West handed lifeline as Kawasaki plan third bike
Added on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
West: Will not have a factory GP ride next year.
Kawasaki look set to run a third bike in next season’s MotoGP championship, throwing Anthony West a potential MotoGP lifeline.
Kawasaki boss Paul Bartholemy spoke about the possibility of running a third Kawasaki bike in 2009, with current rider Anthony West thought to be in line for the seat after being told that he would not ride in Grand Prix’s for the factory team next season.
West, who has struggled to find any kind of form this season, could also opt for a factory Kawasaki ride in the AMA competitions next season.
Out of contract Toni Elias and 250cc rider Alvaro Bautista have also been linked with the role.
It was announced earlier today that West will be replaced by Marco Melandri in the factory team in 2009 alongside John Hopkins, but Bartholemy added that Kawasaki had invested time and money into West’s career and wanted to remain involved with the Australian.
“With regard to Anthony he will not be part of the main Kawasaki MotoGP team next season,” said the Kawasaki boss. “But we want to offer him a contract to remain as a Kawasaki factory rider, because we have invested a lot in him to bring him up a level since he joined us last year. That could mean that Anthony rides for us in another World Championship series.
“If we do run a third bike it would be up to the sponsors and the management who the rider is, but Anthony West could be part of the package that we offer,” he added. “In Misano we should be able to clarify the situation with the third bike.”
