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No approach for third Kawasaki |
Kawasaki has not yet been approached by any parties interested in sponsoring, or running, a third ZX-RR for the 2009 MotoGP season,
Crash.net can reveal.
Team Green has long been interested in the potential benefits of expanding its MotoGP presence - in terms of increased data, feedback and speed of development - but wants a partner to help shoulder the additional costs.
Kawasaki's preferred choice would be to run a third bike out of the existing factory structure, and the most likely option to make this happen would be for a new title sponsor to step in and fund the bike - which would not necessarily need to be painted in 'factory' green.
Supplying a ZX-RR to a satellite team would also be considered, providing the team in question had a proven track record and the necessary funding in place.
Jorge Martinez 'Aspar', who runs ultra-successful 125 and 250cc teams, is looking for a route into MotoGP, but is yet to approach Kawasaki.
Should Aspar, or anyone else, be interested then they will need to act quickly, since Kawasaki wants its 2009 plans in place by the end of September.
Marco Melandri is expected to join John Hopkins at Kawasaki's factory team next season, but - should a third bike become available - then 'it is not beyond the realms of possibility' that present rider Anthony West could get the seat, if he continues the kind of form that took him to a career best fifth in Sunday's Czech Republic Grand Prix.
