Kawasaki quits MotoGP [Archive]

racerhead

31st December 2008, 06:56

Kawasaki will announce it is to pull out of MotoGP on Thursday morning, leaving John Hopkins and the seemingly luckless Marco Melandri looking for a ride in 2009.

Although it isn't yet known why the firm is withdrawing, the global economic crisis must be more than a factor, especially given the boss of Suzuki has hinted today the firm is in trouble and could be for sale.

Despite the fact Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a massive company, it has never spent anything like the money Honda has on racing and because Japan's economy is in dire straits, non-essential activities are bound to be the first things to go.

This leaves MotoGP with only 17 riders on the grid for next year.

BIGBOSSMAN

31st December 2008, 07:18

Wow, that's not good news. It appears the sales of Supertankers and heavy earth moving equipment have dried up for KHI, motorcycles have always been a pet project for the company - perhaps that's why they've approached racing with a half-arsed attitude.
Will they continue to manufacture bikes in the future?
Is this a portent of things to come? Hell - are we heading for another Great Depression, albeit on a global scale?

I shudder to think...

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?lnk=rss&article=35264

Rodney007

31st December 2008, 07:25

so honda gone from formula 1, kawa gone from gp,

must be bloody expensive

Wingnut

31st December 2008, 07:39

I really hope this is another rumour that never eventuates. I was reading a MCN mag this morning and there was a two page spread on Melandri's move to Kawa. I was really looking forward to seeing how his performance on the green machine was going to compare to a miserable season on the Ducati.

Perhaps its time there was a few more restrictions placed in Moto GP to reduce the costs for these teams - I know - the GP is supposed to be the all out prototype racing league which obviously requires rediculous sums of coin but seriously how enjoyable will it be when it gets down to say three manufacturers???

roy.nz

31st December 2008, 07:42

so honda gone from formula 1, kawa gone from gp,

must be bloody expensive

Subaru and suzuki gone from WRC. Its all turning to shit out there :argh:

cowpoos

31st December 2008, 08:50

Subaru and suzuki gone from WRC. Its all turning to shit out there :argh:
and subaru's parent company is?

racerhead

31st December 2008, 09:14

and subaru's parent company is?

Fujitsu heavy industries which toyota are also part of.

Its really not looking good for any form of motorsport around the world:(

AllanB

31st December 2008, 14:08

I just heard the same on the radio.

I guess if the company is told to tighten it's belts then expenditures like racing are the early cuts.

I heard yesterday that the worlds second richest man has 'saved' Honda in F1 - presumably buying the team.

pritch

31st December 2008, 14:12

Its really not looking good for any form of motorsport around the world:

Well not in the short term. Dorna have been treating MotoGP as a cash cow and not all of the changes that have been wrought have been to the good.
Not surprising really, these days MotoGP is run by people who know nothing about motorcycles or motorcycling. There was a brief but illuminating interview with Carmelo Ezpeleta, the Mr Big of MotoGP, in the September issue of BIKE. Not at all encouraging.

Kawasaki is not the first team to pull out of MotoGP, Roberts couldn't raise the money for the start of this year. Ilmore and WCM(?) have fallen by the wayside in the four stroke era because of cost.

Sponsors are hard to find because sometimes only the first three bikes get shown on TV. Rarely do the tailenders make an appearance. No encouragement for potential sponsors there, and it has been reported that this was what cost Roberts his big sponsor.

With the dropping of the 250 two strokes KTM have announced that they are going to take their leave and move to SBK. So the numbers in MotoGP are shrinking to the benefit of SBK. If the latter doesn't lose too many teams they will start to look really good compared to Moto GP and when the sponsors notice that, Dorna might have a real problem.

Here's hoping it doesn't all get too fraught, but a fairly substantial shake up might not be all bad. Whatever happens, Rossi will probably keep on winning... :whistle:

Mikkel

31st December 2008, 14:43

Its really not looking good for any form of motorsport around the world:(

Fuel prices aren't going down either and some are speculating how much is really left... As a consequence there's also less and less incentive to invest loads and loads of dollars on trying to improve internal combustion engines - at least in respective to high performance race engines.

In the 70s sex was safe and motorsports dangerous.

In the 90s sex had become dangerous and motorsports safe.

