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Melandri to Kawasaki

C

crazyc803

Joined Jun 2006
90 Posts | 0+
I read this at work today and came here to read everyones discussion but alas...it wasn't posted here.

Courtesy of MCN.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sp...es-to-kawasaki/

Marco Melandri confirms Kawasaki switch

By Matthew Birt

MotoGP

19 August 2008 09:17

Marco Melandri has confirmed to MCN that he will join Kawasaki’s factory squad for the 2009 MotoGP world championship.

Speaking to MCN in Brno last night, the Italian revealed he informed Kawasaki boss Michael Bartholemy immediately after Sunday’s Czech Republic GP that he had accepted an offer to ride a factory ZX-RR with John Hopkins next season.

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“Next year I will be with Kawasaki. Everything is okay with them. I just have to sign. I have agreed with them for the future and I will be with them.We have been talking together and we are okay on all the points,“ said the former world 250 champion.

Melandri was also in discussions about a possible return to Fausto Gresini’s satellite Honda squad. But his preference was to remain in a factory team and Melandri confirmed he had informed his former team boss of his decision to sign with Kawasaki on Sunday night.

“I have explained my reasons to Fausto. I was very positive to go back with Fausto but finally I decided to go another way and I want to ride the Kawasaki because to me on track it looks a good bike.”

After a nightmare season with Ducati, Melandri recently negotiated a termination of his two-year contract a year early at the end of the 2008 season.

His place next to reigning world champion Casey Stoner will be taken by 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden in a deal that is expected to be confirmed in Misano later this month.
 
Melandri

Marco has confirmed Kawasaki for 2009. He must be feeling pleased given the green teams results at Brno.

An interesting aside here is the Nicki Hayden story - I watched the interview on Channel 10 between Daryl Beatie and Casey Stoner (recorded during summer break) and Casey waxes lyrical about how well he gets on with Hayden and what a great guy he is.
 
I wonder if he'll get a chance to ride the Kawa this year as wild card if he get's fired from Ducati (which in all fairness should've happened already)
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Aug 19 2008, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Melandri

Marco has confirmed Kawasaki for 2009. He must be feeling pleased given the green teams results at Brno.

An interesting aside here is the Nicki Hayden story - I watched the interview on Channel 10 between Daryl Beatie and Casey Stoner (recorded during summer break) and Casey waxes lyrical about how well he gets on with Hayden and what a great guy he is.

Glad to hear one rider is confirmed for next season.

As for Hadyen at Ducati, I hope the Casey Stoner interview confirms the beginning of a beautiful, half-decade-long Honda ...-kicking.
 
Wahey!, cant wait to see melandri on the Kawak!
<


boo to ducati
<
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Aug 19 2008, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Glad to hear one rider is confirmed for next season.

As for Hadyen at Ducati, I hope the Casey Stoner interview confirms the beginning of a beautiful, half-decade-long Honda ...-kicking.
Here here!! clink.. GULP GULP!
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kez_91 @ Aug 19 2008, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wahey!, cant wait to see melandri on the Kawak!
<


boo to ducati
<

Whatever Boo to Marco. ...... guy had the world of Ducati at his feet. They would rather have him win than Casey and Melandri coulnt do ....! Boo you.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Aug 20 2008, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Here here!! clink.. GULP GULP!


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Frizzle @ Aug 20 2008, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2 of my fav's on the red beast?
Yes please.
<


Can hardly wait to next year.

In the same interview Casey also said (I don't have a transcript) that when Loris was in the team both sides of the garage worked together and it was one garage so to speak but he never got that with Marco. The two teams worked separately. I have been trying to attach some meaning to this, without a literal spoken word to confirm it the “vibe” I felt was Marco arrived to usurp Casey and was never happy with the outcome. (My racing vibe however has been pointed out as flawed previously because I've not experienced road racing - I still race motox and enduro) There may be some bias in my thinking however the point remains that it was not a congenial or cooperative place with Marco. It was with Loris and Casey has just about said I can’t wait until Nicki gets here, this should be good…
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Aug 20 2008, 05:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Can hardly wait to next year.

In the same interview Casey also said (I don't have a transcript) that when Loris was in the team both sides of the garage worked together and it was one garage so to speak but he never got that with Marco. The two teams worked separately. I have been trying to attach some meaning to this, without a literal spoken word to confirm it the “vibe” I felt was Marco arrived to usurp Casey and was never happy with the outcome. (My racing vibe however has been pointed out as flawed previously because I've not experienced road racing - I still race motox and enduro) There may be some bias in my thinking however the point remains that it was not a congenial or cooperative place with Marco. It was with Loris and Casey has just about said I can’t wait until Nicki gets here, this should be good…

I read this on motogp.com
Explaining why he had chosen Kawasaki in particular he added, `(John) Hopkins is a very good rider and maybe he needs a stronger team-mate to be a little bit more motivated. Maybe I also need this kind of company to be motivated a little bit more because I really want to work closely together with a team-mate, so it will be a good experience anyway.´

So he indeed is not close to Stoner at all... Stoner several times said, when asked why his bike's setting is not copied to Macio, that he is completely has a different style of work and riding, so his data no use to Macio.

Personally, I agree with his move to Kwaka, as in Satellite team you won't win the championship.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Aug 19 2008, 05:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whatever Boo to Marco. ...... guy had the world of Ducati at his feet. They would rather have him win than Casey and Melandri coulnt do ....! Boo you.

That is why i'm surprised that another team have faith in the guy after Ducati put so much effort in him to shine yet little did they know an Austrialian was to shine instead. But hey, maybe the pressure was just too much for him to handle but ..... that is no excuse at all. If the world is on your shoulders....you either step up or step out.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Blue Cielo @ Aug 20 2008, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I read this on motogp.com
Explaining why he had chosen Kawasaki in particular he added, `(John) Hopkins is a very good rider and maybe he needs a stronger team-mate to be a little bit more motivated. Maybe I also need this kind of company to be motivated a little bit more because I really want to work closely together with a team-mate, so it will be a good experience anyway.´

So he indeed is not close to Stoner at all... Stoner several times said, when asked why his bike's setting is not copied to Macio, that he is completely has a different style of work and riding, so his data no use to Macio.

Personally, I agree with his move to Kwaka, as in Satellite team you won't win the championship.

Just to cut the suggestion off (and I acknowledge you don't make it) - Casey's settings were given to all the Ducati riders - Alice and Marlboro teams whenever he was lapping fast. This was widely reported at a number of races.

Apparently they are just different riders.
 
Well Marco is good enough to deserve another chance, but should it go wrong then what has he left (could always go to Suzuki to complete the visit through all Japanese if not competing factories).

With regards to the Stoner interview I also got the impression that he (CS) really enjoys the 'team' atmosphere offered by having two riders working together for the one aim and fully expect that NH (if official) will work similarly to LC with regards to CS. In LC there is an elder 'been there' statesman who has won world titles and been through all the ups and downs provided by the sport. NH is identical in that aspect plus has the personality that I believe is difficult to dislike.

With regards to MM's comments quoted earlier, was it not Rossi who was quoted as saying something like Melandri would do good at Honda because of the atmosphere in terms of 'family feeling'. Maybe Melandri needs a 'joker/jester' type of team-mate whereas CS is a very focused and serious individual, someone that MM just cannot get comfortable around. Like a lot of employees, your comfort with your employer and workmates can readily determine and affect your performance (good or bad).

Either way, whilst I think that MM has badly let himself down this year, good luck to him but a lot of me feels that the inline 4 of Kawasaki is not the answer.






Garry
 

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