Anyone know why Hayden and Hoppers don't get along

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CSCVAW @ Aug 21 2007, 08:09 AM) [snapback]86222[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
helix...but how long would it take hopper to produce with the Kawasaki???...another 5 years for a podium???...rdp is just getting there or abuts....hopper will just enjoy the £€&$’s and produce nothing!!!...you mark my words...i was right about poor nicky who btw i really like as a guy hes a cool and very reasonable rider but hoppers has nothing on nicky...have you noticed i haven’t been using CAPS!!!...its not allowed!!!...cheers mate


Well I don't know about that one. I'm a huge Nicky fan but I actually believe Hopper has the ability to be a better rider given the way MotoGP is now. Hopkins has a braking advantage over nearly everyone in the field and he's the only American who exits corners with his torso down over the handlebars (most Americans sit up and weight the rear wheel). His skill set is atypical for an American and that's why he's got a chip on his shoulder.

Kawasaki is something of an enigma and I have no idea what will happen to him there. Last year it became obvious to me that Kawasaki had a world class bike with no decent rubber. Nakano qualified 3rd at Jerez, 2nd at France, Assen, and PI, and had a handful of 4ths and 5ths. That means to me, that they had the pace, but didn't have the race rubber to accomplish good results.

This year they haven't managed the same; parly because they lost Nakano, and partly due to the I-4 becoming uncompetitive this year. I hope he goes well, but I can't imagine a wide, forward-set I-4 will help is breaking or his cornering skills.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Olivavu @ Aug 20 2007, 07:20 AM) [snapback]85869[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I don't see much humble about them at all...


Do you make 3 to 4 million a year and still live with your parents.
Does not drink or carouse.
Doesn't overly celebrate.
Never talks .....
Always puts in more practice time than any rider.
Never complains or points fingers.
Gives credit to other riders.

He's a superstar and could live like so.
Go to any AMA race and walk through the paddock.
Strike up a conversation with Earl, Rose, Tommy , Roger or any of the sisters.
Go to the USGP and get Nicky's Autograph or picture 20 minutes before qualifying.
Watch while other riders like Capirossi, Giberneau and Pedrosa hustle by because they are too busy.
Back up what you say if you are going to post your hater nonsense

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JohnnyKnockdown @ Aug 22 2007, 12:28 AM) [snapback]86293[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Do you make 3 to 4 million a year and still live with your parents.
Does not drink or carouse.
Doesn't overly celebrate.
Never talks .....
Always puts in more practice time than any rider.
Never complains or points fingers.
Gives credit to other riders.

He's a superstar and could live like so.
Go to any AMA race and walk through the paddock.
Strike up a conversation with Earl, Rose, Tommy , Roger or any of the sisters.
Go to the USGP and get Nicky's Autograph or picture 20 minutes before qualifying.
Watch while other riders like Capirossi, Giberneau and Pedrosa hustle by because they are too busy.
Back up what you say if you are going to post your hater nonsense

1, i dont trust blokes who dont drink or carouse, cool word by the way
2. that dance at valencia was overly celebrating altho taking your dad on the back was top draw.
3.he doesn't talk .... unless its about clutches.
4.thats because he needs the practice
5.he sure pointed the finger at pedrobot in estoril
6. what is he a loan shark, didn't realize the others were so poor they needed credit off nicky.
and last but not least , he lives with mom and par cos they need help gettin in the pigs an chickens down da farm.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Aug 22 2007, 01:02 AM) [snapback]86302[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
5.he sure pointed the finger at pedrobot in estoril


And you wouldn't

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phildean @ Aug 22 2007, 01:14 AM) [snapback]86305[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
And you wouldn't

oh yeah and some but the poster said he NEVER points the finger ect but to be honest i used that example because i couldn't think of any others

[, i dont trust blokes who dont drink or carouse, cool word by the way
2. that dance at valencia was overly celebrating altho taking your dad on the back was top draw.

