Kawasaki's new ZX-10R, in the flesh in Las Vegas today. image by evan williams

Kawasaki's motto is "Let the good times roll," and what better place to do that than Las Vegas? It's the site of the Kawasaki dealer convention this week. And we get the feeling that what happens in Vegas isn't necessarily staying in Vegas this time -- at least when it comes to the brand's new 2008 models.

Recently Kawasaki announced a new ZX-10R for next year, and the bike is here. First impressions as Soup eyeballed the street version of the machine that will be next year's Superbike in person? It's compact. Tiny, in fact. Notably, the '08 ZX-10R boasts a twin injector system and a built in traction control system that senses when the rear wheel is spinning and cuts the spark.

Kawasaki says this bike was developed by former World Superbike star and current factory tester Akira Yanagawa and the Kawasaki engineers at the Autopolis circuit in Japan.

Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking were announced as the riders on the Monster Energy Kawasaki team for next year. It's no surprise, as Hacking is entering the second year of a two-season deal. Hayden will be back with the team that he won the AMA Supersport championship with in 2007.

Kawasaki also announced two more new sport bike models today. There's a new Ninja 250R. The venerable small displacement sport machine has received an extensive facelift, 17-inch wheels, petal disc brakes, etc. The bike looks much like the bigger-engine Ninjas and also boasts more mid-range power.

Kawasaki also showed off a prototype Ninja 250 that had been converted to a race/track bike.

There's a new ZX-14 for next year as well, with even more horsepower. It's got an updated look, too. The 1352cc engine sounded great when drag racer Ricky Gadson rode it across the ballroom in Mandalay Bay, for what it's worth.