Kawasaki quits MotoGP

[Spidey]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/09021033-2.htm

I thought I just read something about Melandri doing a stint on 4 wheels?  Did I get my gossip all mixed up?

[DesmoDiva]

my guess is he's being extremely lawyer-is-telling-me-to-be-quiet quiet

I hope he (Hopper) lands a ride.

They both deserve to be on the grid.   

[Speeddog]

I thought I just read something about Melandri doing a stint on 4 wheels?  Did I get my gossip all mixed up?

Yeah, he was going to do something 4W: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/090210a33.htm

[mitt]

it gets stranger

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/09021033-2.htm


" Melandri riding ex-Kawasaki MotoGP bikes this season. Insiders suggest that Dorna will run the team independently "

[desmoquattro]

Well, at least green is an appropriate color for the folks at Dorna

[DesmoDiva]

Well, at least green is an appropriate color for the folks at Dorna

[gm2]

it gets stranger

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/09021033-2.htm


" Melandri riding ex-Kawasaki MotoGP bikes this season. Insiders suggest that Dorna will run the team independently "

marco referred to this a while back; he said that his future was "in Dorna's hands".  kawi is contracted with Dorna to have two bikes out there.  Dorna is contracted (or whatever the appropriate word is there) with FIM to have at least 18 bikes on the grid, or one more than they had with the 2 kawis gone.

kawi would theoretically owe Dorna $60mil for '09 and '10 if they didn't race, but i'm sure that Dorna would be ensuring there'd never be a kawi in motogp ever again if they really went after that money.

and kawi has to pay marco and john either way.

...so i'm sure everyone got together, kawi spent some money, but less money, and Dorna spent some.  it's an investment in their own commercial rights, either way.

plus i bet hopper wants not only his full salary but at least a decent shot at not running in the back of the pack.  that means engines for the whole season, testing money, decent crews, yadda yadda.  all the things he should expect if they were going to mount a serious charge.

which they (kawi) aren't.  so.

...what a mess.

[zooom]

I like the name DornaSaki!

[gm2]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73315

"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."

[Spidey]

They're baaaaaaaaaack . . . .  And without Hopper (While I'll miss his stand-ups, he's never lived up to the Faster hype).

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/090226a.htm



The Power of Lawyers: Kawasaki To Run Melandri In MotoGP!

Melandri to start 2009 MotoGP season in one-rider team

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.

[Cynic]

Sad to see hopper gone, He has never been a real contender, but he was from CA so... felt like he was local team.
I'm not looking forward to this season like I have others, but It's good to see at least one more bike on the ever shrinking grid.

[Desmostro]

(MELANDRI)
gaaaaaawdammmm, what a consolation prize. F'up with the best team in the world and go from a D16 to riding a thing that looks like a fish.   

At least he has a job riding. that still doesn't suck too bad.

Sad to see hopper gone, He has never been a real contender, but he was from CA so... felt like he was local team.

+1

[gm2]

kawi('s lawyers) seem to be sure, but marco isn't.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73459

Marco Melandri says his MotoGP future is still up in the air, despite the announcement from Kawasaki that they will run a one-bike team in 2009.

The Japanese squad, who had announced their withdrawal from the sport at the start of the year, said on Thursday that Melandri would be riding their bike after partially reversing their decision.

The Italian rider signed with Kawasaki last year after leaving the Ducati team, and he was expected to be partnering John Hopkins before the manufacturer confirmed its exit.

Despite Thursday's announcement, Melandri said he was yet to hear from the team and he admitted he wants to test this year's bike before he commits to racing with it.

"I got calls from many people, but I haven't received any official confirmation," Melandri was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's incredible that I should come to know these things from journalists.

"My situation is up in the air: I need to close the old contract and do a new one for this different solution. I know there's not much money, and that's no big issue for me.

"But the discussion was very clear: since they didn't give me guarantees on the 2009 bike, I want to try it myself, from Sunday onwards in Qatar, and then decide.

"That's because I don't feel like starting the season with a bike that is three seconds slower than the others, and that doesn't even get developed during the season.

"I don't know whether the bikes are in Qatar, but I guess they are. But the team is formed: the mechanics are the same I had in the first tests, and they will be headed by telemetry man Andrea Dosoli."

[mitt]

That would suck riding at that level on a half-assed committed team.  It is one thing to not be competitive, but it could also mean putting your life on the line with a marginal bike / team / parts etc.

mitt

[gm2]

for sure.

and while marco is saying all the right things re money and flexibility etc., i'm sure he doesn't want to spend a 2nd consecutive season riding around in last place.  or be out there only b/c it's cheaper for them to do that than it is to pay off Dorna.  talk about demoralizing.

shoulda taken that gresini ride...