Melandri expects to test in Qatar
Added on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Melandri expects to test in Qatar
Marco Melandri remains hopeful that he will have a ride in the 2009 MotoGP Championship and believes that a Kawasaki team will be present at the next official test in Qatar.
After pulling the plug on its MotoGP operations due to budget constraints, the Kawasaki factory has been locked in talks with Dorna over a possible privateer entry using the ZX-RR, with Jorge Martinez’s Aspar team and Kawasaki Racing Team boss Michael Bartholemy both in discussions at some point over a Kawasaki entrant.
Martinez has since cooled his interest in a potential buy-out but, whilst the Kawasaki has still been undergoing private testing in Australia, Bartholemy remains locked in talks over a rescue deal.
The results of those talks will determine Melandri’s immediate future in motorsport, with the Italian already exploring a future in Speedcars if a MotoGP seat doesn’t materialise but the Italian is still hopeful that there will be a Kawasaki presence next season.
“Testing-wise, we are on equal footing with the others: Jacque tested in Australia, while the others did in Malaysia,” Melandri told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“At the moment I’m working with Dorna and Michael Bartholemy, the former team manager, to realise the project of a private entry.
“We are late in re-organising the team: the technicians had already been left to go. On top of that, we need an agreement with Kawasaki for servicing the engines, a minimum of development, and the building of spare parts: at the moment there are only the 2009 bikes from the test in Australia.
“The idea is to be on track here (Losail) on March 1st with the others. We’re going for that. I count on being able to be ready for the tests.”
Melandri said he had no concerns over racing for a non-factory team following a disastrous 2008 with Ducati.
“I’ve accepted to race with a team that from being a works Kawasaki outfit becomes a satellite entry because I see a good atmosphere,” he said.
“Bartholemy wants to do things right and the team will have highly-motivated technicians.
“I’ll start the season with the will to make up for a very bad one. I know I won’t be fighting to win the title or the Grands Prix, however I crave having fun on the bike. It will be difficult, not impossible.
“I didn’t mind the character of Kawasaki’s 2008 bike, while I don’t know the 2009 one. But even if it’s not competitive, if the team has faith in me that I’m ready to give my best.”
Melandri does however expect to be the private Kawasaki team’s only rider, with would-be teammate John Hopkins reportedly ruling himself out of any plan.
“Hopkins has given up: in his opinion money is more important, while now we have to race for nothing,” said Melandri. “I’m ready to invest in myself. I’ll be alone.”
