Kawasaki to quit MotoGP: Reports

Eurosport - Wed, 31 Dec 13:05:00 2008

Kawasaki are set to pull out of the MotoGP World Championship before the start of the 2009 season, according to reports.

2007 Italian GP Kawasaki Logo - 0

Stories in Italian and Spanish media claim that the Japanese manufacturer has been forced into the withdrawal because of the global economic problems.

The sources also claim that a public announcement will be made on January 5 2009, although team staff have reportedly already been informed.

However, Kawasaki rider Marco Melandri, who only recently joined the team in a bid to kickstart his career following a disappointing season at Ducati, says he has not heard anything.

Melandri said: "I have to wait and speak to someone. At the moment I don't know anything.

"I can only hope that I wake up on January 1 and discover it's all a bad dream."

A Kawasaki withdrawal would leave Melandri and new team-mate John Hopkins without a team for the upcoming season, and MotoGP would be reduced to just four factory teams.

Kawasaki and MotoGP organisers are yet to comment on the stories.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 33

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  1. Bidding to be world champion and cost cutting­ doesn't sound compatible. On the one hand you do­ need to do a lot of RnD while on the other you have to­ cut down expenses. The limited amount of money need to­ be deployed on the commercial production side so­ consequently the development of faster and more durable­ racing machines has to take the back seat. MotorGP will­ definitely suffer in terms of excitement with less­ factory teams participating if indeed Kawasaki is­ pulling out. Then again as someone was saying there is­ always snooker.

    From cokrowinoto, on Wed 31 Dec 6:04AM

  2. Kawasaki going from MotoGP, Honda pull out of F1, BTCC­ dying a death, only 2 manufacturers in World Rally,­ forget global warming and the economic crisis we need­ to save motorsport.
    If this carries on i may be forced­ to watch tennis, golf, football or, God forbid,­ snooker.

    From Glen M, on Wed 31 Dec 5:01AM

  3. It seems that this sort of bowing out by good companies­ is constantly going on in the "premier"­ racing series, both MotoGP and F1. Yet at the same­ time, the series are seemingly always taking measures­ to make the racing less expensive. It doesn't seem­ to ever work. I am wondering why the cost-cutting­ never seems to work, which in turn causes good­ companies like Kawasaki to leave? Doesn't it­ benefit all participants to reduce costs continually?

    From Aaron A, on Wed 31 Dec 3:28AM

  4. Let´s all switch to WSBK, less investment, more­ show!!!!!!!

    From antoniolopesribeiro74, on Tue 30 Dec 8:56PM

  5. Get rid of expensive, boring electronics and go to a­ control ECU. Go back to 990cc. I am starting to believe­ all the trash talk that WSB is where it's at!
    OK­ Laguna was good but the only other highlight was­ watching Nicky fighting like a legend on a bike­ designed for a midget.
    Gotta feel for Hopper and Marco.­ Two of the best riders out there.

    From keithjlong, on Tue 30 Dec 8:56PM

  6. i blame the media for the crisis around the world.What­ started of as a little thing ,then they turned it up­ side down and twisted in to a major crisis.Thank you­ BBC and ITV

    From sarah, on Tue 30 Dec 7:56PM

  7. makes sense, kawsaki havnt had the results in moto gp. ­ it seems a lot of money for no reward.

    From Steve, on Tue 30 Dec 7:49PM

  8. Sad, sad, sad!!!

    From Stephan D, on Tue 30 Dec 7:20PM

  9. AS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION WORSENS,
    THE ACCOUNTANTS AT­ KAWASAKI ARE POSSIBLY THINKING THAT IT'S A LOT OF­ CASH,TO JUST MAKE THE NUMBERS UP.

    I KNOW, I WORK FOR­ HONDA,AND IT'S HAPPENED WITH F.1.

    From shingler473, on Tue 30 Dec 6:10PM

  10. It all could be just speculation as nothing is yet­ confirmed by Kawasaki but it would be very sad for Moto­ GP and all the Kawasaki team if it does happen.

    From GEORGE, on Tue 30 Dec 5:25PM

  11. Another sad day for motorsports.

    From Lady Carole, on Tue 30 Dec 5:12PM

  12. It will happen - they are like Honda - spending a­ fortune with nothing to show

    From EleanaV, on Tue 30 Dec 5:02PM

  13. I would be very surprised if it happens, as the­ motorcycle division is only a small part of kawasaki­ Heavy Industries.

    From barryasmithson, on Tue 30 Dec 4:45PM
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