No Kawasaki Moto GP at Sepang test.

[MadKaw]

No Kawasaki At Sepang

True to their word Kawasaki was a no show at the first of the MotoGP tests held at Sepang Sepang circuit in Malaysia this week.

Late last year Kawasaki announced that they would be slashing their racing budget and MotoGP was to be the first casualty of that decision.

Dorna Sports (MotoGP promoter) CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta first response was to remind Kawasaki of the penalties in their contract for not racing, but after a meeting Ezpeleta commented,

"We had a meeting in Osaka on Thursday (8th January) where Kawasaki explained their problems and the difficulties they had with continuing as a factory team,´ Mr Ezpeleta continued. `Under these circumstances we agreed to cooperate collectively, in order to find a possible solution to their problems which may allow them to continue as a privateer team."

Kawasaki has made no further public statements and it remains to be seen what will come of the Osaka meeting.

Kawasaki’s official 2003 debut in MotoGP came after a series of wildcard entries in the last races of the 2002 season. Their MotoGP efforts resulted in three podium finishes:

Olivier Jacque second in China in 2005,
Shinya Nakano a second in Holland 2006
Randy de Puniet in 2007 took his maiden MotoGP podium with a second at Motegi.
The popular Green Japanese manufacturer has put mixed levels of official factory backing into the premier category of World Championship competition on two previous occasions, one from 1970 to 1975, when Kiwi Ginger Molloy finished runner-up in their first season. Englishman Dave Simmonds took victory at Jarama one year later to finish the series in fourth place overall.

The second of Kawasaki´s 500cc exploits occurred over a two-year period that the started in 1981. South African racer Kork Ballington was pitted against the likes of USA riders Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts, Englishman Barry Sheene and Kiwi Graeme Crosby. But while Ballington had some previous success in the 250 class he was unable to add any victories, managing two third places finishes in the 1981 season.

[triway]

Spent their budget at EC and PI.............