MotoGP News - Redemption for Kawasaki

My last entry, in response to Kawasaki pulling the plug on MotoGP (a claimed financial decision) and effectively shit-canning Marco Melandri (who they had just spent 9 months negotiating OUT of the Ducati camp) ended like this....

"So, here's hoping that things will turn around... and Marco... you best be straddling a bullet in some last-minute contract signing, and lead us all to believe that this was just a bold PR stunt.... cause I DON'T LIKE IT!!!"

Until next time ....

Shortly after I posted this, Kawasaki made big news by posting the largest contigency in road-racing history.... 1.8 Million. This announcement was followed by a press release jam-packed with compliments and ass-patting from the road-racing world, showering Kawasaki with praise of their superior dedication to racing and rock-hard support. WHAT???? Not one word was mentioned about them jumping ship on MotoGP and Marco. This made sense (thank you captain obvious) as an internally written press release would never highlight a BAD move. But seriously, let us not rub salt into an open wound.

Tuesday evening I was blinded by trickery and fooled into watching Superbikes on SpeedTV. Not a big fan of the show to begin with, I watched with little to no enthusiasm. My attention was caught when the highlight of the next segment showed a track trial. I know!!! I didn't believe it either, but they were actually riding... really riding.. no endos or wheelies, no deflated tires or hubcap sized sprockets. They were on a track, draggin' knees and opening up down the back stretch..... ON KAWASAKIS. There was a pounding in my head equivalent to waking after a three day drinking binge 6 inches from an operational jackhammer under an F-16 engine at full thrust... or it may have been a mild stroke. Tomato - Tomahhto.

They fed Melandri to the wolves after talking him out of his solid contract with Ducati to put him on a sub-par machine. Then made history with the gobs of money they put up for contigency, patted themselves on the back with their own cleverly disguised press release.. then Superbikes airs with it's tribute to Kawasaki... who paid to fly in/accomodate easily a dozen test riders from various publications.... to Japan. The hole just kept getting deeper.

Today..... redemption. They came to their senses and negotiated for a one-man team to ride in MotoGP in '09. Marco Melandri. The negotiations were reportedly prompted by "the simultaneous necessity to come to a constructive solution for all related parties." ..... that and the severed horse head with the anonymous love letter stapled to it.

I think it was very diplomatic of them to word that so gently. Good for you Kawasaki.....

Until next time ....

Rubb'er Down :)

Kristen

General update and some finger wagging!

MotoGP riders and rockets have been resting up during the winter ban, and are now ready to begin again for the first test session of 09 in Sepang on Thursday.

Yamaha will officially unveil their new livery of YZR-M1's on Monday for all the world to see.

Kawasaki... you SUCK!! I am indeed wagging my finger of shame at you! Last month, it was announced (after torrents of rumors) that Kawasaki was pulling out of MotoGP. Okay, I get it, the economy sucks, it's expensive to run a MotoGP season, the particular bikes that are run in MotoGP are not marketable to the public (as opposed to the AMA bikes).... you have many viable reasons for evaporating from the competition.

The reason you are getting the finger of shame is Marco Melandri. For nine months, Kawasaki wheeled and dealed to pull Marco from his Ducati contract, only to pull the plug on MotoGP a couple of months after they signed him. WTF?? Randy deP found his way into the Honda paddock and secured a ride for this season, but Marco... CLEARLY a world-class rider has been thrown to the wolves!! Not cool Kawasaki... not cool.

Not only does this unseat one of the better riders in the circuit, but it narrows the field down to 17 riders... which, according to the rules, are not enough riders to warrant a racing season. No doubt, nerves are a little frazzled, but I don't think for a second that they can't scratch up another bike for a satellite team and perch a rider on it to fill in the gap and complete the necessary 18 rider field.

STILL!!! How bad does this suck?? Honda has already pulled out of F1, and at least one of the other teams (which escapes me at the moment) has cut less-popular sanctioned events from their itinerary (such as Motocross and Motorcycle Trials) all in the interest of the dwindling budget.

I find it all very disturbing. I must admit, I felt extremely defeated for a moment when I learned of the 18 rider rule and discovered that as-of-yet there are only 17. I would go NUTS without my season of MotoGP!

So, here's hoping that things will turn around... and Marco... you best be straddling a bullet in some last-minute contract signing, and lead us all to believe that this was just a bold PR stunt.... cause I DON'T LIKE IT!!!

Until next time ....

Rubb'er Down :)

Kristen