"We’ve looked at
John Hopkins and
Marco Melandri and a couple of others," Kawasaki’s communications manager Ian Wheeler confirmed at Mugello. "We have some time to look around and assess form while the 800 class starts to settle down, but the decision will be made soon. We want someone who can win races, and who can continue the development of the bike."
Kawasaki accept that their existing riders
Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacques have had injury-plagued starts to the season. But they want both riders to achieve the finishes that reflect the bike’s potential.
"Kawasaki’s engineers knew that corner speed would be crucial for the 800s, so the bike is designed to be very good in turning, steering and handling," Wheeler said. "The power curve also had to be as linear as possible, and what we have seen in the last three to four races is that we’re not losing anything to other bikes on speed out of the turns."
Meanwhile, Honda Gresini’s
Toni Elias is expected to sign for a new Suzuki satellite team that will be formed for 2008 by Jorge Martinez 'Aspar', Spain’s former 80 and 125cc world champion and now a team owner in the 125 and 250cc classes, with Suzuki's former 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz working as a team advisor. It will be a one-rider team running on
Bridgestone tyres like the factory Suzukis, and the launch could be as soon as next weekend at the Catalunya round in Barcelona.
Rizla Suzuki chief Paul Denning would prefer to retain his existing riders Hopkins and
Chris Vermeulen, but has to be ready should either defect, and has already had initial talks with Melandri. Denning is also a big fan of
Loris Capirossi, should he leave Ducati Marlboro.
Where does this leave James Toseland? There may be an opening for him in Luis d’Antin’s Pramac Ducati squad or in one of the satellite Honda teams, but for the moment he and his manager Roger Burnett are focussing on trying to deliver the World Superbike championship with Ten Kate Honda.
Dorna\IRTA Hone the MotoGP Show.
The idea of segregating MotoGP teams into a separate paddock from the 125 and 250cc grids has been ruled out as impractical by organisers Dorna, following the sport’s sponsorship summit that was held in Barcelona in April.
