fish_antlers
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The Truth is Out There
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posted January 09, 2009 08:48 AM
Kawasaki Officially Suspends MotoGP Racing
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.
Kawasaki would like to thank all the fans and all those who have forwarded us great help.
Mr.Yoshio Kawamura, the Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors Racing B.V. deeply appreciates the contribution and the dedication brought by staff members of the MotoGP team.
Source: Kawasaki
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted January 09, 2009 09:22 AM
Makes Me wonder how badly the heavy industry side is hit by the world economy? the sale of one of those massive power plants for ships would cover GP costs. Motorcycles are such a small part of KHI.
Kawasaki road racing hasnt been kicking ass anyway. They have been dreadfull in GPs.
Hopefully they can do something in world super bike! European racing is such a kick to watch! AMA championships are usually a parade of factory teams dominating the podium. With a rare change in finishing order. Especially in the big bikes.
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Living the good life...,
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And a whole bunch of other stuff.
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kawasakijockey
Pro
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posted January 09, 2009 09:54 AM
It seems that Kawasaki factory support is out but they have to obligate the Dorna contract which means Dorna will make somebody run the Zx-rr and using the equipment from what I have read this morning.
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Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
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K Bryant
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Sponsor
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posted January 09, 2009 10:03 AM
quote:
It seems that Kawasaki factory support is out but they have to obligate the Dorna contract which means Dorna will make somebody run the Zx-rr and using the equipment from what I have read this morning.
It means they'll pay a fine to Dorna for not participating. Whatever the final negotiating of the fine is, it will be substanially less than running a Motogp effort. Many of these fines start off with a very large number, but are negotiated down to a much, much lower number. Dorna is going to want KMC back as soon as possible for the benefit of the sport.
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flite leader
Zone Head
Posts: 651
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posted January 09, 2009 11:44 AM
that fine is a pittance to operating a full GP team
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted January 09, 2009 12:48 PM
quote:
quote:
It seems that Kawasaki factory support is out but they have to obligate the Dorna contract which means Dorna will make somebody run the Zx-rr and using the equipment from what I have read this morning.
It means they'll pay a fine to Dorna for not participating. Whatever the final negotiating of the fine is, it will be substanially less than running a Motogp effort. Many of these fines start off with a very large number, but are negotiated down to a much, much lower number. Dorna is going to want KMC back as soon as possible for the benefit of the sport.
Dorna wants Kaw to turn over the bikes, equip, team management and they will finance the rest. The fine will be negot. by this deal. Kaw would probably go with it as they have nothing else to do with all of it. The fine is 20million Euros a season.
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Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted January 09, 2009 01:12 PM
I could see this coming ...NHRA top Fuel has lost some well known teams as well as the Prostock class because sponsors are dropping out .. 2009 is not looking that good for any type of motorsports ..
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worm~hole
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Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted January 09, 2009 03:07 PM
...I hope to see more factory contingency support for the independents who race mass produced products....the factories reap lower advertising costs for product exposure via large quantity product use by the indies...the more it wins the more the aftermarket injects time, resources, and development into the vehicles...teams and joe-blow street performance wannabes then buy more product...it'll be a win-win-win-win-win-win-win situation for the factories, the indies, joe-blow, the aftermarket industy, and for the longesvity of the sport...well we can only hope...
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 09, 2009 04:05 PM
sad for the MotoGP industry, but Kawaski isn't selling many "R" bikes sending them around the race track this fast
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bigdtd
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Interceptors
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posted January 09, 2009 04:56 PM
get back to racing semi stockers like the old super bikes
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fish_antlers
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posted January 09, 2009 08:43 PM
that's a big fine!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 09, 2009 08:45 PM
quote:
that's a big fine!
the fine isn't as big as the cost to continue racing
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Bently
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posted January 09, 2009 09:59 PM
quote:
I could see this coming ...NHRA top Fuel has lost some well known teams as well as the Prostock class because sponsors are dropping out .. 2009 is not looking that good for any type of motorsports ..
