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Old 12-30-2008, 09:08 AM   #1
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Default Kwak OUT?!?!

Kawasaki poised to quit MotoGP
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72588

By Simon Strang and Toby Moody Tuesday, December 30th 2008, 13:22 GMT

Jamie Hacking, Kawasaki, US GP practiceKawasaki is poised to withdraw from the MotoGP World Championship with immediate effect, autosport.com has learned.

According to sources, the Japanese manufacturer is set to make an announcement regarding its plans for 2009 on Monday, January 5, when it is expected to confirm details of its withdrawal from the premier motorcycle racing class.

It remains unclear why Kawasaki is quitting, though both the global economic crisis and a lack of results are likely to have been factors in the decision.

The news is a blow to MotoGP's organisers, who will have the number of factory teams reduced to four at a time when the rival World Superbike Championship has gained another two in Aprilia and BMW.

Kawasaki's imminent withdrawal will leave Marco Melandri and John Hopkins without a ride for next season. Melandri had hoped to revive his career with the team after a catastrophic season with the factory Ducati squad in 2008.

"I have to wait and hear some words, as at the moment I hear nothing," Melandri told autosport.com.

"If it is true, then I can only hope that when I wake up on January 1st it is all a nightmare."

Kawasaki returned to the premier MotoGP class in 2003 with bold plans to become regular contenders, but has so far failed to record a victory in the premier class.

The closest the team came were three second places in three years with Randy de Puniet (Motegi 2007), Shinya Nakano (Assen 2006) and Olivier Jacque (Shanghai 2005).

Kawasaki secured big-money signing John Hopkins from Suzuki at the beginning of 2008 and it was hoped that this would trigger an upturn in results. But the American was hampered by injuries and both he and teammate Anthony West struggled with the inconsistent handling of the ZX-RR.

In the end, fifth places for Hopkins (at Estoril) and West (at Brno) were the best the team could manage.

Nevertheless, Kawasaki was set to enter 2009 with optimism, having landed former GP-winner Melandri, alongside the fired-up Hopkins to lead the development of the ZZ-XR in the new one-make tyre era.

Kawasaki's withdrawal will be the fourth time a Japanese manufacturer has pulled out of a major motorsport category in recent weeks. Honda announced in early December that it was quitting Formula One, while Subaru and Suzuki confirmed later in the month that they were stopping their programmes in the World Rally Championship.
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Old 12-30-2008, 09:26 AM   #2
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aww that sucks
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Old 12-30-2008, 09:30 AM   #3
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I hate to hear this.
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Old 12-30-2008, 09:33 AM   #4
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The big boys need to leave Moto GP and head over to WSBK... at least till they bring back the 990

anyhow...does suck.

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Old 12-30-2008, 09:36 AM   #5
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hmm wasnt expecting to hear something like this this morning. hopefully doesnt pan out
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Old 12-30-2008, 09:50 AM   #6
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Old 12-30-2008, 10:52 AM   #7
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Its all Olivie Jaques and Randy Depuniets fault. They cost Kwak so much money in bodywork all those seasons that now they can't operate! I blame the French!
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Old 12-30-2008, 01:37 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaPython View Post
hmm wasnt expecting to hear something like this this morning. hopefully doesnt pan out
The article reads like it's already a done deal, they're just waiting for the 5th to make the announcement.

Between this and Rossi hinting at leaving MotoGP at the end of his contract, the organizers must not be sleeping much at night.
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Old 12-30-2008, 02:00 PM   #9
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Kawi was in MotoGP? Hmmmm
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Old 01-01-2009, 02:01 AM   #10
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ya know guys...

I've been doing quite a bit of reading about this whole thing, Smilies article and quite a few other places... and honestly... if Kawi goes... given the state of the world economy... I think the privateers are next... and with Rossi's contract up in 2010 and him hint'n that he may not return.. I think this may be start of the end of MotoGP...

WSBK is cheaper to field a team in... they're very nearly as fast... Rossi himself says it's more exciting... and if next year anyone runs away with the title... it'll be one more nail I believe.

All I can hope is that WSBK capitalizes and adds Indy or Barber to the schedule and sucks in fans that are left behind...

I highly doubt Hopper and Melandri both will find a last minute motogp ride... I fully expect to see one or both in WSBK... and honestly... I think that'd be the best thing right now...
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