[theophil]

Aoyama latest in Kawasaki link.


KTM 250GP star Hiroshi Aoyama is the latest rider to be linked with a Kawasaki MotoGP seat for 2007.

Team Green now looks all but certain to lose star rider Shinya Nakano to Konica Minolta Honda and so is seeking a replacement to ride alongside Randy de Puniet - with class veterans Max Biaggi, Alex Barros and Sete Gibernau all connected to the post.

However, on Thursday at Estoril, Red Bull KTM boss Harald Bartol - who wants to keep Aoyama for a second season - revealed that the double 2006 race winner is in talks with Kawasaki to ride its as-yet-unseen 800cc racer in next year's MotoGP World Championship.

Meanwhile Gibernau - fighting to keep his factory Ducati seat - and Honda rookie Casey Stoner, one of the riders left in contention to replace the Spaniard, both ducked questions about their future plans.

"I suppose we are nearer to a conclusion to the saga of what I'll be doing next season, because we are nearer the end of 2006!" smiled Casey.

Stoner chez Ducati (?), Aoyama chez Kawa ..... on se demande ce que seront les prochaines infos !!!