[1] The motorcycle was debuted during the 1980 world championship ridden by Kork Ballington at the Nations Grand Prix held on the Misano circuit.

The KR500 was more successful competing in the 1982 ACU 500cc British national championship where, Ballington won six consecutive races to win the title for Kawasaki.

[3] After three years of development, Kawasaki had failed to close the technological gap with its rival Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha.

At the end of the season the Kawasaki withdrew from Grand Prix motorcycle racing due to lack of successful results.

[4] Ossa in the late 1960s successfully raced a 250 cc Grand Prix bike with a welded-sheet magnesium alloy monocoque frame, withdrawing after the death of their rider Santiago Herrero.