2009 Kawasaki MotoGP riders

**wbks** · 26th January 2009, 17:40

Anyone know the story of where they're going to go? With #21 about to be the most race fit he's been in a while, he would have been riding the new ZX-RR with the new front tire, and Melandri just shifting to Kawasaki, what are they going to do now that Kawa' is shutting down their team? I've heard that MotoGP has said it will sue Kawasaki as a last resort if they don't at least leave the ZX-RR's with another team to race. Anyone know if they've decided anything yet? They looked like they were going to do pretty well this season

**gav** · 26th January 2009, 17:57

Still a bit early to tell. You may see the team run as a privateer team under Spanish leadership, Hopkins may well retain his ride. One problem though is Kawasaki have stated they have only built enough engines for 25% of the season. Hopkins has also lost his Monster Energy sponsorship after dropping his Red Bull deal for the big bucks of M E. They have dropped Hopkins and signed up Valentino instead, so look for a new helmet from The Doctor. So without the extra dollars from Monster, Hopkins may not be the attractive signing that he would've been. Seems Kawi arent running a superbike in AMA either so unlikely that he'll be racing there. He may just end up sitting the year out?
Melandri may end up on a Honda, seems some brokering is going on to get him alongside Tony Elias.

**wbks** · 26th January 2009, 19:35

Sucks for Hopkins! He's got such bad luck. For someone who should be getting top 8 on the right bike every race, its crap to see him battling to fit into the top ten. I hope he can get a good set up next year or else there isn't really anywhere to go. Leave Kawasaki, I say, they aren't exactly helping their racers every needs. He could race a Honda maybe?

**gav** · 27th January 2009, 05:43

You know of any spare Honda rides going at the moment?
Duuno about Hopkins. Missing a practice session after being on the booze the night before at one of the races last year, probably hasnt done his career alot of good. Team managers would've noted that, and probably got his name crossed off a few lists.

**wbks** · 27th January 2009, 09:07

Originally Posted by gav

You know of any spare Honda rides going at the moment?
Duuno about Hopkins. Missing a practice session after being on the booze the night before at one of the races last year, probably hasnt done his career alot of good. Team managers would've noted that, and probably got his name crossed off a few lists.

Well I don't follow MotoGP close enough to know of any honda rides going spare so, no. Didn't hear about him getting on the booze and missing practice. Sounds like something a club level racer would do, not a factory kawi rider. Or was he on the gsv-r then

**malcy25** · 27th January 2009, 16:08

I've seen pictures of Kawasaki testing at Phillip Island last Wednedsay (21st Jan)....

**wbks** · 27th January 2009, 17:32

Yea they're on the site, with full reviews of the Island test but it also says they are deciding to pull out. They haven't actually said that they are already out

**gav** · 27th January 2009, 17:41

Yeah, i think we all have, did you also notice the absence of the Monster sponsorship? I'm picking we will see some Kawis out there, just unsure in what form, factory or semi privateer.
Actually they tested at Eastern Creek, you sure it was on the Island?

**wbks** · 27th January 2009, 17:49

Can someone please define satelite team for me? I'm thinking of a semi-factory team privately owned and operated
And actually I did notice the Monster logo was still on #21's bike.

**gav** · 27th January 2009, 18:15

But the #21 bike wasnt at the PI tests was it? Jacque and Serizawa rode, not Hopkins.

**wbks** · 27th January 2009, 20:31

Originally Posted by gav

But the #21 bike wasnt at the PI tests was it? Jacque and Serizawa rode, not Hopkins.

Maybe we're reading different PI dates, there is a re-cap by Hopkins about it

http://www.kawasaki-motogp.com/news....english&page=1

**gav** · 27th January 2009, 22:38

SUCCESSFUL FIRST DAY AT THE ISLAND FOR KAWASAKI

Published: 26 Nov 2008

Check the date, mate!

Here's the latest from MotoGP.com
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/J...ki+Ninja+ZX+RR

Note the last bit?
Although Kawasaki´s factory team have withdrawn from MotoGP the Ninja ZX-RR development continues rapidly, with the bike available for use by a private team in 2009.