The holiday season is over! The second for the little guy and the first as an official family. The downside, much like the economy, is the frigid cold weather that has kept me off of my motos.

The only “moto-related” news on a personal level is that my wife, Megan, purchased a cabin for me and a few of my buddies for a weekend in Tennessee at a powersports park. Essentially she willingly suggested that me and a few of my friends go attempt to kill ourselves in the mountains of Tennessee … something smells fishy. I’m not going to complain, and I am looking forward to it. From what I recall, it’s quite nice in March in Tennessee.

In other news, the motorcycle world is finally being affected by the global automotive, financial and economic crisis. Kawasaki has withdrawn from MotoGP in 2009.  We’ve already seen Honda cancel their factory teams in F1 and U.S. Superbike, Subaru and Suzuki ended their World Rally teams, and NASCAR teams are in a merging frenzy!

It will be interesting to see what happens with Kawasaki riders John Hopkins and Marco Melandri, and I’m also curious to see the direction MotoGP will take. Could MotoGP be headed in an F1 mindset of controlling costs? Who knows?

On a positive note, Ducati is not pulling out, which means that a factory team filled with World Champions Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner will compete at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 28-30 at IMS. Former Valentino Rossi archrival Sete Gibernau is back in MotoGP in 2009 with a satellite Ducati team. 250cc standout Mika Kallio is climbing to MotoGP this season, on another Ducati satellite team. He was a force to be reckoned with in 250cc. If nothing else, Kallio has the best save EVER, last year at Phillip Island!

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSCuuTa6y-c

I have to say that was an amazing ride. Mika walked away from this one, but Sete, who is returning after a massive crash with Ducati, is racing for the factory-backed Spanish Team Onde 2000.  If you didn’t know, or haven’t heard, Sete took a lick’n a few years ago. Here’s the crash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P4StMtpa9I

Stay tuned.  Regardless of Kawasaki’s departure, there will be plenty of action this season.  Cross your fingers for a mild hurricane season!

Jarrod