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Last week, County Durham's Jonny Davies, AKA JD Stunts, wrote his name into the Guinness World Record books once again. This time, for breaking the record for the fastest “highchair” wheelie, a stunt that involves sitting on the tank and putting both feet over the handlebars of his modified Ninja ZX-10R at speeds over 127mph…

“If I'm honest, performing stunts is something I've always wanted to do”, responded JD when asked how he first got into undertaking these incredible feats. “My dad was really into bikes, and I got my first pocket bike when I was about four, and I just used to ride that all the time.” 

While that sounds like a familiar path for many racers, speed was never the target for JD: “Most kids just wanted to go as fast as possible, but all I wanted to do was pop wheelies and perform tricks. I was obsessed with two wheels, and when I was 10, I stepped up to a KX65 – but even then, racing motocross was never on the agenda for me.” 

Continuing to mess around on bikes in his teenage years, the riding became more of a necessity for JD, using a road-legal 50cc bike to get to his apprenticeship before moving over to four wheels when he was 17. “Bikes were always still a part of my life, but like most people, the car was more practical for work and riding two wheels had to take a bit of a back seat for a few years.   

However, I started to get back into biking properly again when I was around 23. I had become bored of going out and partying every weekend, had a bit more spare cash and really wanted to give stunt riding a proper go.” 

Having grown up watching the likes of Gary Rothwell and performing stunts whenever he could on his K65 or mountain bike, it was a natural progression to enter the British Stunt Championships in 2016. Placing tenth that first year, the fire was well and truly lit.   

“I had only started performing properly the year before, so it was amazing to place tenth. The next year, I took fifth, and I started to think that I could take this seriously. I began practising every day and eventually took the UK Championship, which was incredible!” 

So how did he go from UK Stunt Champion to a Guinness World Record holder? “When I started stunting, I never set out to become a world record holder. The first one was in 2020 when I broke the highchair record for the first time, but that was bettered by Magnus Carlsson a few years later. I then teamed up with stunt driver Paul Swift to set the record for the most doughnuts around a motorcycle while performing a wheelie. 

A meeting with Kawasaki UK at Motorcycle Live in 2023 set the ball in motion for his third record, setting the fastest speed while skiing behind a bike. “I knew I needed a quick and stable bike, and the supercharged Ninja H2 SX was the perfect machine, so it was amazing to have Kawasaki come on board and help me prepare the bike. 

We achieved that record in 2024, and I wanted to stay with the brand this year, so I opted for a Ninja ZX-10R to reclaim my highchair record, setting 127mph!”    

And what's next for the record breaker? “First up is the UK Championships again later this month. I'm then going to turn the ZX-10R back to a standard setup for a bit so I can do some trackdays before setting my sights on another record next summer – the fastest speed while riding facing backwards!”

The Z family and Sugomi concept are unique to Kawasaki, seamlessly combining in 2026 to create the new Z1100 and Z1100 SE category defining Supernakeds at the top of Kawasaki's naturally aspirated Z family.

“Sugomi” describes the fundamental concept behind the design and riding sensation of Z Supernakeds first introduced on the 2014 Z1000. This design ethos has been passed to subsequent Z models. The Z1100, as example, includes fierce looking LED headlights and a new under-cowl shape with fins adding to the aggressive Z Sugomi image. 

For the Z1100 models, a highly rigid aluminium twin-tube frame, SFF-BP forks and horizontal back-link suspension are at the core of both machines, while, in addition, monobloc calipers are paired with large ø310 mm brake discs on the Z1100 to create a sharp, direct response to rider inputs, making every ride a visceral experience. 

The SE model of Z1100 features Brembo brakes with radial-mount monobloc calipers and Brembo discs plus steel braided brake lines and an Öhlins S46 rear shock absorber providing a plush feel and tuning via the remote pre-load adjuster. Tyres for 2026 are Dunlop's Sportmax Q5A items. 

The rider view on both machines is dominated by the 5” all-digital TFT colour instrumentation that also features turn by turn navigation and integrated Smartphone connectivity facilitating functions via Kawasaki's Rideology the App Motorcycle including voice command technology. 

Electronic rider aids abound on the Z1100 and Z1100 SE. New Electronic Throttle Valves (ETV) deliver more precise and responsive engine control, enabling cruise control plus the latest dual-direction KQS quick shifter. An IMU – with 6 DOF (degrees of freedom) - facilitates other rider support technology such as KCMF Cornering Management, KTRC Traction Control, KIBS Integrated Braking, selectable Power Modes plus Integrated Riding Modes that include Sport, Road, Rain, Rider (Manual).

 At the heart of these new Z machines is a powerhouse 1,099 cm3 in-line four-cylinder 100.0 kW {136 PS} engine with optimised intake ports utilising increased displacement for better Low-Mid Range response delivering a maximum of 11.5 kg¦?m of torque while achieving impressive fuel economy. Camshaft profiles, valve springs and even pistons have all been revised and each final gear ratio has been optimised with 5th and 6th gears even longer than previous litre class Z models. 

The flywheel mass is greater allied to a 3 mm longer stroke than the previous Z1000 model. From mid- to high-rpm, riders will enjoy the strong performance and sharp throttle response characteristic of a Z family member. The exhaust system has a 4-2-1-into pre-chamber-into-1 arrangement, contributing to the Z1100's aggressive looks and light weight. 

Additionally, a new ergonomic package encompasses an updated handlebar position, now 22mm wider and 13mm further forward bringing better response to rider inputs, making the handling feel lighter and sharper in every speed range for a controllable machine character. 

Proudly taking their place in the dominant Z Supernaked family for 2026, the new Z1100 and Z1100 SE are set to continue the legendary status of this distinctive model line and reward litre class fans with a characteristic cocktail of visceral excitement and refined rider aids. Welcome to a new Z when “Sugomi Awakens”.  

Both machines will be available in dealers from January, with the Z1100 costing £11,099 and the Z1100 SE £12,699.