Kawasaki out of MotoGP !!!!

[Toz]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Dec/081230a.htm

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Dec/081230b.htm

:eek: Toz

[Uwe W.]

So this is how it goes: someone at Kawasaki comments they are preparing for a sales slump in 2009 and the information is passed on to someone else, who only hears that Kawasaki is going to cut back on racing. This in turn is relayed again, only now the news is that Kawasaki may pull out of MotoGP. By the time it reaches this forum Kawasaki has already pulled out.

The first article Toz provided a link to stated that reports say Kawasaki may be terminating their GP program. The author didn't supply us with any sources for those reports and appears to have based his comments on speculation. Personally, I call that a rumour. It's the MCN method of journalism, to throw half researched hearsay onto the internet in the hope that it will stick to the screen.

The second article which claims sources close to Melandri as the root of the information, was posted on the same day by the same author. Clearly he can't even be bothered to take the time to pull all of the facts together in one comprehensive piece.

Toz, I hope you don't take offence to my using this as an example or feel I'm singling you out in anyway; we all get caught up in the rumour-mill, but what really triggers me is the proliferation of lazy journalists that exist on the internet. It has become a common practice to pass off speculation as fact because writers can't be bothered to properly research the information to substantiate their claims.

This particular story may indeed prove to be true, in which case the official news of Kawasaki's demise would be more about disappointment than shock. It's probable that concrete evidence of Kawasaki's plans already exists elsewhere, but until I read something written by a credible source I'm going to file this story as a rumour.

[Toz]

Just passing on the rumour mill I guess Uwe .
Hope this is not true .
Isnt winter grand, I spend more time on the pc , get caught up in any scandle and I am still 4 months till I ride again.
I need a winter project I guess !:rolleyes:
Pete Z ,I need to get the Kwaka 1000 home soon .
See you at the TO show .
Cheers Toz

[Uwe W.]

It would be a real shame to see any of the manufacturers drop out of the '09 season. If Kawasaki does in fact pack their bags, I'd like to know what Melandri and Hopper's fate would be. Free agents available to be snapped up by the other teams, or destined to test ZX-10s at the Kawi plant for the duration of their contract? I really wanted to see what kind of a comeback tour Melandri could mount, but at the moment it would seem that his horrible luck in '08 will continue into the new year.

[Uwe W.]

The press release came in a 3:51 am EST. I hate to say that Toz was right and not because I gave him a hard time, but since it's a blow to the sport.

Tokyo, January 9, 2009 -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has decided to suspend its factory MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season.

Amid quickly changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation. As the world economy is not likely to recover in a short period due to the major impact of the financial crisis, Kawasaki decided to suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently.

Kawasaki will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race-oriented customers.

I'll bet Hopper is really happy right now that he jumped ship last year for the money. On the bright side, maybe we'll see him selling Slushies at the Indy GP...

[metalredneck]

Well, fack.

[Desert Rat]

Yeah, and we can look for Melandri at the European tracks peddaling gelati.

[Kootenanny]

What I get from this: Kawasaki, which is possibly one of the companies most easily able to afford to field a MotoGP effort, is also one of the companies least committed to it. Kawasaki Heavy Industries builds everything from motorcycles to backhoes to ocean freighters (didn't Cycle Canada do a piece on this a while back?); they don't need to worry about their perception in the motorcycle industry. Quite a difference from a company like Ducati, or Triumph, or even H-D, for whom everything depends on the perception the motorcycle-buying public has of them.

Over the years, I admit I've developed a slight, somewhat pervasive dislike of the Japanese Big Four bike builders. I appreciate their engineering, their production, their quality control...but somehow, they just don't seem to care as much about motorcycling as some of the smaller builders. I know my perception is likely flawed, being built up over the years on the information I've digested, some of which is likely false and surely biased...I try to keep an open mind, but I still can't get over a slight distaste for machines built by tiny subsidiaries of giant conglomerates, for whom every decision is based on business and none are based on passion...

