Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki is on the verge of announcing that it is quitting the MotoGP championship with immediate effect.

The global economic crisis and a lack of results are likely to have been factors in the decision that will leave MotoGP's organisers with a grid that will have two less entries while rival World Superbike Championship has gained another two in Aprilia and BMW.

This means that drivers Marco Melandri and John Hopkins will be without a ride for 2009.

Details of the withdrawal are expected to be made public on January the 5th.