Hopper

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Feb 26 2009, 08:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow...you must be kidding right? Is Hopkins allowed to drink REGULAR soda? or can he only drink diet soda's? First of all.... a rider is paid to produce results on track, not to be told what to wear, what to eat, when to sleep, when he can get laid, etc. Of course some contracts are signed prohibiting riders from participating in any 'dangerous' activities, but other than that I don't see how John Hopkins eating a bacon sandwhich on race day anybody else's business.

Are you quite sure on this? I know a contact can and does stipulate what they want a rider to wear, what they can and can't do through out the racing year and also where they need to be and at what time (for certain events outside racing).
Have you seen Casey with "Lee" branding on him since going to Ducati? No.. Why? Cause his contract stipulates that he cannot display that sponsor.
Contracts are a mind field...
Listen to what the riders say after the race, they'll never say the Duc, Yam, Honda etc was fast; they'll say Casey (or who ever) was fast and I couldn't catch him etc blah...
I have been told that the riders have it written into their contract and if they mention it they can be fined by their team.

Being an athlete like Hopper and eating a bacon sandwich on race day morning is just stupid. I'm wondering why the team chef/cook gave it to him or why the team nutritionist let him eat it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Feb 25 2009, 09:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well, he avoids taking dangerous risks such as going fast on motorbikes, must be in his contract.

Pete
wow dude... did john .... your girlfriend or something? you have a LOT of hatred for someone who doesnt post a big impact on both your life or your love or Motogp. and for a guy to push the bike to the limit for him to tke A LOT of big crashes hardly makes him looks like a guy who is just trolling around the circuit.... but thats just my opinion.

Jumkie, we have had this discussion in threads past but I want to add a few bits in relation to your points if I may and I realise your argument points here so my comments aren't aimed at you


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 25 2009, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I can't really see where the dislike for the guy comes from. The top three reasons seem to be:

1. Gets paid "too" much. (Ok, give back some of your paycheck then you have the right to talk .....) You know that IMO he may well have been overpaid in terms of the salaries paid to others but nobody should begrudge him or any rider earning whatever someone will pay them. Yes I firmly believe that money was his prime reason for going to Kawasaki but as you mention, who would knock back such a significant increase.

Besides which, the Kawasaki was looking competitive towards the end of 2007 and removing dollars, at the time it looked a possible good decision. Of course, what happened throughout 2008 does change things a bit.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 25 2009, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2. Partied too much after fight with girl, once. (OK, if you've never had to call in sick after a night of partying, you're probably a major prude, and your opinion means .... to me. Its called life, and you obviously don't have one.) I do think he let himself and the team down here and would say that a professional rider should have a higher level of respect with regards to their duties and should not place themselves in the situation in which he was (ie. to drunk to work). But, if the situation was caused by emotional distress than he should be cut some slack as he would likely not have been in a condition to ride were he sober anyway. But one mistake should not see him run out of town, just maybe to the edge where his ... is kicked.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 25 2009, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>3. Hasn't won a MotoGP race. (You'd be hard pressed to win on a Suzuki while in the same race with a Rossi/Honda-Yamaha or a Stoner/Ducati or a good Rider/Honda. Basically ALL these guys at the same time would need to have a real bad day, and you have a spectacular day, and then maybe, just maybe. This is just reality.) My feelings for Hopper are unrelated to race wins, although at times it may not seem that way. To me it is about consistency of results and IMO he fails to deliver in that regard.
But as you point out, if race wins alone is criteria for being deserving of a spot it will make a very small field and then the question of how long for the newcomers to win is raised.
To me, race wins don't matter as there is a bigger picture.







Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jarmstrong1029 @ Feb 26 2009, 04:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>wow dude... did john .... your girlfriend or something? you have a LOT of hatred for someone who doesnt post a big impact on both your life or your love or Motogp. and for a guy to push the bike to the limit for him to tke A LOT of big crashes hardly makes him looks like a guy who is just trolling around the circuit.... but thats just my opinion.

Ok, heres what I said next about Hopper, I understand there are some big words, but try reading them slowly....

