Kawasaki to withdraw from MotoGP

In yet another ominous sign of premier motor sport's struggle amid the global financial crisis, the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki is expected to announce on Monday its decision to pull out of MotoGP.

"There will be an official press release very soon, where we can confirm or deny all rumours," the Kawasaki rider John Hopkins wrote on his website.

The news follows a recent exodus of manufacturers from top categories, including Honda from formula one, as well as Audi, Porsche, Suzuki and Subaru from other top series.