Melandri will race Kawasaki in MotoGP!

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looks like we will have a backmarker after all...

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MOTOGP » Melandri will race Kawasaki in MotoGP!

Marco Melandri will compete in MotoGP this season after a deal was struck between Kawasaki and Dorna to enter a one-rider team.

Although most eyes were set to be on whether Melandri would make a decision regarding his future during the upcoming pre-season test in Qatar, Kawasaki have confirmed that they compete in 2009 with the Italian rider.

The short statement is as follows:

Kawasaki announces that after constructive talks between Kawasaki, Dorna and other involved parties, a new one-rider Team will participate in the 2009 MotoGP Championship season.

This decision was made after negotiations that followed Kawasaki's January 2009 announcement to suspend its factory supported MotoGP activities due to the economic crisis. Rider for the new MotoGP team will be the Italian Marco Melandri.

The team will be equipped with Kawasaki motorcycles and supporting materials.

That Kawasaki has come to this new team approach is the result of on the one hand the need for a strong reduction of MotoGP racing investments and on the other hand the necessity to come to constructive solutions for all related parties.

The new team will disclose more details about its 2009 season's plans on a short notice.

Full story to follow