I wonder if in the 2010s sex will be ubiquitous and motorsports non-existent.
Let's hope not.

discotex

31st December 2008, 14:48

Here's hoping it doesn't all get too fraught, but a fairly substantial shake up might not be all bad. Whatever happens, Rossi will probably keep on winning... :whistle:

At this rate he might end up in WBSK :lol:

swbarnett

31st December 2008, 15:00

Fuel prices aren't going down either and some are speculating how much is really left...
I can see it now... Electric motor racing. You certainly won't be needing your ear plugs.

slofox

31st December 2008, 15:17

I can see it now... Electric motor racing. You certainly won't be needing your ear plugs.

Maybe we could do what we did as kids - poke a topsy stick through your spokes with a rubber band...:whistle:

wbks

31st December 2008, 16:30

After reading you guys' posts I googled "how long untill petrol runs out" which let me find out that quite a few people predict gas will be gone as a readily available comodity in 3 years, and completely everyone agree's that it will be gone in 30 years. Guess its a bit late for fuel rationing! You guys made me ruin my day! :browneye:

Elysium

31st December 2008, 17:51

wbks

31st December 2008, 19:14

Haha I thought of that as soon as I read the articles. I'll have to start racing eleectric motorsicles. You can just yell really loud engine noises for the good time noise

racerhead

1st January 2009, 00:56

Well not in the short term. Dorna have been treating MotoGP as a cash cow and not all of the changes that have been wrought have been to the good.
Not surprising really, these days MotoGP is run by people who know nothing about motorcycles or motorcycling. There was a brief but illuminating interview with Carmelo Ezpeleta, the Mr Big of MotoGP, in the September issue of BIKE. Not at all encouraging.

Kawasaki is not the first team to pull out of MotoGP, Roberts couldn't raise the money for the start of this year. Ilmore and WCM(?) have fallen by the wayside in the four stroke era because of cost.

Sponsors are hard to find because sometimes only the first three bikes get shown on TV. Rarely do the tailenders make an appearance. No encouragement for potential sponsors there, and it has been reported that this was what cost Roberts his big sponsor.

With the dropping of the 250 two strokes KTM have announced that they are going to take their leave and move to SBK. So the numbers in MotoGP are shrinking to the benefit of SBK. If the latter doesn't lose too many teams they will start to look really good compared to Moto GP and when the sponsors notice that, Dorna might have a real problem.

Here's hoping it doesn't all get too fraught, but a fairly substantial shake up might not be all bad. Whatever happens, Rossi will probably keep on winning... :whistle:

Well in the past few years WSBK has emerged as a stronger series with alot of good racing. Its also fairly cost effective with privateer teams being able to mix with the factory teams from time to time. Here in europe the GP's have a very loyal following as does WSBK and in the past few months due to a couple of decisions made by dorna including who gets tv rights and dropping the 250's alot of people are starting to prefer WSBK including me.
They have larger grids, better racing and a big thing for me is two races per day so its twice the fun. The way things are going dorna are going to have to make big changes to keep ahead of WSBK and at the moment I cant see that happening. It looks like the manufacturers also think this as WSBK is after gaining 3 new teams while moto gp lose teams

AlBundy

1st January 2009, 01:33

Yeah, bugger about the big K leaving GP...

Having had a few and with one in the shed, there's an amount of GREEN blood in my veins...

Mully

1st January 2009, 20:33

Hmm, hope MotoGP doesn't lose too many teams - Skidmark wont have a bike to ride otherwise.

wbks

1st January 2009, 22:11

His name gets banded about on here... carbon copy carver? (no offense, carver)

Shaun P

1st January 2009, 22:28

http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2008/12/shock-horror-kawasaki-to-pull-out-of.html

The worldwide economic crisis seems to have claimed one more victim – the Kawasaki MotoGP team. Though there has been no official announcement from Kawasaki, according to various reports circulating on the Web, the Japanese company will not be a part of the 2009 MotoGP season and will disband its MotoGP team with immediate effect.

With poor performances in 2007 and 2008, Kawasaki have been perennial backmarkers in MotoGP, and the ZX-RR has not really been up to the task of taking on the YZR-M1, RC212V and GSV-R. Developing the bike further might have meant investing huge sums of money – something which probably wouldn’t be possible in the current, grim economic scenario.

With Kawasaki pulling out of MotoGP, John Hopkins and Marco Melandri – the two riders who’d signed on to ride for Team Green in 2009 – will be left out in the cold. And since Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki seem to have all their riders in place already, it doesn’t look like the Kawasaki duo will find other MotoGP rides for 2009.

