3rd Kawasaki in MotoGP 2009

[FourWheelDrift]

Customer bike for Team Aspar. With Melandri going to join Hopkins in the main team West could get the 3rd ride.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69906

Autosport said:

Kawasaki is set to provide a third factory bike in MotoGP next year which will be run by an all-Spanish team fronted by Jorge Martinez - the boss of 125cc squad Team Aspar.

Italian newspaper Motosprint is reporting that Spanish telecommunications company 1188 will be the main sponsor and that the rider is also likely to come from that country.

Out of contract Toni Elias, who finished second at Brno, and 250cc race-winner Alvaro Bautista have both been linked to the ride. Kawasaki's competition manager Michael Bartholemy told MotoGP's official website that Anthony West could be offered as part of the deal however.

It was announced earlier today that West will be replaced by Marco Melandri in the factory team in 2009 alongside John Hopkins, but Bartholemy added that Kawasaki had invested time and money into West's career and wanted to remain involved with the Australian.

"If we do run a third bike it would be up to the sponsors and the management who the rider is, but Anthony West could be part of the package that we offer," said Bartholemy "In Misano we should be able to clarify the situation with the third bike."

[Fire99]

Good luck to West.. I'm always willing him and kawasaki to do well!!

[castrolcraig]

hope westy does get it, although he could earn very big bucks in wsb/wss and i think he would go very very well.

[Rawwr]

I can't help wondering if Melandri has just jumped out of the frying pan.

[FourWheelDrift]

Well he won't be winning races on it but at least should show his real competitiveness against Hopkins, I think as long as his mind is set properly pre-season.

[Rawwr]

Apart from the issue of cold, hard cash, I can't understand why Hopper ever left Suzuki.