Kawasaki must race, Says Carmelo Ezpeleta

L i n k

Olivier Jacque is testing at Eastern Creek.
Eastern Creek is about a 10 minute drive away,might go have a look..

Here's hoping that something good comes out of all this madness. GULP!!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (alex29 @ Jan 14 2009, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>L i n k

Olivier Jacque is testing at Eastern Creek.
Eastern Creek is about a 10 minute drive away,might go have a look..

.... a look...take a vid cam with you

STORY:

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta says he expects a Kawasaki team to race in 2009, having confirmed that he has agreed to let the company withdraw from its commitment to stay in MotoGP until 2011 provided it participates this season.

Kawasaki has ended its factory involvement in MotoGP due to the global economic downturn, but Ezpeleta is working on a deal for the firm's racing team to continue running for a further year in a semi-private capacity, with existing team manager Michael Bartholemy set to remain at the helm.

In exchange for proceeding with the 2009 programme, Kawasaki would not have to honour the MotoGP manufacturers' previous agreement to all support the championship through 2011.

"It's an agreement until 2011 that Dorna has with the manufacturers' association: in September each of them told us how many bikes they would race with. Kawasaki included," Ezpeleta explained to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There's no penalty, but an agreement can't be broken.

"I reaffirmed that I wouldn't accept the contract being broken. And, since they told us all expenses were covered, I proposed to them to race in 2009. In exchange, I would let them off for 2010 and 2011.

"The problem, they said, is that they have engines only for 25 per cent of the season, and that they didn't want to develop the rest. So I've looked for a structure, in France, able to do this job. The final obstacle is for the Japanese to meet these people and accept their work programme.

"I think everything can be solved. Besides, (test rider) Olivier Jacque is testing in Eastern Creek today. The team will be managed once again by Michael Bartholemy and it's important to safeguard (Kawasaki's contracted 2009 riders) John Hopkins and Marco Melandri.

"In any case it's Kawasaki's problem: if they don't race, I'll take them to court."

Although this deal simply postpones Kawasaki's exit, Ezpeleta is confident that the cost-cutting discussions currently being held will ensure a full grid in 2010 even without Kawasaki.

He believes that if the manufacturers cut back to one spare bike per team rather than the present one spare per rider arrangement, they will be able to expand their line-ups.

"Before the start of the season I want the 2010 rules, which I think will increase the field to 20 bikes," said Ezpeleta.

"I'll be back in Japan to meet the Honda and Yamaha bosses and ask a bigger effort of them. By abolishing the spare bike, we'll just need each manufacturer to make one bike more than today to have a full grid."

LINKY: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72769

Dam sorry i didnt know it was already posted, can you please delete or merge this topic.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jan 15 2009, 07:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>.... a look...take a vid cam with you


To bloody HOT!!

The mercury hit 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit)
How can they test with Dec/Jan ban still in place??

Can OJ test there 2009 bike then

The MotoGP World Championship begins its customary winter testing ban period today (Monday, December 1st) in a complete embargo on on-track action until January 21st, 2009. During this time riders are not permitted to ride their respective machines in preparation for the upcoming season.

if they testing the 09 bike surely the other teams will be pissed wtf are Dorna ON.Smack ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Jan 15 2009, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Can OJ test there 2009 bike then

The MotoGP World Championship begins its customary winter testing ban period today (Monday, December 1st) in a complete embargo on on-track action until January 21st, 2009. During this time riders are not permitted to ride their respective machines in preparation for the upcoming season.

if they testing the 09 bike surely the other teams will be pissed wtf are Dorna ON.Smack ?
Does the ban apply to test riders or only to actual motogp riders?

It still sounds unlikely though; why the hell would they test at eastern creek of all places at this particular moment in history or at the end of history as the case may be?

Isn't Eastern Creek the crappy track they took the Australia GP off before they gave it to Phillip Island???


Eastern Creek, why would they bother testing there???


Phillip Island FTW.

Kawi vid at the creek...

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2008/Kawas...Eastern+Creek+3

I must admit, I sure wish Kawasaki had more success. Their bikes are beautiful and sound outstanding. What a shame really.

I'm not a big fan of Kawasaki, but it doesn't seem like motoGP can afford to lose any more riders...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 16 2009, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I must admit, I sure wish Kawasaki had more success. Their bikes are beautiful and sound outstanding. What a shame really.
MAn I have to agree with you there. If there is one thing I love it is the sound of a real gp machine. That bike looks good and sounds good and hopefully is running good if they decide to race in some capacity. Here is to the hope.

990s sounded way better

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jan 16 2009, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>990s sounded way better
These days I will take it when I can get it and that isn't bad dude.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 16 2009, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>These days I will take it when I can get it and that isn't bad dude.

Boy George?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jan 16 2009, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Boy George?
Well we know where your mind is at today. Sheesh I was talking about motgp bikes man where did that come from?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 16 2009, 05:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I must admit, I sure wish Kawasaki had more success. Their bikes are beautiful and sound outstanding. What a shame really.


yeah that bike looks awesome, they should keep front green and back end black it looks way better.

kawasaki should have put there money into a good rider eariler on with proven development skills to help improve the machine, i still think colin edwards would have been a good option as he helps develop the traction control system for tech 3 and has proven development skills.
the bike looks and sounds awesome.

Would Dorna be shooting itself in the foot by going to court,at least one person thinks so.

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/01/...not_racing.html

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 16 2009, 05:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I must admit, I sure wish Kawasaki had more success. Their bikes are beautiful and sound outstanding. What a shame really.
best looking bike on the grid by far imo, but beauty is only skin deep