With Honda already having pulled out of F1 and AMA Superbikes, and now with Kawasaki leaving MotoGP, motorsport seems to be in a spot of trouble right now. The FIM mandates a minimum of 18 bikes on the MotoGP starting grid, and with Kawasaki's departure, only 17 bikes will be left in the fray. Will the FIM change its rules? Can Kenny Roberts and/or Ilmor make a surprise comeback to MotoGP? Or will Kawasaki change their minds and stay on in MotoGP after all? Stay tuned for further updates on this one…

AlBundy

2nd January 2009, 03:18

Repost...

See discussion here...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89209

CHOPPA

2nd January 2009, 09:17

Repost...

See discussion here...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89209

More relevent to the racing thread id say but cheers for the link!

pritch

2nd January 2009, 10:27

His name gets banded about on here... carbon copy carver? (no offense, carver)

Eh?

(10 characters)

wbks

2nd January 2009, 11:03

Skidmark
(10 characters):doh:

Mully

2nd January 2009, 11:18

Skidmark
(10 characters):doh:

Yeah, kind of like Carver. I think Carver has a licence though.

wbks

2nd January 2009, 11:22

Wasn't he the one going on about teaching carver a lesson and how he has stoped riding like an idiot and opted to live? (seemed a little dramatic, like someone doing a season on streetstock and then publicly announcing their streetstock career retirement because they feel accomplished

Cleve

2nd January 2009, 13:02

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=72890&page=43

It is also a repost from the discussions at the end of this thread...

Mully

2nd January 2009, 13:06

Yes, repeatedly.

Marks MO was generally thus:

Do something stupid (either in a KB group, or videoed and posted to Youtube)
Brag about it.
Be told to pull his head in or he'll kill himself
Hurl abuse
Do a 'fuck off KB, I'm leaving' thread
Return because he can't stand not having the attention
rinse, and repeat.

Although haven't seen him here recently, so maybe he has left permanantly.

Skunk

2nd January 2009, 13:35

Off Topic guys...

wbks

2nd January 2009, 14:56

Sorry... Kawasaki wasn't really getting a hell of a lot of success on the bike anyway, and not even Hopkins could elbow drag his way to his hoped results on it so the bike can't have been that great.

Badjelly

3rd January 2009, 12:14

I wonder if in the 2010s sex will be ubiquitous and motorsports non-existent. Let's hope not.

Well, they say every dark cloud has a silver lining. :sunny:

carver

3rd January 2009, 12:44

Yeah, kind of like Carver. I think Carver has a licence though.

i do indeed

Wasn't he the one going on about teaching carver a lesson and how he has stoped riding like an idiot and opted to live? (seemed a little dramatic, like someone doing a season on streetstock and then publicly announcing their streetstock career retirement because they feel accomplished

oh yes, i got plenty of threats from him (as ya do) whether it involved riding, fighting, running me off the road (good luck)

Yes, repeatedly.

Marks MO was generally thus:

Do something stupid (either in a KB group, or videoed and posted to Youtube)
Brag about it.
Be told to pull his head in or he'll kill himself
Hurl abuse
Do a 'fuck off KB, I'm leaving' thread
Return because he can't stand not having the attention
rinse, and repeat.

Although haven't seen him here recently, so maybe he has left permanantly.

you have to understand mark, now i know a bit more a bout him i am alot more tolerant of him.
sorry to push this thread further off track

Cajun

9th January 2009, 07:20

as follow up rumours going around they are not qutting

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jan/090108kawinn.htm

The press release that was due on the fifth never came and little more than a stony silence came from Kawasaki in the new year.

It's rumored that some correspondence from Spain to Japan did happen where it is further rumored that Dorna notified Kawasaki that in accordance with the contract that they signed (with Dorna when they joined MotoGP) that they would be on the hook for something like 20 million Euros for each of the 2009-2011 seasons.

Also an MSMA meeting happened but details from that are not known.

Reportedly Dorna informed several of the parties involved today that Kawasaki is no longer dropping out of MotoGP and they will field a two-rider team in 2009. The management of the team seems to be up in the air, but indications are that there will be two green MotoGP bikes on the grid this season.

