Kawasaki evaluates in-line five engine

The Japanese bike-makers are the only active manufacturer not to have won an event at Moto GP level, and are looking at several potential engine lay-outs to replace their current in-line four cylinder motor.

Kawasaki technical director, Ichiro Yoda, told Italian magazine Motosprint: "We are thinking of something different for the future: we are evaluating an in-line five cylinders. It's possible. Our engineering staff is evaluating the project.

"I don't understand why Honda went back to four cylinders with the 800cc. Honda dominated with the V5 because you can use smaller cylinders, you get less friction, and you can have more power.

"And in my opinion there are advantages also with regards to fuel consumption."

Yoda also suggested that the lack of success has not discouraged Kawasaki, whose best result in 2008 was a fifth place in Portugal with new signing John Hopkins.

"For sure we must win, we have the right budget and the company believes in this MotoGP project," he said.

"We are getting there. Our bike, in China, was finally at the level it should be in practice. It was with the best.

"We still have to do a lot of work to do for the races. In Portugal we tried several new parts that work. We changed several things on the chassis, already during the winter, and many in the engine thanks to Hopkins's indications. Now the frame set-up seems greatly improved and we carry on the development of the current traditional engine."

Yoda also hinted that the introduction of Kawasaki's high-revving 'screamer' engine may now not happen until next year.

"It's being developed in Japan with [Olivier] Jacque," he said. "We use Kawasaki's private track of Autopolis. Jacque works on both developments on the current engine and on the development of the screamer.

"We must not rush things, it will be fine if it races in 2009. It's one of the possibilities we have for the immediate future, without the need to change too much the philosophy of our engine. The screamer has some qualities this engine doesn't have."