Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA suspends roadracing activities for 2010 season

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. announced the company will not participate in the AMA Pro Racing road racing series in 2010.

"While we've always considered road racing an integral part of our sportbike development process, the realities of the current economic situation dictate the temporary suspension of our U.S. road racing activities," said Bruce Stjernstrom, marketing director.

Kawasaki's long history of successful road racing includes 20 AMA series championships. Among the many champions who have worn the Kawasaki lime green racing leathers are Reg Pridmore, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Miguel Duhamel, Scott Russell, Doug Chandler, Eric Bostrom and more recently Tommy Hayden and Roger Hayden.

"We expect to see eventual improvements in the general economic condition and Kawasaki will reevaluate its road racing position as we monitor those issues," said Stjernstrom.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, utility vehicles and recreation utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,475 independent retailers, with an additional 8,000 retailers specializing in Kawasaki power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,300 people in the United States, with 400 of them located at KMC's Irvine, California headquarters.

For more information please visit: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1619

A Panama City, Fla., man was killed Wednesday night when he was thrown from his motorcycle

George M. Hogg, 34, was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle south on the road "at a high rate of speed" about 11:15 p.m., police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said. As Hogg approached the curve near Third Street, he lost control of the motorcycle, Foltz said.

The motorcycle crossed Pontchartrain Drive and went over three curbs in the parking lot of the Capital One bank before Hogg was thrown off, Foltz said. The motorcycle came to rest in the parking lot of a vacant building nearby.

Hogg, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead of massive head injuries, Foltz said.

Authorities will conduct toxicology tests to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

For more information please visit: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2009/10/florida_man_killed_in_slidell.html

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