Even tho all the team members(riders/mechnics etc)are saying been sent emails saying won't be racing, but there has not been anything offical from kawasaki yet

Biggles08

9th January 2009, 09:17

as follow up rumours going around they are not qutting

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jan/090108kawinn.htm

Even tho all the team members(riders/mechnics etc)are saying been sent emails saying won't be racing, but there has not been anything offical from kawasaki yet

Regardless if they stay or don't stay, the two riders will be very unmotivated and I dare say the Kawasaki supporters will be too (such as me). If they decide to stay merely on the basis that they will have to pay 20 odd million euros if they pull out...whats the point?

Essentially, I see motogp as the pinnacle of motorcycle racing (to this point) and the fact that Kawasaki seem to have been half-arsed interested in performing in this arena over the last couple of years indicates to me that somebody at the top of KHI have lost interest in motogp - long before these rumors of quiting surfaced. I believe its a convenient 'financial crisis' to get out of motogp on Kawasaki's behalf. :weep:

AlBundy

9th January 2009, 12:24

Looks like they may be staying. Not sure who will be running the team though...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/20..._kawasaki.html

malcy25

9th January 2009, 16:01

I here Paton who produced a half reasonable 190hp V4 500 stroker that didn't go too bad, but got the squeeze when MotoGP went 4 stroke will build to order from 70,000 pounds.

Why don't they just just get hard and go back to the brilliiant 2 strokes. Rossi still rates his NSR500 as one of the best bikes (ie most fun in his world).

Most of this shit is Honda's fault as they drove the whole 4 stroke thing through the manufaturers association pushing the costs through the roof.

The old line "What Honda wants...."

Cleve

9th January 2009, 21:56

It is offical now.
They are out.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Kawasaki+to+suspend+MotoGP+racing+activities

AlBundy

10th January 2009, 03:28

Stink au...

Cleve

10th January 2009, 08:11

The old line "What Honda wants...."

well even if that were true - there would be no MotoGP for the last 20 years (roughly) without Honda...

Biggles08

10th January 2009, 08:36

well even if that were true - there would be no MotoGP for the last 20 years (roughly) without Honda...
What makes you say that????? MotoGP started as the 'blue collar' mans motorcycle race. It was originally supported by individual teams NOT backed by large manufacturers...in fact thats where the 'non production' rule came from...they are race bikes specifically designed for racing that rules stipulate cannot be mass reproduced.

pritch

10th January 2009, 10:25

Announced this morning (Saturday) on the BBC TV News Kawasaki withdrawing from Moto GP to save 40 million. I can't remember whether that was Pounds or $US, either way that ain't hay.

pritch

10th January 2009, 10:36

What makes you say that????? MotoGP started as the 'blue collar' mans motorcycle race.

Eh?

The Japanese factories were all in from the get go (even if Suzuki were trying to do it with a two stroke). Aprilia, Illmore, WCM, and Roberts, never really fired.

Ducati came in, and as long as the tobacco money keeps coming they'll likely stay.

So I'm wondering which bit was "blue collar"?

Dave-

10th January 2009, 10:39

Biggles08

10th January 2009, 11:32

Eh?

The Japanese factories were all in from the get go (even if Suzuki were trying to do it with a two stroke). Aprilia, Illmore, WCM, and Roberts, never really fired.

Well not quite from the get go....Honda was first Jap manufacture in at 1959...motoGP had been going for ten years by that point.

Ducati came in, and as long as the tobacco money keeps coming they'll likely stay.
Ducati is a very late arrival (relatively) entering in 2003...although I believe they were one of the originals but pulled out in the 60's and focused on WSBK instead.

So I'm wondering which bit was "blue collar"?

The original intention of having a purpose made bike for racing only as opposed as a street based production bike (manufacturers) transformed into a racebike is what I'm referring to as 'blue collar,' It was possible for anyone to build a one off bike and enter it into motogp.

I realize now it is dominated by big bucks that is mainly found within the corporate manufacturing companies such as Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and RIP Kawasaki....and truth be told, I realize it has been this way for a while now...yet I still maintain the original idea of MotoGP was to encourage entries from outside the manufacturers realm.

wbks

10th January 2009, 17:56

the original idea of MotoGP was to encourage entries from outside the manufacturers realm.You mean like Britten? There was some kiwi guy I was told that made a fast 125 but the rules changed and it was made illegal. I'm pretty sure he wasn't a major manufacturer. You mean stuff like that? Doesn't really fit in with the theme of it being the pinnacle of bike development and riders like people mention a lot here.

pritch

10th January 2009, 18:20

Well not quite from the get go....Honda was first Jap manufacture in at 1959...motoGP had been going for ten years by that point.

