Kawasaki confirm MotoGP entry

Added on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Kawasaki has announced that they have reached an agreement with MotoGP promoters Dorna to race a single rider team for the 2009 championship.

Marco Melandri will race with the Kawasaki team after the manufacturer initially opted to pull out of the competition, citing cost concerns.

That left Melandri and teammate John Hopkins without a ride for the 2009 season and the Japanese factory facing up to the prospect of a costly legal battle with Dorna for breaching a three-year contract to race in the Championship.

Talks had been ongoing over a possible rescue package for the Kawasaki team, with Aspar manager Jorge Martinez and Kawasaki Racing Manager Michael Bartholemy both keen on keeping the ZX-RR on the grid. Martinez soon pulled out of any discussions but an agreement has been reached and Melandri will rejoin the paddock at the official test in Qatar.

“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,” read a statement.

“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.”

Melandri’s would-be teammate John Hopkins had reportedly ruled himself out of a MotoGP ride with Kawasaki earlier in the year.

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