Marco Melandri: No one told me anything

Posted: Friday 27 February 2009 by Toni M.

marco_mealndri As everyone knows by now Kawasaki is returning to MotoGP and Marco Melandri will be competing in their new one rider team, however there’s a brand new twist to this continuing soap opera.

According to Italian website Sportmediaset who contacted Melandri yesterday after Kawasaki’s press release the Italian rider suprisingly told them :

“It’s surpise for me too! I didn’t know anything, I wasn’t expecting it. The last thing that I heard that they were thinking up a new name for the team, so everything is new. I’m going to need some time to understand, the Japanese have to confirm this personally because they haven’t contacted me.”

When asked if he was happy about this new development Melandri said: “Absolutely. I chose Kawasaki because I wanted a bike that I could develop by myself and the idea of a private team was difficult for me to accept. I was willing to risk because I had nothing else to lose. This new situation could mean we can work on the bike and that we can at least count on a minimum of development that won’t hurt.”

You said that you would test the bike in Qatar and then decide if you were going to race. Doesn’t Kawasaki’s press release change everything?

“I have to talk to the Japanese. I’ll be in Qatar to see how the bike is and how it compares with the competition and if it’s necessary we’ll have to discuss everything. We don’t even know about my contract and how it will be changed. Everything is new for me, I’m only going to test the bike and if Kawasaki says I’m going to be their rider, then I think that I’ll have some space for manouvering.”

This solution could help your 2009 season?

“Exactly. And to relax and not to think about it to much I’m going to do a second race in the Speedcar Series so when I get to Qatar my eyes will be trained for speed.”

What do you think of the bike after having previously tested it twice?

“I don’t expect anything because every time I expect something I get let down. So I’m going to Qatar to see how the 2009 bike is compared to the 2008 one. It will probably be radically changed and I’m curious to see how it feels personally and not listen to what others have told me.”

Source | sportmediaset