The Italian websites Gpone and Sportmediaset are both running the same story that appeared in the sports daily Tuttosport and if confirmed will leave the MotoGP racing world in shock.
Kawasaki will be not be running their MotoGP team in 2009.
The news has not been officially confirmed by the president of Kawasaki Motor Racing, Yoshio Kawamura but it seems that the announcement will be forthcoming, probably stating the reason for the pullout due to the global financial crisis and recession.
This would leave the MotoGP with only 17 bikes on the starting grid, under the minimum contract requirements stated by the FIM and a big, big headache for Carmelo Ezpeleta of Dorna Sports who runs the MotoGP championship.
This would also leave Marco Melandri and John Hopkins with no rides and facing a forced hiatus with other big name racing series having already completed their line-ups for next year and Michael Bartholemy and all the mechanics unemployed.