What seemed like a safe decision to evolve the promising 2007 ZX-RR somehow resulted in a machine with fundamental performances flaws that were never cured, while injuries for new star-signing Hopkins inflicted a further body blow.
Anthony West, starting his first - and ultimately last - full MotoGP season with Kawasaki, battled chronic rear traction problems and has since suggested that he wasn't listened to by the team until it was too late. West will switch to World Supersport in 2009, where he is a former race winner.
The top four riders in the 2008 world championship have all remained with the same factory teams for the 2009 season, which Valentino Rossi - who now needs just three more wins to reach a landmark 100 grand prix victories - will start as the undisputed favourite.
However, the new single tyre rule could produce some surprises, while much is expected of Dovizioso's Repsol Honda move and Nicky Hayden's switch to Ducati Marlboro.
MotoGP 2008 - final standings:
1. Valentino Rossi – 373
2. Casey Stoner – 280
3. Dani Pedrosa – 249
4. Jorge Lorenzo – 190*
5. Andrea Dovizioso – 174*
6. Nicky Hayden – 155
7. Colin Edwards – 144
8. Chris Vermeulen – 128
9. Shinya Nakano – 126
10. Loris Capirossi – 118
11. James Toseland – 105 *
12. Toni Elias – 92
13. Sylvain Guintoli – 67
14. Alex de Angelis – 63 *
15. Randy de Puniet – 61
16. John Hopkins – 57
17. Marco Melandri – 51
18. Anthony West – 50
19. Ben Spies – 20 **
20. Jamie Hacking – 5 **
21. Tadayuki Okada – 2 **
* Rookie
** Wild-card
