Kawasaki testing 2009 MotoGP bike in Australia!

Kawasaki might have withdrawn from the MotoGP world championship, but bizarrely test rider Olivier Jacque is poised to evaluate the new ZX-RR in a test double-header in Australia.

Kawasaki confirmed last Friday that it was to withdraw from the premier class with immediate effect because of the global economic crisis.

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Yet French rider Jacque is at the Eastern Creek circuit near Sydney for a test on the 2009 ZX-RR that John Hopkins and Marco Melandri had expected to test in Sepang on February 5.

He is due to begin evaluating an all-new in-line four-cylinder motor and revised chassis at the Eastern Creek test, which is due to start on Saturday.

The test team will then move down to the Phillip Island for further testing.
News of the test gives fresh hope to rumours of a rescue package for Kawasaki, which quit MotoGP having informed team personnel in between Christmas and New Year.

Team boss Michael Bartholemy has been strongly linked with a rescue package, though he has yet to make any official comment on future plans or Kawasaki’s withdrawal.