While the 26-year-old has earned a welcome reprieve , the man who would have been Melandri 's team-mate this season , American John Hopkins , appears set for an extended spell on the sidelines . Kawasaki will run Marco Melandri in a one-bike team in 2009 MotoGP season . The Italian rider is currently riding for the Yamaha factory team, but has been linked with a return to Ducati since last year. Italian Melandri moved to Kawasaki from Ducati at the end of the 2008 season .
Kawasaki will run Marco Melandri in a one-bike team in 2009 MotoGP season . The Italian rider is currently riding for the Yamaha factory team, but has been linked with a return to Ducati since last year. Italian Melandri moved to Kawasaki from Ducati at the end of the 2008 season .