“This could be big news for Kawasaki,” our source told The Watercraft Journal. “You know who Bruce is. He could radically pump some new life into Kawasaki’s racing effort.”
News broke yesterday that Bruce Stjernstrom, former Kawasaki Race Director and godfather of the Monster Kawasaki marriage has returned to Kawasaki as the racing manager for Team Green. Beneath the umbrella of Team Green includes all facets of Kawasaki performance, namely their off-road, ATV, flat track, JetSki, road racing and supercross/motocross teams.
While Stjernstrom can’t outright reallocate a major portion of Kawasaki’s race budget towards jet ski racing, his quarter century’s worth of experience in both directing Kawasaki’s jet ski team and helming the IJSBA during its heyday years (1987 to 1997), leads many to believe that new (and hopefully increased) emphasis will be placed on injecting new blood into the since dwindled PWC race team.
Currently, as indicated by who is housed beneath the awning of the Kawasaki trailer at last year’s IJSBA World Finals, only Craig Warner, Eric Francis and Minoru Kanamori’s wife, Emi and daughter are the only ones to be given any “official” representation as being welcomed in any way to Team Green. This, in despite of a great deal of up-and-coming Kawasaki-loyal riders and racers.
Following is the press release from Kawasaki:
Kawasaki Names Stjernstrom to Lead Racing Program
IRVINE, Calif. (June 9, 2015) – Kawasaki has named renowned racing industry veteran Bruce Stjernstrom to lead racing operations, replacing senior racing manager Reid Nordin, who has left the company. Stjernstrom returns with 20 years of experience at Kawasaki, having previously led both the racing and marketing departments, and will report to Chris Brull, Vice President of Marketing for Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.
“Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to our racing program,” said Brull. “Bruce was a cornerstone of Kawasaki Team Green™, as well as leading multiple championship winning teams while directing our professional racing programs. We know he has a passion for the sport that is only matched by his passion for Kawasaki.”
Since joining Team Green in 1983, Stjernstrom has been instrumental in Kawasaki’s success over the last three decades. During his tenure with Kawasaki, Stjernstrom has led the Team Green, Off Road, ATV, Flat Track, Jet Ski, Road Racing and supercross/motocross teams.
“Kawasaki has a strong racing heritage that I am proud to be a part of once again,” said Stjernstrom. “I’m looking forward to working with Dan Fahie, Manager of Motocross Racing and Ryan Holliday, Supervisor for Team Green, together with their staff and our partners to keep Kawasaki as a championship winning program.”
