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Marco Melandri Takes On New Challenge with Kawasaki

After a disappointing season with Ducati, Marco Melandri can hardly wait to ride his new Kawasaki bike in the winter testings. The Italian failed to claim a single podium this season, highlighting a 5th place position in China and ending the year on a miserable 17th place overall. By the mid-season onwards, it was pretty clear that the Italian manufacturer will not extend Marco's deal for 2009 so the former 250cc champion decided to move to struggling Kawasaki Racing for the upcoming season.

“Going to Kawasaki is a very difficult challenge. No one else would have gone for my choice, but that's what I felt like doing, I want to try it. Kawasaki have the budget and the will to do things, so this is a good start. It's a challenge, but I can manage to work based on my needs. I hope to be able to build a bike for my riding style, which is something I've been missing, then we'll see how it goes. But now I just need to get back on a bike and enjoy myself,” said Melandri according to Italia1 news.

The Italian was offered the chance to return to Gresini Honda and join Toni Elias next year but turned it down for a deal with Kawasaki. “I could have gone back to Fausto, but I made this choice for my own reasons. However, I can say it wasn't for the money. I liked the Kawasaki last year already when I had a Honda, so I liked it, I liked the enthusiasm with which they looked for me even now that I wasn't going well,” added Melandri.

The 25-year old rider admitted that he wants to forget his year with Ducati as soon as possible and explained his poor performances by being unable to adapt to his new bike: “I haven't had a problem with Stoner, I just had a problem in finding a feeling with the bike and wasn't able to be quick. He rides a bike that is very difficult for my riding style. We'll see if Nicky will adapt and integrate well in this family. I hope he won't have the tough life I had”.

Melandri received a 'friendly warning' from former Kawasaki rider Anthony West – who left MotoGP for the Supersport Series at the end of this season – that he should expect for the worse when switching to the 'green team'.

“I hope Melandri doesn't come to Kawasaki too fired up, because he'll quickly realize that if Kawasaki don't change radically, he will again be at the bottom of the points table. Kawasaki's situation is embarrassing, as has been my situation throughout the year,” warned West before heading for the World Supersport championship in 2009.
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