Ezpeleta (right) is prepared to take the matter to court if necessary

MotoGP supremo Carmelo Ezpeleta says legal action may be necessary to resolve the issues caused by Kawasaki's withdrawal from the 2009 championship.

The Japanese manufacturer pulled out on 9 January for financial reasons, leaving two gaps on the grid for the new season, which starts in April.

"It must be resolved as the season is almost starting. In two or three weeks we have to have a solution," he said.

"Legal action is the last step. We would try to ask for compensation."

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Kawasaki's decision means Marco Melandri and John Hopkins are currently without rides for the coming season.

The Japanese manufacturer's contract with Dorna, the company that holds the commercial rights for MotoGP, runs until 2011 and Ezpeleta said if no other solution can be found, the matter could end up in court.

Aspar team boss Jorge Martinez has been linked with a deal to run the Kawasaki machines independently, but nothing has yet emerged on that front.

Ezpeleta said he was confident the sport would not be unduly damaged by the current difficult global financial situation, and that the introduction of cost-cutting measures would benefit everyone.

"The financial crisis has impacted the sport in a big manner," he said.

"We think it's an important issue but we have enough tools to resolve it.

"I am very, very optimistic about the measures we are taking in this situation because I think this is an opportunity to better place MotoGP in the world than before the crisis."

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