Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. may withdraw from MotoGP, the world's top motorcycle road racing event, as it wants to cut down on expenses due to slumping bike sales amid the global economic slowdown, sources said Wednesday.
The company entered the race, which is especially popular in Europe, in 2002, aiming to raise the profile of the Kawasaki brand.
Japan's three other top bike makers — Honda Motor Co., Yamaha Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. — have also raced in the event. Riders on Japanese motorcycles clinched annual world championships between 1973 and 2006, including six Japanese competitors who came in first in 12 races.
In the 2008 season, the four Japanese companies and Italy's Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. participated in the event.
While all the Japanese motorcycle makers other than Kawasaki have confirmed they will stay in MotoGP, Honda has decided to withdraw from Formula One and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. is pulling out of the World Rally Championship.