Much is being made about Suzuki’s sudden withdrawal from MotoGP. But back in 1982 Kawasaki took the same option, which involved future multiple world champion Eddie Lawson.
To compete at the highest level of motorcycle road racing, you need to take on the ultimate challenge — the Senior class of Grand Prix racing, once called the 500cc World Championship, now called MotoGP.
This cauldron of competition mixes the rare talent of riders with the calculated and methodical approach of the technicians involved. To survive just one season the riders and technicians need to believe in their project. To win, they need the unwavering support of the factory providing the machinery. This may take several seasons as a prototype is developed into a race winner that then has a chance of becoming a championship winner.
In 1980 Kawasaki was the minnow in the shark’s pool that was 500cc motorcycle racing. It would continue in this class for just three seasons as factory support faded. Despite having large resources, Kawasaki committed a relatively small team to a contest that required a massive commitment. Despite showing promise, its KR500 was always too heavy and too slow to be a title winner despite featuring some radical technology.
This venture also temporarily stalled the 500cc career of Eddie Lawson, who nevertheless survived the experience to go on and win four 500cc