I agree with you on point # 1
As far as taking pops for a cruise around Laguna you can't find any showboating in that.
Pops dedicated his adult life and finances to take his kids racing. They were on the road something like 47 weekends a year. He would pack up the van and drive all
Friday night. Get to the track and practice on saturday. Race on Sunday.
Drive home Sunday night and ship the kids to school on Monday.
I'm sure all the racers have similar stories. I'm just blown away at the time and
dedication it takes.
I view that incident as the ultimate thank you to his Dad.


Maybe Casey can spin his girl around the circuit in a pair of Daisy Dukes
when he wins the title

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JohnnyKnockdown @ Aug 21 2007, 07:42 PM) [snapback]86325[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
As far as taking pops for a cruise around Laguna you can't find any showboating in that.
Pops dedicated his adult life and finances to take his kids racing. They were on the road something like 47 weekends a year. He would pack up the van and drive all
Friday night. Get to the track and practice on saturday. Race on Sunday.
Drive home Sunday night and ship the kids to school on Monday.
I'm sure all the racers have similar stories. I'm just blown away at the time and
dedication it takes.
I view that incident as the ultimate thank you to his Dad.


I can't agree with you more. Personally, seeing that victory lap with his dad on his bike is the most memorable and inspiring post race celebration I have ever seen. Truly it was a beautiful expression of human emotion and gratitude displayed on the racetrack. Yes some other celebrations have been amusing and entertaining to watch, but most of them have been ego centric, look-at-me moments, where as this one was an acknowledgment that he had accomplish only because he had stood on the shoulders of those that supported him. Truly a great moment, not just in racing; but also for the human character of decency.

Well since this thread seems to have run it's course than sorry but I am going to hijack it.
I know this goes a way back but does any one know details of the altercation that Nicky had with Biaggi when he was his teammate?
I have heard the question posed to Nicky about his relationship with him and he replied
that they don't talk after that incident in the garage.
The way he responded sounded like they came to blows or near to it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JohnnyKnockdown @ Aug 23 2007, 03:48 AM) [snapback]86500[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Well since this thread seems to have run it's course than sorry but I am going to hijack it.
I know this goes a way back but does any one know details of the altercation that Nicky had with Biaggi when he was his teammate?
I have heard the question posed to Nicky about his relationship with him and he replied
that they don't talk after that incident in the garage.
The way he responded sounded like they came to blows or near to it.

Perhaps the incident in pre season testing when one of the two was pulling out of the garage and the other was pulling in and they collided. Most of the paddock got a good laugh out of it but from what I recall reading both were very upset and embarrassed by the incident and blamed the other.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Austin @ Aug 22 2007, 08:54 PM) [snapback]86501[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Perhaps the incident in pre season testing when one of the two was pulling out of the garage and the other was pulling in and they collided. Most of the paddock got a good laugh out of it but from what I recall reading both were very upset and embarrassed by the incident and blamed the other.




That's very interesting Austin. As a matter of fact, do you remember reading an article on Superbikeplanet (I think), about Biaggi having a problem with "another American"? I'm not sure if this is the incident. But I remember reading something along those lines and everybody didn't know what the hell the writer was talking about. I remember emailing the editor but never got a reply. Does this sound familiar? It was a thread way back when. Perhaps Frost may remember since he seems to be the minister of information around here. Anyway, I don’t recall ever reading or hearing about this you speak of, but if you have more info on it, give it up.

This article mentions the pit lane incident about half way down.


Here

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JohnnyKnockdown @ Aug 22 2007, 03:42 AM) [snapback]86325[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
[, i dont trust blokes who dont drink or carouse, cool word by the way
2. that dance at valencia was overly celebrating altho taking your dad on the back was top draw.