Ya and nhra was already hurting there car count by being stupid. telling teams they can't run certain sponsors because it conflicts with there title sponsor.
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted January 09, 2009 10:29 PM
quote:
Dorna wants Kaw to turn over the bikes, equip, team management and they will finance the rest............
Since when can Dorna develop the bike to compete.....they can't do anything w/o Kawi help.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted January 10, 2009 06:17 AM
Dorna is not developing anything. They want to fill as many places as possible so this doesnt create a snowball effect with less competitive teams.
____________
Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 10, 2009 06:48 AM
quote:
Dorna is not developing anything. They want to fill as many places as possible so this doesnt create a snowball effect with less competitive teams.
+1 some Honda rumors are lingering....
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Ninja14
Pro
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posted January 10, 2009 08:40 AM
I've enjoyed GP, but I think a focus on WSB would not be a bad thing.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 10, 2009 09:07 AM
Its not good news for racing for brands to bail out and leagues to weaken. When it comes to racing new brands/sponsors joining are very good and new brands leaving are not.
And technology developed specifically in MotoGP have benefitted us consumers. Unless I'm mistaken the ZX10R has MotoGP technology both in the redesigned suspension and electronics.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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flite leader
Zone Head
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posted January 10, 2009 10:30 AM
motoGP doesnt help sales on the showroom floor
seldom has that been the case
when yamaha was winning with 2 strokes.......................& selling 5 valvers
Whats the CONNECTION>? ? ? ? ? ? ?
NONE !! ! !
Honda winning on a 5 cylinder ............................
who sells a 5 cylinder.............VOLVO
most of the manufacturers like World SUPERBIKE !! ! ! ! ! !
those efforts are More reflective of showroom sales
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted January 10, 2009 10:36 AM
quote:
motoGP doesnt help sales on the showroom floor
seldom has that been the case
when yamaha was winning with 2 strokes.......................& selling 5 valvers
Whats the CONNECTION>? ? ? ? ? ? ?
NONE !! ! !
Honda winning on a 5 cylinder ............................
who sells a 5 cylinder.............VOLVO
most of the manufacturers like World SUPERBIKE !! ! ! ! ! !
those efforts are More reflective of showroom sales
motogp may not have the impact that ama does in influencing USA purchases, but the rest of the world looks at it differently i'm sure.
____________
Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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flite leader
Zone Head
Posts: 651
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posted January 10, 2009 12:16 PM
guy when u pull out
you pull out from the rest of the world ...........................not just US sales
the fastest growing segment in europe are .......Naked bikes
go figure
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fish_antlers
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posted January 10, 2009 12:52 PM
 Edited By: fish_antlers on 10 Jan 2009 20:55
quote:
motogp may not have the impact that ama does in influencing USA purchases, but the rest of the world looks at it differently i'm sure.
i disagree.... I think most americans will look at this and contemplate how strong a company kawasaki is. this must have been an extremely difficult decision for them to make, and I can't really say that I agree with it - but hey, if they can't afford to do it, what can they do?
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dubious
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Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted January 10, 2009 02:25 PM
HONDA has already announced they are pulling out of Formula1 !
It takes 2-5 years to develop new platforms, or developments before production begins.
These moves will really be felt 5 years from now when they have no development group from racing, and their competitors continue to sell new developments.
On the other hand if the entire world goes into an extended recession, then nobody will be spending any money on anything but necessary ammenities.
High performance cars and bikes will become unobtainable to the average population.
Depends what their financial advisors forecast I guess.
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SteveWFL
Moderator
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posted January 10, 2009 03:01 PM
flite leader, AMA (roadracing sector) is considered crap in America in comparison with MotoGP. No need to ramble on with your illegible ramblings, google the stats. blows my mind you even compare the two to make your point.
comparing AMA to MotoGP is like comparing Timex to Rolex
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted January 10, 2009 07:39 PM
I was hoping this wasn't going to be happening. Such a same, I wanted Melandri to do well. I wanted Kawasaki to do well. KHI is so big, one would think they could absorb any loss. Damn.
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Ted
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