Kawasaki Motors Racing
Encyclopedia
Kawasaki Motors Racing was the Europe
an subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries
, which is located in Netherlands
. It is responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team and any other motorcycle racing activities Kawasaki
may enter in the future.
The subsidiary was set up in 2007 as a result of the Japanese manufacturer's recent necessary split from Harald Eckl. The reason for the split was Eckl’s involvement with a competitor's MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing, the team became a complete ‘in house’ factory team.
In 2003 the Kawasaki Racing Team was formed after Kawasaki had developed their new 990cc ZX-RR bike throughout 2002 and raced it in the last race of the 2002 MotoGP season
. Harald Eckl was made team manager with the team being based in Germany. It wasn't until 2004 that Kawasaki had two riders - Alex Hofmann
and Shinya Nakano
, who raced for the entire season. Nakano placed 3rd in Japan
that year achieving Kawasaki's first podium finish in MotoGP.
tyres in 2007
. Randy de Puniet
and Olivier Jacque
were chosen as team riders.
Olivier Jacque
crashed in practice during the Chinese Grand Prix
, gashing his arm severely enough to be unable to race for 2 Grands Prix. He returned to racing only to crash again during practice at the Catalan Grand Prix
, missing this race too. Following the series of injuries, Jacque announced his retirement from competition, but planned to continue as a team test rider. He was replaced by Australian rider Anthony West
.
The team's best result for the season was a 2nd place finish by Randy de Puniet
at a wet Japanese Grand Prix
.
John Hopkins
joined the team alongside Anthony West
. Results were poor though, being regular midfield runners throughout the season.
In August 2008, Kawasaki signed Marco Melandri
to join John Hopkins
for the 2009 season
. However, the global financial crisis of 2008 caused Kawasaki to reconsider its MotoGP program, and the Italian sports daily Tuttosport
reported on December 30 that Kawasaki would be pulling out of MotoGP for 2009.
. The team was renamed due to limited factory involvement, with Kawasaki providing only one bike with Marco Melandri as the sole rider.
The team achieved better than expected results with 6th and 5th placings early in the season. Melandri finished in 2nd place at the French Grand Prix
. This result is equal to Kawasaki's best ever result in motogp and is their first podium finish since 2007.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
, which is located in Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team and any other motorcycle racing activities Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
may enter in the future.
The subsidiary was set up in 2007 as a result of the Japanese manufacturer's recent necessary split from Harald Eckl. The reason for the split was Eckl’s involvement with a competitor's MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing, the team became a complete ‘in house’ factory team.
In 2003 the Kawasaki Racing Team was formed after Kawasaki had developed their new 990cc ZX-RR bike throughout 2002 and raced it in the last race of the 2002 MotoGP season
2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 54th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consist of 16 races, which started with the Japanese Grand Prix on 7 April and ended with the Valencian Community Grand Prix on 3 November....
. Harald Eckl was made team manager with the team being based in Germany. It wasn't until 2004 that Kawasaki had two riders - Alex Hofmann
Alex Hofmann
Alexander Hofmann is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, who now works on German television coverage of the sport...
and Shinya Nakano
Shinya Nakano
is a retired Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Superbike rider. He is not related to the former Formula One racer Shinji Nakano.-Early years:...
, who raced for the entire season. Nakano placed 3rd in Japan
2004 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2004 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix was the twelfth round of the 2004 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 17 -September 19, 2004 at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
that year achieving Kawasaki's first podium finish in MotoGP.
2007 MotoGP season
The team used the new 800cc Ninja ZX-RR and BridgestoneBridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
tyres in 2007
2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 59th F.I.M Road Racing World Championship season. The 2007 season was significant as it introduced a new regulation which specifies that competitors in the MotoGP class can use up to 800 cc motorcycles; between 2002 and 2006, competitors had...