Ahhh 1959 I remember it well, 125s reportedly made like watches. Could have been a warning there for someone, but never mind it's too late now...

"Moto GP" though, only started in 2002.

malcy25

10th January 2009, 22:24

well even if that were true - there would be no MotoGP for the last 20 years (roughly) without Honda...

It's well know that Honda is the biggest voice on the committee of manufacturers that sets the technical rules. Most of the other manufacturers bow to them in the end. Cleve has lived there from memory so you'd understand the Japanese mentality around "pecking order".

I guess for wider context go back a few years (20-30)

Honda hates 2 strokes, they love 4 strokes. The only built the NS and then NSR because the 4 stroke NR500 V4 wannabe V8 (aka the never ready) was shite. The NS500 that Spencer rode in 82, then won the title in 83 was the first real factory 2 stroke GP bike they built (apart from MT125R's which is a roadracer CR125 basically)

Honda went to the IOM on 1959 with a couple 125's . They finally got into the 500 class in 1966, then 67 after migrating through 50's250 and 350 classes. Bailed before 68 because it got too expensive and left hailwood contracted and not allowed to ride in the world Championships. Privateers in 500 on the podium were basically long gone by the mid 50's (apart from sporadic stuff through the late 60's and early 70's when it was MV and esessntially no one else). In the mid 50's Gilera, MV had 4 cylinder 500's, Guzzi had the V8. The privateer had a 500 Single Manx that was 20 mph down...

Most of the 500's that the privateers could get were either totally out paced (500 single) or totally unreliable (500 Linto's and the like), until Kawasaki released the H1R 500 in 1970. Ginger Malloy was about the fastest consistently on those . Englishman Dave Symmonds eventually won a GP on one the year or so later. But wre still performance limited against the MV. ie fuel useage was horrendous and required a mid race stop.

Yamaha arrived back on the scene in 73 with Saarinen and Hideo Kanaya and started smoking Ago and Read on the MV's with a YZR500, across the frame 4 cylinder 2 stroke. That is until Saarinen got killed in the 250 race at Monza along with Pasolini.

Ago jumped ship in 74 and then won the championship (first 2 stroke champion in 500's) in 75.

Suzuki joined in properly about then with the first RG500 adfter running TR500 twins.

And on it went....4 strokes dissapeared in short order. Why? Cos they couldn't compete capacity for Capacity in 500GP which is what turned into Motogp in 2001/2002.

Honda had been pushing from when Doohan was spanking everyone to get 4 strokes back in. Because they don't like 2 strokes and felt it was a dead end development wise. They finally beat everyone down and guess what is happening....Something that was predicted in the press 8-9 years ago. That it would get so expensive it would implode.

Do a google on "what Honda Wants, Honda gets" - itss quite interesting reading some of the comments on the 'net.

malcy25

10th January 2009, 22:28

Forgot to say the went from 30 bikes on the grid with semo privateer NSV500 Honda twins, YZR500 ROC and Harris's, Swissauto's etc for the tail enders to 17 Motogp bikes. Yep, progress!!

They have seen this and yet they still pushed through the 250 to 600 MotoGP rule change. Madness I say!:eek:

malcy25

10th January 2009, 22:46

What makes you say that????? MotoGP started as the 'blue collar' mans motorcycle race. It was originally supported by individual teams NOT backed by large manufacturers...in fact thats where the 'non production' rule came from...they are race bikes specifically designed for racing that rules stipulate cannot be mass reproduced.

Nope!

First 500GP (which became MotoGP) W/c champion was Les Graham on a AJS "porcupine" which was a factory backed prototype. Every rider who has won it since in the subsequent 49 years or so was a factory backed rider including Geoff Duke on the Norton. Look at the list after that - no way you could buy any of those bikes.

http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gp500.htm

Even before the formalisation of the world championships in 1949, you still had the manufacturers right across it with things like Supercharged BMW's in the fray.

IIRC the non production rule was bought in only to keep WSBK happy in these commercial times and only when MotoGP went 4 stroke as the FIM had sold off the rights to Flamini to SBK and Flamini wanted to make sure it wasn't full of hotted up R1's etc. Which is where peter Clifford's WCM team came unstuck.

