MotoGP: Kawasaki statement in full

[Rory Phoulorie]

Friday, 9th January 2009

Kawasaki gives reasons for pulling out of MotoGP series.



Kawasaki's involvement in the MotoGP world championship was officially curtailed on Friday morning [9 January] as parent company Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd confirmed that the economic climate had taken its toll.

The withdrawal was revealed with a short statement from Japan, reproduced in full below:

"Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has decided to suspend its factory MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season.

"Amid quickly changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation. As the world economy is not likely to recover in a short period due to the major impact of the financial crisis, Kawasaki decided to suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently.

"Kawasaki will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race-oriented customers. Kawasaki would like to thank all the fans and all those who have forwarded us great help.

"Mr Yoshio Kawamura, the managing director of Kawasaki Motors Racing B.V. deeply appreciates the contribution and the dedication brought by staff members of the MotoGP team."

Kawasaki's exit leaves the MotoGP grid with just 17 expected entries unless a privateer effort can be found to run the green machines - or others from rival marques - ahead of the 2009 season-opener in Qatar in April. The future of intended Kawasaki riders John Hopkins and Marco Melandri remains similarly clouded.

crash.net

[Rory Phoulorie]

Dorna working on private Kawasaki plan

By Michele Lostia and Matt Beer Saturday, January 10th 2009, 10:18 GMT

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has confirmed that efforts are underway to place the former factory Kawasakis with a private team for the 2009 season.

The official announcement of Kawasaki's exit from MotoGP came on Friday, but even before the Japanese manufacturer confirmed its intentions it had already emerged that leading 125cc and 250cc team Aspar were in talks to run the bikes this year.

Although Ezpeleta did not mention any specifics, he said Kawasaki had agreed to co-operate with finding a new team to run its bikes.

"We had a meeting in Osaka on Thursday where Kawasaki explained their problems and the difficulties they had with continuing as a factory team," Ezpeleta told the official MotoGP website.

"Under these circumstances we agreed to co-operate collectively, in order to find a possible solution to their problems which may allow them to continue as a privateer team."

There have also been suggestions that Kawasaki racing team boss Michael Bartholemy could be involved in a rescue bid.

Kawasaki riders John Hopkins and Marco Melandri's hopes of finding new seats appear to depend on the outcome of Dorna's talks with private teams, as the existing MotoGP squads have all completed their 2009 line-ups.

Melandri's manager Alberto Vergani said that there had been no progress with his rider's 2009 plans since news of Kawasaki's exit first leaked out.

"We are still at the point of the end of 2008 communication," Vergani told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We don't know what the future holds."

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