[Gunner]

Sounds more like they are saving the R&D dollars and getting an extra year out of this model...and the leftovers.

Spoken like someone who really understands how these factories think... I agree Shane.. I'll own nothing but a Kawasaki BUT I'll be the first to say they need to step up in the road racing world.. The sad fact that a private effort with their 09 Moto Gp bike has netted better results than their own factory effort indicates that a HOUSE CLEANING PARTY needs to take place over there. Clearly the folks in charge of running the race departments need to be standing in the RICE LINE !! The R&D departments are capable of producing winning machines.. The powers that be need to change.. HIRE Top notch Talent like Rossi and let him tell the factory what the bike needs. There's no shame in doing that. That's exactly what Yamaha had to do.. They were as lost as Kawasaki until the Doctor came over... The mechanics can't fix the bikes if the folks riding them have NO CLUE what it takes to win at that level.. Ferrari did this with Michael Schumacher as well. And since he isn't driving any longer they seem to be struggling yet again..