[KZDon]

Interestingly, the Kawi MotoGP team showed up for the first tests. Kawi decided to get out of MotoGP but it sounds like they forgot to tell the guys with the ZXRRs.

http://www.2wheelcentral.com/kawasaki_racing.htm

[Uwe W.]

Very good point Koot. Still, Kawasaki's bean counters are sure to see the situation differently. As a massive corporate entity Kawasaki might have very deep pockets, but the motorcycle division would still need to be responsible for their portion of the profit and loss column.

Apparently it's not completely over for Kawasaki. I believe there are negotiations underway for a satellite team to run this season, maybe using Hopper and Marco. Dorna has a vested interest in trying to keep some Green in the field, and have been discussing the possibilty with Kawasaki.

[Kootenanny]

Very good point Koot. Still, Kawasaki's bean counters are sure to see the situation differently. As a massive corporate entity Kawasaki might have very deep pockets, but the motorcycle division would still need to be responsible for their portion of the profit and loss column.
Understood...but that almost underscores the point. At Kawasaki, the guy in charge of the "motorcycle division" has to make the case for fielding a racing team to his superiors, who may or may not care much about motorsports at all. Compare this with making the same pitch at Ducati, where the top boss is likely to be, perhaps, a bit more enthusiastic about motorcycles...

[Rocking Couple]

What I get from this: Kawasaki, which is possibly one of the companies most easily able to afford to field a MotoGP effort, is also one of the companies least committed to it. Kawasaki Heavy Industries builds everything from motorcycles to backhoes to ocean freighters (didn't Cycle Canada do a piece on this a while back?); they don't need to worry about their perception in the motorcycle industry. Quite a difference from a company like Ducati, or Triumph, or even H-D, for whom everything depends on the perception the motorcycle-buying public has of them.

Over the years, I admit I've developed a slight, somewhat pervasive dislike of the Japanese Big Four bike builders. I appreciate their engineering, their production, their quality control...but somehow, they just don't seem to care as much about motorcycling as some of the smaller builders. I know my perception is likely flawed, being built up over the years on the information I've digested, some of which is likely false and surely biased...I try to keep an open mind, but I still can't get over a slight distaste for machines built by tiny subsidiaries of giant conglomerates, for whom every decision is based on business and none are based on passion...

one damn impressive first post [thumb up]

[KZDon]

Yup, but take a look at KHI's annuals. They are still less than 1/100th that of Honda.

[Kootenanny]

Yes, KHI is much smaller than Honda. And Honda is another of the Big Four to whom motorcycles seem almost a sideline. They sell a lot more Civics than they do CBRs, I'm sure.

I understand that Soichiro Honda loved racing, and was directly involved in the development of some of the great Honda race bikes of earlier decades. How much of that spirit still survives in the current Honda industrial complex? It would seem that Honda is still willing to support a few race teams...but for how much longer...

[sportbikecalgary]

My first bike was a Kawasaki so I have so bias towards the company. I always enjoyed how they were the last of the 'big 4' with the smallest sales numbers yet they were able to influence motrorcycling as we know it. The Motorcycle division was purely a PR machine for the large equipment industries that were the bread and butter... but it's hard to get excited about ocean freighers and locomotives. So they used motorcycles.

I remember reading that one of the corporate mandates of Kawasaki motorcycle division was to build the fastest production motorcycle. It was an excellent way to get attention. So starting back with the original KZ900 morphing through turbo years, the ZX10 and the ZX 11 series and now with the ZX 14 they pushed every other manufacturer to catch up with their efforts. It's interesting how the name 'ninja' is synonymous with the modern race replica. It's not too bad for the #4 company.

Yep, Suzuki snagged the top speed honors with the Hayabusa... but it was Kawasaki they were chasing. Honda topped out with the XX blackbird with it's so-so top end of only 176 mph ..and that 5 or 6 mph down from the top runner kept the sales from reaching their potential. Amazing when you think how seldom one would actually hit that top speed, but bragging rights are what they are.