At various times throuigh the whole 500GP history prior to name and rule change to MotoGP, there have been a number of bikes used that had production bike origins including some 500 Triumph based machinery, H1R Kawasaki used the same cases as the street bike, as did all the 351cc Yamaha overbored TZ350's which used RD cases. Norton was trying to develop a twin called the Domiracer which used the 500 cc Dominator engine as the basis. Matchless G45 (was never very successful) was based on the I think the G9 street bike.

malcy25

10th January 2009, 23:01

It's not that I want to push my post count up, but...!

The correlation to what is happening now and what happened in the late 60's is quite interesting.

Honda bailed end of 67 and basically killed Hailwood's career cos he was contracted and couldn't ride.

Yamaha went on for another year with Read and Ivy,then baled.

Up until then the development battle was fiersome. Look at some of the bikes they built

Honda 5 cylinder 125 that did 22,000 rpm. 250 and 297cc 6's that did 17-18k rpm. a 90HP 4 cylinder 500. 2 cylinder 50's with caliper brakes like a push bike.

Suzuki and Yamaha built V4 125 and 250 strokes (my god!). 50's and 125 with up to 14 speeds.

This all fell on itself in the and as history shows. But what was interesting was the subsequent rules that came in.

50's 1 cylinder (from memory and then became 80cc then removed)
125's 1 or 2 cylinder (until about 88' then 1 cylinder only)
250's max 2 cyl
350 max 4 cylinder (removed the class after 82)
500 max 4 cylinder

max 6 speeds on all classes.

This slowed the HP / development race for a few years, but the horse had bolted and started only returning 4-6 years later.

Wonder what fast measures happen to keep everyone else in?

slowpoke

11th January 2009, 04:00

To be fair the 4 stroke era that we are emerging into has to be as much driven by relevancy as it is by Honda disliking 2 strokes. The manufacturers surely want some returns they can apply to their production bikes rather than just a flag waving exercise. In this day and age I reckon Honda would build steam powered bikes if there was a monetary or developmental return from it.

Not that even 250 2 strokes are cheap either. From a an article Denill highlighted in the MotoGP thread "The LE (satellite spec) Gilera which Marco Simoncelli started the 2008 season in 250s cost around 300,000 euros. The RSA (factory spec) version of the same bike he finished the season on cost 1,250,000 euros for the season". That's with cost saving regulations in place that don't apply to the MotoGP bikes.

This article also suggests that making it all hideously expensive is exactly the way the factories want it, meaning they are basically left to fight it out amongst themselves rather than having a plethora of private teams potentially embarrassing them. All fine and dandy while the worlds economy and bike sales are in a healthy state, but it seriously threatens the viability of the series when the economy turns to custard.

malcy25

11th January 2009, 09:06

Slowpoke

Yep, good comments.

Truth be told, the 500GP bikes as much as I loved, them, had pretty well much reached stagnation point. I just think they threw out the baby with the bath water when they went 4 stroke.

Scoot_6R

13th January 2009, 07:42

Announced this morning (Saturday) on the BBC TV News Kawasaki withdrawing from Moto GP to save 40 million. I can't remember whether that was Pounds or $US, either way that ain't hay.

It was pounds and it was 30mill. Hopefully more money for superbike teams in the USA, Japan, us in the UK and birdy's lot in worlds. Birdy has put together a pretty awesome team for this year with full factory showa and magnetti marelli.

AlBundy

14th January 2009, 23:22

Back to Kawasaki leaving...

Seems OJ is testing in OZ...

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2009/January/12-18/jan1409-kawasaki-testing-2009-bike/?R=EPI-105485

slowpoke

14th January 2009, 23:50

Back to Kawasaki leaving...

Seems OJ is testing in OZ...

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2009/January/12-18/jan1409-kawasaki-testing-2009-bike/?R=EPI-105485

WTF??? My head hurts...

denill

15th January 2009, 08:54

<a href=http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/01/14/suzuki_to_follow_kawasaki_exit_rumors_pe.html>Now a Suzuki Rumour:</A> :mellow:

Cajun

15th January 2009, 10:37

Oscar

15th January 2009, 10:58

AlBundy

15th January 2009, 12:15

article i read this morning donra will sue kawasaki if they do not race this year, and have made statments, they race this year they will let them out of racing in 2010-2011.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/173245-0/dorna_kawasaki_must_race_testing_now.html

That's a good deal that... Race this year and get 'let off' for the next two. Surely it'll work out cheaper in the long run, that's of course, if they can afford it in the short term...
They are testing, which is a good sign...

