OFF-ROAD RACE BIKE: REDONDI’S PC KX450SR

Giacomo Redondi at the controls of his Precision Coatings Kawasaki.

Action photos: Mark Kariya

Kawasaki is back on the West Coast off-road racing scene, and they are bringing some heavy hitters with them! The newly formed Precision Coatings Kawasaki team has backing from Mitch Payton at Pro Circuit and have hired former world champion Giacomo Redondi to race the entire NGPC series along with other selected events throughout the year. Team owner Billy Fullmer gave us an exclusive first look at Redondi’s 2025 race bike and here is what we discovered.

All the parts and services performed on Giacomo Redondi’s race bike are available to the public, and you can even buy the team graphics directly from Throttle Syndicate that’s just like the Pro Circuit SX/MX factory race team’s.

THE GOODS

Just like the factory MX/SX race team, Fullmer and the race team’s head mechanic, John Braasch, started with a 2025 KX450SR (Special Racer) model and then tore it completely down to the frame to start the build process. The 2025 KX450SR model features upgraded suspension, Xtrig clamps, ECU, head mods and other bolt-on performance parts, making it a perfect platform for a race bike build.

When it came to engine performance modifications, the team took the less-is-more approach. The SR models already feature some head work and more aggressive ECU settings than the standard KX450 with race settings already programed into it. In the beginning of the year the team used the stock SR mapping, but are now using custom maps dialed in by Pro Circuit.

Internally, the engine is surprisingly very stock besides the addition of an older-style complete Hinson Racing billet-proof clutch with heavy clutch springs.

The team uses a complete Twin Air Powerflow air-filter system that increases air volume and airflow compared to the stock version.

Redondi uses some interesting gearing on his race bike with a 14-53 sprocket combination. The rear chainguide is a carbon fiber unit from Pro Circuit, and the swingarm mounting points have been reinforced for additional durability.

Internally, the only modification that would be considered major is all about durability, and that is the addition of an older-style, complete Hinson billet-proof clutch that uses heavy springs. The clutch pull is noticeably stiffer than the 2025 bevel-style system that comes stock.

Although it looks the same as what comes on the SR, the Pro Circuit exhaust is different internally, having a larger diameter core similar to what Pro Circuit uses for AMA amateur racing. No changes were made to the head pipe. A complete Twin Air Powerflow system increases the airbox volume, and the slightly larger surface of the high-flowing air filter allows more air into the engine.

The team really focused on Redondi’s riding style when it came to setting up the chassis, because he had been racing steel-framed Austrian bike for many years, so the switch to an aluminum-framed machine was a bit of an adjustment. Luke Clout, who now runs Pro Circuit’s suspension department, had to find a balance of making the suspension stiff enough to handle the demands of a rider like Redondi at higher speeds, but also soft enough to provide enough rider comfort for him to hold onto it for the 90-plus-minute events he races.

Even legendary suspension tuners agree that setting a bike up for off-road racing is one of the hardest things to do. A big component in the suspension setup is a complete Pro Circuit rear linkage system that is designed to be softer in the initial part of the stroke to provide a plusher feel on smaller hits and then ramps up the stiffness as the shock goes deeper in the stroke. This change allows for the use of softer high-speed valving lessoning any harsh feel and minimizing deflection.

Works Chassis Lab’s top engine mounts are also said to improve overall rider comfort in the handling department. To our knowledge testing was never done, although Redondi says he was very pleased with what he was currently racing on, but thinks he and the team will be able to make it better with more testing.

Surprisingly, Redondi does not currently use a stabilizer system like most top pro racers on the West Coast. Most of the other bolt-on items have to do with protection, the rider and bike. Acerbis’ K-Linear hand guards mount to the clutch and front brake reservoirs, directly saving important handlebar mounting space and protecting Redondi’s hands, while a full-coverage Acerbis plastic skid plate offered protection of the frame and engine cases.

The Pro Circuit exhaust is an off-the-shelf AMA amateur spec with a special off-road packing job.

A Zip-Ty Racing rear shark fin provides rear rotor protection. The Kawasaki rear chainguide mounts and the guide itself are definitely an area that requires attention, and the PC team strengthened this up substantially after having an issue early in the race season. John Braasch handled reinforcing the swingarm mounts, while a Pro Circuit carbon fiber rear chainguide replaced the aluminum stock unit. This is the same guide that Pro Circuit’s SX/MX race team uses, offering additional adjustability features that allows for clearance when using larger rear sprockets and a replaceable wear pad.

Speaking of larger rear sprockets, Redondi’s race bike is equipped with 14-53 gearing. If you do the math, that’s very similar to the stock 13-50 that the bike comes stock with, but during testing the team felt it gave it more torque where it needed to produce more usable power.

OUR THOUGHTS

Just like any professional-level race machine, they are highly personalized to the rider racing it and oftentimes are the complete opposite setup to what the average guy would want. Giacomo Redondi’s Precision Coatings/Pro Circuit Kawasaki is somewhere in the middle of that scenario. Everything on his bike is available to the public either through Pro Circuit or the team sponsors, and you can even purchase the race-team graphics from Throttle Syndicate. That’s huge for everyone trying to replicate this build. Power-wise, Redondi’s setup is more aggressive than the standard model and a slightly toned-down, more rider-friendly version of the SR model. Then, on the handling side, it’s definitely stiffer all around than other stock KX450 platforms, but not completely unrideable by the average person. Honestly, after doing the research on this race bike, we have a few items that we want to try on our off-road KX450 build that is currently in the works. Thanks to the Precision Coatings/Pro Circuit Kawasaki race team for the insight.