Following the news that Kawasaki will not come out to play in the 2009 MotoGP season, it is believed that MotoGP bosses are to hold crisis talks in Japan as soon as Wednesday of next week.
All manufacturers are said to be in agreement, including Kawasaki as it is still part of the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers' Association, and the main thrust of the agenda must be how to cut costs. Stable, horse, door, bolted...
However, teams will have already commmitted, and spent, millions of dollars in preparation for this season and will now find it difficult to cut any major costs. It is thought Honda have already said all bikes will now be built in Japan and everyone will fly cattle class instead of business but this is small beer.
Shifting to spec-electronics, banning precious metals and the like will not reduce costs for the 2009 season as teams will have to develop new/modified engines upping costs. Rider salaries could be capped but this, again, is petty cash in the grand scheme of things.
Even though Kawasaki still haven't made an official announcement, the grid looks set to be reduced to 17 bikes unless Hopkins takes his Monster money to Ducati, or a satellite Yamaha team. A move to the LCR team for Marco Melandri has been mooted, but that would mean he and Randy De Puniet only having one bike each - a bit difficult if either has a massive practice shunt or it rains mid-race.