So I can't see Kawasaki dropping out of the racing scene. I can see them focusing into different arenas. My wish list includes; 1) Them building a competition cross country (P-D style) racer ala KTM or beemers' GS... sort of a KLR with bigger better everything 2) I'd like to see them build the next leap and put out a 250 hp street machine as a big F-U to the insurance company mandated top-speed limits. 3) Ressurect an old tried and true design and push really cheap (sub $2500) UJM entry-level bikes into North America. ...unfortunately I can't see any of this happening, but one can dream :)

[Kootenanny]

...Amazing when you think how seldom one would actually hit that top speed, but bragging rights are what they are...
Too true! That's why all these companies support race teams...it's because so many people want "bragging rights." Very, very few of us will ever top out a modern, full-on sportbike on public roads--yet, this desire to own the "fastest" bike is what motivates many buyers.

[KZDon]

My first bike was a Kawasaki so I have so bias towards the company.

3) Ressurect an old tried and true design and push really cheap (sub $2500) UJM entry-level bikes into North America. ...unfortunately I can't see any of this happening, but one can dream :)


Mine too

They make them, just not in the North American Market. Take a look around the European and Japanese Kawi websites for their interesting current offerings.

[Ivor biggin]

Apparently it's not completely over for Kawasaki.

When wasn`t it completely over for Kawasaki in MotoGP or any other of the senior class formats? The last time that they had a win was at the IOM in 1975 and that brought their all time win total up to two.
Kawi doesn`t have the burden of a GP tradition to support so it`s easy for them to get out and using the economic downturn is possibly a way to do it without loosing face.
I.B.

[KZDon]

Olivier Jacques won a MotoGP a couple of years ago as a sub-in on a Kawi - in the rain.

[Kootenanny]

Just read in CC that, while Kawasaki might be out (and I guess Honda too, at least from AMA)...NORTON is back IN! They're gonna enter a new 588 rotary in the Isle of Man TT...

BTW, couldn't tell from the mag article, but is the resurrected Norton in the UK gonna produce Kenny Dreer's 961? It kinda looks like it from this site, (http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bike/default.asp) coupled with the article's assertion that all rights to the Norton name now reside in the UK...

(as you might be able to tell, I kinda like the idea of smaller, enthusiast builders over large industrial conglomerates, despite the economies of scale inherent in large scale mass production).

[Uwe W.]

as you might be able to tell, I kinda like the idea of smaller, enthusiast builders over large industrial conglomerates, despite the economies of scale inherent in large scale mass production

I'm going to assume then that you have your name on the waiting list for a Roehr 1250SC. A supercharged 180hp Harley engine with components from Ohlins, Marchesini, Akrapovic and Brembo would certainly suit your need for product from an enthusiastic builder...

[Ivor biggin]

Olivier Jacques won a MotoGP a couple of years ago as a sub-in on a Kawi - in the rain.

Frayed knot.
I.B.

[Kootenanny]

I'm going to assume then that you have your name on the waiting list for a Roehr 1250SC. A supercharged 180hp Harley engine with components from Ohlins, Marchesini, Akrapovic and Brembo would certainly suit your need for product from an enthusiastic builder...
As I said, I also understand economies of scale, and their effect on pricing. I own a Buell Firebolt.;)

[KZDon]

Frayed knot.
I.B.

I stand corrected - second to the Doctor by 1.7 seconds - China, 2005

Actually, I sit corrected

[Paddy]

I can't see how the bike "Norton" enters can be regarded as a Norton in any way other than in name. There's no real connection to the old company except maybe through the Dunlop family, and that's tenuous at best.
No enthusiasm there I'm afraid but I do wish them well.

[Kootenanny]

I can't see how the bike "Norton" enters can be regarded as a Norton in any way other than in name.
Is a Hinckley Triumph a Triumph?