_KA_W~5_A_K_1ZX-_RR
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A crash course in
the nuances of Team
Green's MotoGP entry
KIN'T
By ALAN CATHCART
PHOTOS BY Kn EDGE
aradoxically, it was probably the late-2002 debut of an unsuccessful entry into Grand Prix racing's
new MotoGP four-stroke class that likely satisfied Dorna and its cohorts by mark ing the payoff on its
big bet of trashing the ring-ding 500s in favor of anyth ing-goes 990cc four-stroke ultrabikes churning
out upward of 240 bhp . Because wh ile the other three Japanese bikes and Aprilia's RS3 contender
on the MotoGP grid were all put there by companies already a part of the established Grand Prix
structure - and Ducati, while naturally welcome , was a somewhat inevitable spinoff from the Italian firm's
re liance on racing to promote its products - Kawasaki's decision to return to Grand Prix racing for the first time
in two decades marked a true recognition of the new order in top-level road racing.
28
FEBRUARY 4,2004 • CYCLE NEWS