. Randy de Puniet
Randy de Puniet
Randy de Puniet is a French Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is currently racing for the Pramac Ducati team in MotoGP, having raced in this class regularly since 2006...
and Olivier Jacque
Olivier Jacque
Olivier Jacque is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He was second in the 250cc European Championship in 1994, before moving on to the 250cc World Championship. He achieved a top ten finish in the points standings every year he competed...
were chosen as team riders.
Olivier Jacque
Olivier Jacque
Olivier Jacque is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He was second in the 250cc European Championship in 1994, before moving on to the 250cc World Championship. He achieved a top ten finish in the points standings every year he competed...
crashed in practice during the Chinese Grand Prix
2007 Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2007 Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 2007 MotoGP championship. It took place on the weekend of 4 -May 6, 2007 at the Shanghai International Circuit.-Moto GP Classification:-250cc Classification:-125cc Classification:...
, gashing his arm severely enough to be unable to race for 2 Grands Prix. He returned to racing only to crash again during practice at the Catalan Grand Prix
2007 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2007 Grand Prix of Catalunya was the seventh round of the 2007 MotoGP championship. It took place on the weekend of 8 -June 10, 2007 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Moto GP Classification:-250cc classification:...
, missing this race too. Following the series of injuries, Jacque announced his retirement from competition, but planned to continue as a team test rider. He was replaced by Australian rider Anthony West
Anthony West (motorcycle racer)
Anthony "Ant" West is an Australian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has won one race, the 2003 Dutch TT in the 250cc class...
.
The team's best result for the season was a 2nd place finish by Randy de Puniet
Randy de Puniet
Randy de Puniet is a French Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is currently racing for the Pramac Ducati team in MotoGP, having raced in this class regularly since 2006...
at a wet Japanese Grand Prix
2007 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2007 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifteenth round of the 2007 MotoGP championship. It was held on 21–September 23 at the recently revised Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Tochigi.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:...
.
2008 MotoGP season
For 20082008 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2008 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 60th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-MotoGP:The MotoGP class opened with the historic Qatar Grand Prix, the first night race held in the World Championship history...
John Hopkins
John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)
John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...
joined the team alongside Anthony West
Anthony West (motorcycle racer)
Anthony "Ant" West is an Australian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has won one race, the 2003 Dutch TT in the 250cc class...
. Results were poor though, being regular midfield runners throughout the season.
In August 2008, Kawasaki signed Marco Melandri
Marco Melandri
Marco Melandri is a motorcycle road racer currently racing for the Yamaha World Superbike Team. Melandri is also a former 250cc World Champion in 2002...
to join John Hopkins
John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)
John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...
for the 2009 season
2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 61st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Valentino Rossi won his sixth MotoGP title, seventh in the top class and ninth title in total after getting the better of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in a season-long battle...
. However, the global financial crisis of 2008 caused Kawasaki to reconsider its MotoGP program, and the Italian sports daily Tuttosport
Tuttosport
Tuttosport is an Italian sport newspaper published since 30 July 1945.Renato Casalbore founded the newspaper as a bi-weekly. In 1946, it moved to three editions a week, and since 12 March 1951 it has been published daily...
reported on December 30 that Kawasaki would be pulling out of MotoGP for 2009.
2009 MotoGP season
After negotiations with DORNA, Kawasaki provided a scaled down team named Hayate Racing Team for the 2009 season2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 61st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Valentino Rossi won his sixth MotoGP title, seventh in the top class and ninth title in total after getting the better of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in a season-long battle...
. The team was renamed due to limited factory involvement, with Kawasaki providing only one bike with Marco Melandri as the sole rider.
The team achieved better than expected results with 6th and 5th placings early in the season. Melandri finished in 2nd place at the French Grand Prix
French motorcycle Grand Prix
The Grand Prix Monster Energy de France is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season.-Winners of the French motorcycle Grand Prix:...
. This result is equal to Kawasaki's best ever result in motogp and is their first podium finish since 2007.