Yes, yours isn't the first R1237 (97 and newer casting) that I have found with the 2 bearing set up.
It seems that about 35% of the 97 kx250's and kx500's we get in are like that.
The only thing we can figure is that Kawasaki must have started the year with the 2 bearing type and then later switched to the 3 bearing.
Why they don't have a different part number is a mystery.