Prior to Kawasaki´s announcement regarding their withdrawal from MotoGP, Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of MotoGP Rights Holders Dorna Sports, met with representatives of the Japanese factory to acknowledge their decision and discuss the possibility of having Kawasaki machinery run by a privateer team. `First of all, I would like to clarify the fact that what Kawasaki has suspended is its MotoGP racing activities through its factory team,´ stressed Mr Ezpeleta. `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 made their MotoGP debut in 2003 after a string of wildcard entries in the last races of the 2002 season. Since then the Akashi-based factory has secured three podium finishes, with Olivier Jacque second in China in 2005, Shinya Nakano also securing second in Holland the following year and finally in 2007, with Randy de Puniet taking his maiden MotoGP podium with second at Motegi. Prior to their MotoGP effort, the Japanese factory had participated in the premier category of World Championship competition in two separate periods, firstly from 1970 to 1975, when Ginger Molloy finished runner-up in their first season. Dave Simmonds took victory at Jarama one year later to finish the series in fourth place overall, whilst Mick Grant clinched the Tourist Trophy in 1975. The second chapter of Kawasaki´s 500cc experience came in a two-year period at the start of the 1980s. Kork Ballington was unable to add to their catalogue of victories but he did take two third place finishes in 1981.Dorna CEO Ezpeleta on Kawasaki withdrawal
Following Kawasaki´s announcement, confirming that the Japanese manufacturer would suspend its factory MotoGP activity, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has revealed that a Kawasaki privateer project is under consideration.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Dorna CEO Ezpeleta on Kawasaki withdrawal
Kawasaki quit MotoGP
Kawasaki have pulled out of the MotoGP World Championship as part of the company's efforts to cut spending amid the global financial crisis. Kawasaki Heavy Industries became Japan's latest motorsport casualty after a trio of the country's carmakers announced similar plans last month. The worldwide economic downturn was blamed for Honda's withdrawal from Formula One and the exit of Subaru and Suzuki from the World Rally Championship. "We have taken the final decision not to continue in MotoGP," Kawasaki's Katsuhiro Sato told Reuters. "It is something we have been considering since mid-December. "In the current economic climate and unless the situation improves it is difficult to say if we will return." Kawasaki had competed in motorcycling's premier class since the 2003 season with annual costs of around £29 million. Slumping car sales due to the credit crunch ended the F1 ambitions of Honda, who scored just 20 points in the last two seasons despite an estimated annual budget of over £197 million. Suzuki and former winners Subaru then left the WRC, leaving Citroen and cash-strapped Ford as the only manufacturers in next year's title race. Toyota, who have yet to win an F1 grand prix since their debut in 2002, are the last Japanese manufacturer standing in the two main FIA-backed World Championships. Kawasaki have felt the bite with sales of bikes in the United States and Europe badly hit by the economic slump, but they have also struggled on the track. Dutch-based Kawasaki Motors Racing failed to win any races in MotoGP, their best result being French rider Randy de Puniet's second place in Japan in 2007. Rivals Yamaha, who won last year's MotoGP championship with Italian Valentino Rossi, told Reuters they would compete in the 2009 season and have no plans to leave the sport. Honda and Suzuki will also continue to participate in MotoGP despite their recent troubles, Honda providing six bikes and Suzuki two. Kawasaki's 2009 line-up would have been American John Hopkins and Italian Marco Melandri, who had just switched from Ducati. "Everything is up in the air and people want answers," Hopkins said before the announcement. Kawasaki's departure, assuming their two bikes are not taken on by an independent team, leaves the MotoGP grid with 17 riders. Points are awarded down to 15th place.
Carter on Kawasaki pull-out
The ones that took place before Kawasaki announced it was pulling out of the 2009 MotoGP season. On one side, a company which is much more worried about its global business in these difficult times than it is in going round in circles on incredibly expensive prototype machines with little hope of toppling the likes of Yamaha, Ducati or Honda. On the other, an organisation which may have to put out a seriously depleted grid for this year's championship - so much so that there's talk of less than 17 bikes on the grid by the time the first round gets underway. I bet everyone was being really nice during the talks; very professional across the table. And I also bet there was some chatting going on through gritted teeth. I can totally understand why a company such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries would want to stop the big-money drain on its green cash reserves for the time being, especially in light of recent performances over the past few seasons. And I don't think anyone can blame them. KHI is a business and the single, sole purpose of a business is to get out into the world and make money. It's as simple an equation as that and, as the world tightens its belt quicker then Fern Britton after having a gastric band fitted, making enough money to keep yourself afloat over the coming months and years is getting increasingly hard. Things are tough and I have been told by others in the paddock that Kawasaki MotoGP has found itself in a similar position to the one that Honda car racing faced a couple of months ago - and the 'Big H' decided it was going to stop the rot by pulling out of Formula One. F1 is a much bigger concern than MotoGP for a factory, but the same aim remains: employing people and making things to sell; trimming back and hunkering down until things recover is the obvious option to take. When they have done that, they can get back to the fun: like going round in circles at insanely fast speeds. But this announcement from Kawasaki is indicative of how the financial squeeze is being felt in the MotoGP world right now. It's all up in the air, leading to a lot of wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth by the MotoGP faithful amid the prolonged speculation. Some blame Dorna, some blame Kawasaki; some blame the Americans and the collapse of the sup-prime market or whatever. But in reality it's just a case of racing finding out that, in the global scheme of things, racing at the prototype level takes a back seat when the money men are furrowing their brows and getting their big red pens out. That's what happened at Honda in F1 and could happen even more in the most expensive avenue of motorcycle racing. Inventing, developing and racing hand-built prototype exotica for 498 races a year all around the globe is a pretty expensive way to puff out the corporate chest. Which is where having a big sponsor like Fiat or Repsol is a good thing - because the team are not relying solely on the factory for money to cover the costs of racing. Mind you, there are a few rumours at the moment saying that there may be some trimming to come from a couple more MotoGP corners yet. Elsewhere it may not be all doom and gloom: for example in WSB, where Kawasaki continues its interest in 2009 with a passion.Wouldn't it have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wall during Wednesday's talks between Kawasaki and GP bosses DORNA?
