"Gary Medley is no longer with our team," confirmed Kawasaki race manager Michael Preston by telephone this afternoon. Preston said Medley left of his own accord and that the team was disappointed to see him go.

"He certainly was not asked to leave," Preston said.

Medley's sudden departure leaves a hole in Kawasaki's staff. In addition to advising all three Kawasaki riders -- Eric Bostrom, Tommy Hayden, and Tony Meiring -- at the racetrack, Medley was the principal engine builder for the team. For now, his assistants will take over but Medley will have to be replaced with another mechanic, according to Preston.

Team Kawasaki has been undergoing a youth movement in 2002. While both Bostrom and Hayden are considered title contenders, they both have first time crewchiefs. Eric Bostrom's is former Doug Chandler wrench Matt Worbes and Tomy Hayden's is ex-DuHamel and Eric Bostrom mechanic Joey Lombardo. Medley had been expected to ease the learning curve for both Worbes and Lombardo.

How does the loss of Medley, whose former riders include Daytona 200 winner John Ashmead, Chandler, Scott Russell, and Ben Bostrom, affect Kawasaki? "In the short term, it will be a headache," Preston said, "but in the long run, I believe we have some great guys in place to do the job for our riders."

The move comes on the eve of an important Laguna Seca test. Sole Superbike rider Eric Bostrom and Kawasaki have been coming to terms with a new Ohlins fork that uses charged gas instead of traditional oil for damping effect over bumps. It is believed that Kawasaki are the only ones in the United States running the item, although the Ducati WSC team used it last year.

The news comes after a so-so Daytona week for the team. Bostrom was never comfortable at the Speedway but earned a fifth place finish in the 200, Hayden was taken out of his race in the horrendous Aaron Gobert crash, and newcomer Tony Meiring was 12th in his first race for the squad.

"As a team, we're chomping at the bit to do well at Fontana," Preston said. "It's close to home for us and we're ready to put some good results on the board."