Molson Kawasaki team to disband at season end
By TMX Archives on 1st Aug 08
After spending more than 10 fruitful years deeply involved in the sport, the MXGP world's favourite family team has regrettably decided to cease all racing activities from the end of the 2008 season.
After lengthy discussions Kawasaki Motors Europe and the collectiveChurch family who both own and operate the Molson Kawasaki RacingTeam have mutually agreed to amicably part ways after many beneficialyears spent working together. With changing family priorities theChurch family feel unable to give the race team the 100 per cent focusand attention they feel it deserves and will cease all racingactivities after the 2008 season finishes in September.
Steve Guttridge, the European Race Planning Manager for KawasakiMotors Europe regrettably confirmed the joint decision earlier today.I am very sorry to say that it is a reality that the Molson KawasakiRacing Team will cease to operate next season. Within the last month itbecame evident that due to changing personal circumstances within theteam's ownership and management it would not be possible to continue inthe same situation for 2009.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Motors Europe and KawasakiMotors UK have over the past 10 years formed a fantastic relationshipwith the Church family who own the team, based on trust and passion forsuccess with our race machines, the team, their staff, their riders andhave always given us 100 per cent commitment and professionalism.
We had big plans for the team to continue as our official Factorysupported MX2 team in 2009 and so understandably we are deeplydisappointed that this will not be possible. We will maintain our fullsupport to the Molson team until the end of this season and trulybelieve that they will finish it in style and on top of the podium.
Although obviously feeling great sorrow over the decision and itsmany implications, Molson Kawasaki team manager Lisa Church feelsconfident that the correct choice has been made and that most cruciallyof all the timing is right.
Making the decision that the team will stop has been one of thehardest decisions we have ever made but we feel it is the right timeand it is the best decision all round. As a family we have beeninvolved in the sport for many years, have seen many changes andexperienced many good times. We will of course continue to be involvedin and enjoy the sport of motocross, attending the races and supportingthe sport we all love so dearly only now in a different way.
It is a very sad time for all of us but we want to enjoy the restof the season as well as continue to work hard towards winning theBritish MX2 title with Stephen Sword and we'll hopefully reach the GPpodium at least once more this year too.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who wehave worked with over the years the riders, mechanics and sponsorspast and present for their support towards the team and for helpingto create some great memories for us.
We have been with Kawasaki right from the start of Tom's racingcareer and it's been a long standing and very rewarding relationship.We are very grateful to Kawasaki for putting so much trust into us andour team and for giving us the opportunity to run their factory MX2team it was a great honor for us.
Team owner Mike Church shares his eldest daughter's sentiments afterheavily investing financially and emotionally in the team from its verybeginnings as a low profile team to the present day where it sits asone of the largest and most professional outfits in the MXGP pits.
It was a very difficult decision to make as you can imagine but wediscussed it together as a family and made the decision to end the teamon a high rather than potentially face difficulties as our familypriorities changed and we were perhaps unable to give Kawasaki, theteam, our riders and the hardworking team staff our full focus andattention which is what they all deserve.
We've had a very enjoyable and healthy relationship with Kawasakiover the years and I believe it's been mutually beneficial. I thinkwe've done a good job of running the team to date, we've always had avery professional presence in the pits and through our racing anddevelopment work we've passed on ideas and technology that have helpedimprove the Kawasaki production bikes too.
As a family we are bitterly disappointed we're unable to continuerunning the team but we do have our reasons and they are genuine ones.We'd like to make it clear that we'll never turn our back on motocrossand we'll continue to support our riders and friends in the sport inwhatever way we can.