I agree with you on point # 1
As far as taking pops for a cruise around Laguna you can't find any showboating in that.
Pops dedicated his adult life and finances to take his kids racing. They were on the road something like 47 weekends a year. He would pack up the van and drive all
Friday night. Get to the track and practice on saturday. Race on Sunday.
Drive home Sunday night and ship the kids to school on Monday.
I'm sure all the racers have similar stories. I'm just blown away at the time and
dedication it takes.
I view that incident as the ultimate thank you to his Dad.
Maybe Casey can spin his girl around the circuit in a pair of Daisy Dukes
when he wins the title

erm ,top draw means the best in my language, i think you misunderstood my slang

05 was a tough year for max. had a couple of on & off track bang ups if i recall. is'nt that the season when he had the smash up at assen with melandri? then maxs uncle attacked marco & choked him? oh the drama!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Racejumkie @ Aug 21 2007, 12:41 AM) [snapback]86104[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
This is one reason why I like NASCAR, which is frequently an easy target of scorn on this site, however, as far as level playing fields in motorsports; it is head and shoulders above GP.

But the close competition hardly seems genuine, you know what I mean? Don't you feel cheated when a driver does the best job and dominates the race, only to lose out when that timely, late-race caution comes out?

And what about the competition among manufacturers? You know, the one to see who has the best head and tail light decals?

NASCAR is an easy target on other racing forums because it is a cheesy, cheap form of entertainment. It's McRacing, nicely dumbed down for the general American public and its need for instant gratification.

Luckily, Moto GP has its roots in Europe, where people seem to appreciate racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Shupe @ Aug 24 2007, 07:29 PM) [snapback]86777[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
But the close competition hardly seems genuine, you know what I mean? Don't you feel cheated when a driver does the best job and dominates the race, only to lose out when that timely, late-race caution comes out?

And what about the competition among manufacturers? You know, the one to see who has the best head and tail light decals?

NASCAR is an easy target on other racing forums because it is a cheesy, cheap form of entertainment. It's McRacing, nicely dumbed down for the general American public and its need for instant gratification.

Luckily, Moto GP has its roots in Europe, where people seem to appreciate racing.

I'm not sure what to make of your post. Some of it seems tongue in cheek and some of it seems genuine. I'm sorry, perhaps I'm missing something or I'm just not clever enough to understand your meaning.

Anyway, I enjoy and appreciate NASCAR, and I don't think I will be convincing anybody that doesn't like it. Its ok I guess, we all like different forms of racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Shupe @ Aug 25 2007, 02:29 AM) [snapback]86777[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
But the close competition hardly seems genuine, you know what I mean? Don't you feel cheated when a driver does the best job and dominates the race, only to lose out when that timely, late-race caution comes out?

And what about the competition among manufacturers? You know, the one to see who has the best head and tail light decals?

NASCAR is an easy target on other racing forums because it is a cheesy, cheap form of entertainment. It's McRacing, nicely dumbed down for the general American public and its need for instant gratification.

Luckily, Moto GP has its roots in Europe, where people seem to appreciate racing.


I have been watching nascar this season because an australian guy who was formerly the best tin-top driver in australia is racing in the second-tier busch series; I refused to watch him in the truck racing series last year.

He is a talented driver and has also had success in open-wheel racing in australia. He is right at the pointy end of the field in the road races, even against the top nextel cup guys but nowhere in the oval track racing. This has led me to surmise there must be more involved in the oval track racing than cursory TV viewing would suggest. I also suspect that, like F1, TV gives you no idea how fast they are going.

It being a given that all these riders have enormous egos, the common belief is that any given rider considers himself to be "The Rider Most Qualified To Represent His Country". Lot of riders have said over the years that it's no fun to be bested by a rider from another nation, but that it really burns to be be beat by his own countryman. It's a pretty natural, territorial predisposition. And the GP press loves to play it up and give the impression of a drama that's really non-existant. The press everywhere does this. It sells papers, fills columns and eats up airtime as they blah blah blah away with their usual commentary. Still, you will notice that generally you don't see factories contracting two Spaniards, two Italians etc. Mostly - it's only Americans that seem to end up on one team and lately - not often.
KD

Maybe I'm being to hard on Hopper by suggesting he's jealous of Nicky's success. Here's something I just thought of.

Think about how close Nicky and Earl are.

Think about how close John and his dad would be if he were still alive.

hmmmm..........makes me wonder if there is more to this than American rivalry.