather than a done deal. It will depend on rider numbers and the evaluation and parity process delivering the required results.

“Whatever happens in the coming years, they will have a championship to contest.”

Andy Skelton

“The future of Supersport EVO depends on the numbers,” says Skelton. “If we can build a reasonable-sized grid, it will become a championship class in 2028, and the Yamaha R3s will form their own separate championship as the Yamaha R3 Cup, similar to what has happened in Australia.”

That proposed split would give the newer machinery its own title while retaining a championship for the R3 riders who have helped underpin the existing class.

“One thing that isn’t negotiable in this process is looking after our current crop of Yamaha R3 riders. Whatever happens in the coming years, they will have a championship to contest.”

For now, the message is straightforward: more bikes are being welcomed onto the NZSBK grid, with a season to assess how the new mix works before taking the next step. For racers and spectators alike, a little more variety should make the small-bike battles well worth watching.

Supersport EVO: your questions answered

Will Supersport EVO be a championship class in 2027?

No. EVO bikes will share the Supersport 300 grid but will not be part of the existing championship in their first season.

Which bikes are eligible for Supersport EVO?

The announcement names the Kawasaki Ninja 500, CFMOTO 450SR, Honda CBR500R, Aprilia RS 457 and unrestricted Kawasaki Ninja 400. Competitors should confirm preparation and entry requirements with NZSBK and MNZ.

What happens to Yamaha R3 racers?

The existing Supersport 300 championship retains its current regulations for 2027. A separate Yamaha R3 Cup is proposed as part of the potential 2028 structure, and MNZ says current R3 riders will continue to have a championship to contest.

Related reading: NZSBK confirms three-round championship format for 2027