The will-they-won't-they Kawasaki soap opera continues to rumble on with an official statement expected after a private test at Phillip Island sometime in the near future. The bike isn't, apparently, very reliable so if it continues to go pop a lot, Kawasaki will take their ball home properly, and hang seng the expense.

Further Monster-ous rumours are flying round the MotoGP paddock, most of which point to Tech 3 Yamaha receiving title sponsorship from the energy drink pedaller. The firm have just shelled out squillions to sponsor Rossi's lid, are linked with the Yamaha WSB team and its AMA team. So it would make sense. Team boss Herve Poncharal looked to the heavens, heaved his onions onto his left shoulder and said: "Paf". Probably.

Major cost-cutting plans in MotoGP could be revealed in the next week, and are thought to include one bike per rider, which would make the flag-to-flag rules a bit difficult.

As revealed by my good friend David Miller about 10 days ago, Suzuki will be on the MotoGP grid this year, with team boss Paul Denning confirming the position. But he is still in negotiation with Rizla over sponsorship. Whatever, the team will have to be faster straight out of the box in 2009. They have been windtunnel testing, and there is a private test planned with Kawasaki soon.

Suzuki are in the same boat as Kawasaki as they are also contracted to supply bikes until 2011. Whether they continue with a factory team next year is debatable, given it's much cheaper to supply customer bikes.

Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali has stated that Sete Gibernau is crucial to the factory's 2009 MotoGP title. His experience, says Domenicali, is vital and it doesn't matter he is running in a satellite team. The higher the number of riders, the more feedback the factory gets. Get a room.