Cleve

15th January 2009, 17:13

Boy this is getting pretty intense! So we may have Kawasaki in or we may not. We may have Suzuki in or we may not. We may have both Suzuki and Kawasaki in or not in...
I need a cup of tea and a lie down :argh:

James Deuce

15th January 2009, 17:48

There was a 750 class for a coupla years wasn't there?
Nahh, that was F1, F750, and TTF1. Not related to the GP classes.

roogazza

15th January 2009, 18:20

There was a 750 class for a coupla years wasn't there?

Yep, with Johnny Cecotto and Steve Baker etc etc . Gaz.

gav

18th January 2009, 22:21

There was a 750 class for a coupla years wasn't there?
There was also an 80cc class for a while too.

denill

26th January 2009, 09:56

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co may withdraw from most forms of motorcycle racing in a bid to cut costs, although it has no plans to pull out of MotoGP.

Japan's second-largest carmaker, which has already left Formula One, hopes to save an estimated 3 billion yen (24 million pounds) as the worldwide economic crisis continues to bite.

"We have not formally decided yet but we have been looking into the option of pulling out," Honda's Akemi Ando told Reuters on Friday.

"It is something we have been thinking about for a while since we pulled out of Formula One. We have no plans to leave MotoGP."

Motocross, motorcycle trials and other forms of off-road racing will be the main victims of Honda's latest cost-cutting measures.

Honda, has forecast a 190 billion yen operating loss for the fiscal second half ending in March.

The worldwide economic downturn was blamed for Honda's decision to quit F1 and the subsequent withdrawal of rival carmakers Subaru and Suzuki from the world rally championship. Japanese motorcycle maker Kawasaki also followed suit earlier this month by pulling out of MotoGP.

wbks

26th January 2009, 11:51

Has it been said yet that MotoGP may sue Kawi if they pull out, or atleast leave their two bikes to be ridden under another sponsor?

denill

2nd February 2009, 15:58

Aspar says <a href=http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-aspar-will-not-enter-orphaned-kawasakis/>NO!</A>

denill

27th February 2009, 06:19

<a href=http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009/02/26/kawasaki-back-in-motogp>Kawasaki is sorta back in:</A> Melandri, but no Hoppy?

kittytamer

27th February 2009, 07:09

You can see, in the current global economic melt-down, why companies are pulling out of motor sport. The following figures may explain why WSBK is looking so good this year compared to the dwindeling Moto GP grid. And also why BSB is the best national series in the world!

Anual cost of running a team:

Formula 1: $250 million
Moto GP: $25 million
WSBK: $2.5 million
BSB (British Superbike) $250,000

denill

27th February 2009, 07:48

roogazza

27th February 2009, 07:52

Really?? I knew MotoGP was 'up there', but didn't know by THAT much. :oi-grr:

As for Formula 1 - what an expensive way to be bored......... :beer:

Hey Bill , remember to tell the wife you are busy Sunday avo ! (P I) G.

denill

27th February 2009, 08:06

Hi Gaz. Yep, that came up quick.........

Must get the beers in......................
Cheers
Bill

vifferman

27th February 2009, 08:14

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/090226a.htm
The Power of Lawyers: Kawasaki To Run Melandri In MotoGP!
by staff
Thursday, February 26, 2009
This just in from Kawasaki:

Melandri to start 2009 MotoGP season in one-rider team

Newsflash, 25 February 2009

FEBRUARY 26, 2009 - Kawasaki announces that after constructive talks between Kawasaki, Dorna and other involved parties, a new one-rider Team will participate in the 2009 MotoGP Championship season.

This decision was made after negotiations that followed Kawasaki's January 2009 announcement to suspend its factory supported MotoGP activities due to the economic crisis. Rider for the new MotoGP team will be the Italian Marco Melandri.

The team will be equipped with Kawasaki motorcycles and supporting materials.

That Kawasaki has come to this new team approach is the result of on the one hand the need for a strong reduction of MotoGP racing investments and on the other hand the necessity to come to constructive solutions for all related parties.

The new team will disclose more details about its 2009 season's plans on a short notice.

ENDS

And this from MCN (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2009/february/23-128/feb2609-melandri-to-race-in-one-man-team/)...

"Melandri's deal though means Kawasaki could potentially face legal action from American John Hopkins, who has a contract to race with the Japanese factory in 2009.

Hopkins is unsure of his 2009 prospects, trhough he has been linked with a ride in Leon Haslam's Stiggy Honda World Superbike outfit."