Hopper Signs with Kawasaki

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jul 10 2007, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sellout.

Good luck at Monster Kawasaki John. Although I don't think the 3mil per season wages are going to buy him a world championship.
Ouch, that's harsh.

I just don't get it. Maybe it's a rose colored glasses thing. I've been hot and cold on Hopkins as far as personal opinion of him goes but always wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to make the dream switch to Ducati for the past couple years but quietly admired his loyalty and faith in Suzuki.

Now Suzuki has finally put something together that has massive potential and is a proven front runner only for Hopkins to jump ship. Odd enough in itself. Odder is the mention of his wage demands and Kawasaki's willingness to meet those demands. Additionally, he left Red Bull for Monster this season and suddenly he switches to a manufacturer that Monster has a contract with in the states.

I guess money talks.

This story is on MotoGP.com too:

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_new...s&news_id=20360

The info that I know is that John signed with kawasaki because of a big money deal and also the posability of his personal sponsor (monster energy drink) could be kawasaki's new title sponsor for 08. Monster are already the title sponors of the Kawaski AMA Supersport team so it kinda makes sence to me.

Why nobody looking for Sete Gibernau???? i think he still can compete on motogp...........an revenge with the doctor.....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kirun @ Jul 12 2007, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why nobody looking for Sete Gibernau???? i think he still can compete on motogp...........an revenge with the doctor.....
Hi kirun,

Welcome to the forum.

I agree, Sete was/and probably still is a good rider. But you are dreaming. He's retired and married now and living a comfortable life. Yes, I too would have liked to see him go into the sunset with a win. I think he deserved it and at least he would have got the monkey off his back. Oh well. Maybe next life.

It's official now then, a two year contract starting next season:

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_new...s&news_id=20381

When can we expect the Monster Energy becoming title sponsor press release?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jul 12 2007, 08:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>When can we expect the Monster Energy becoming title sponsor press release?

looked on their website but nothing as of yet.

does state they already sponsor Hoppa but not kawa yet

i will keep looking

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jul 11 2007, 07:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I just don't get it. Maybe it's a rose colored glasses thing. I've been hot and cold on Hopkins as far as personal opinion of him goes but always wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to make the dream switch to Ducati for the past couple years but quietly admired his loyalty and faith in Suzuki.

Now Suzuki has finally put something together that has massive potential and is a proven front runner only for Hopkins to jump ship. Odd enough in itself. Odder is the mention of his wage demands and Kawasaki's willingness to meet those demands. Additionally, he left Red Bull for Monster this season and suddenly he switches to a manufacturer that Monster has a contract with in the states.

I guess money talks.
I feel exactly the same way about Hopkins, I always want him to do well, I think the thing he has to work on is the last third of the race, how many times have we seen him up the front in second and third only to fade in the last third of the race.
I dont know why this is but he needs to go the full race,maybe its a fitness thing or maybe the Suzuki gets tired.
Anyway i hope he has made the right choice with Kawasaki.

Part of the blame for his fading away is he rides the tires so hard in the beginning to try to keep up to the other bikes that by mid-race he has worn out alot of his tire and is in damage control mode.

I think he is getting better at working on that and part of the reason he had to ride the bike so hard (my opinion) was because of the bike being .... and he needed to perform extra hard to make it be fast.