Jumkie, you know me, I cannae resist having a laugh at the guy, I'm sure he can ride and he's a really nice guy, ive nae dislike for him at all.

I look at what he has "achieved" before and during his gp career, and wonder what the deal is? He's not daft, he's making a seriously good living as a pro rider, I just don't believe he's a top gp rider, I'm sure theres a series out there he could really do the damage in, WSS, WSB, I dunno.

The funny thing is, he's just so easy to take the piss out of.

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 25 2009, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> Yes, I know he may not be a "top" rider. But, is he the worst on the grid? Does he make the top ten among a very depleted field? Lets look at the current grid:

Would you rate him better or worse than these? (Be honest now Pete)

Vermeulen (arguably, perhaps a push)
De Angelis
Takahashi
Canepa
De Puniet
Kalio (perhaps a push)

And on current form:
Toseland
Gibernau


I would rate CV, Kallio, and an on form Toseland as better than Hopkins. On his current form I'm not sure bout toseland, but, he is a double world champion in WSBK and that carries more wieght than a double national support champion. The guy does not have a proven track record at international level, check back to my post with the stats of his career that I got from Hoppers website if you don't believe me.

If Hopper had taken a more conventional route to GP, maybe he would be a stronger rider today, but I think he got into GP too quickly, and has done very well to stay as long as he has without winning a race. OK, he's never had the best bike, but the big guns always rise to the top.

Pete

I think Hopper is easy to hate on because he is generally percieved (hyped) to have a lot of potential and spoken of as if he "should" be a front runner. Meanwhile he earns front runner money, has the image/good looks, parties and drinks and generally doesn't take things as seriously as some of his competitors but without actually realising this potential (as in doesn't live up to the hype). That makes him an easy target.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Corr @ Feb 26 2009, 04:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Being an athlete like Hopper and eating a bacon sandwich on race day morning is just stupid. I'm wondering why the team chef/cook gave it to him or why the team nutritionist let him eat it.

Somebody gets it! Mrs Hopper posted this on her hubby's site. App. she makes him breakfast every morning. And from what I know is that MotoGP general doesn't have team nutrionists (that is an F1 thing).

Tom- Hopper and good looks? Er... no. coughFievelcough

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Feb 25 2009, 02:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>9/17, unless you're still counting Melandri who would make it 10/18.
Looks like my ESP is working just fine, eh...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Feb 25 2009, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not Pete but I thought I would chime in.
Was directed at both of you and whoever. Anyway, Pete/Austin great post. Fair enough brothas.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 26 2009, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Was directed at both of you and whoever. Anyway, Pete/Austin great post. Fair enough brothas.
Maybe John will become a Yamaha test rider and guest for the Donington, Indy, Laguna races.

But, He's really a fool no to go to WSBK on a Kawasaki. There are plenty of laid of enineers that would love to be on his team.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Feb 26 2009, 11:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe John will become a Yamaha test rider and guest for the Donington, Indy, Laguna races.

But, He's really a fool no to go to WSBK on a Kawasaki. There are plenty of laid of enineers that would love to be on his team.
Great point,

I'd like to see the Flammini brothers again capitalize on Dorna folly and pick up John in some competitive capacity. (Not sure if a Kawasaki ride would be 'competitive' though ie Laconi-good rider+poor bike= frustrating results). But a least he would be riding a bike in anger, eh.

Kawasaki are on the hook for his salary right, why not put him to work somewhere, either WSBK or even AMA.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 26 2009, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Kawasaki are on the hook for his salary right
Not so sure...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sally @ Feb 27 2009, 03:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Somebody gets it! Mrs Hopper posted this on her hubby's site. App. she makes him breakfast every morning. And from what I know is that MotoGP general doesn't have team nutrionists (that is an F1 thing).

Tom- Hopper and good looks? Er... no. coughFievelcough

Yes I get it Sally
No team nutrionists? Maybe thats a job that needs to be created. But then again bike racing is not car racing (F1 or other types)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Feb 26 2009, 07:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe John will become a Yamaha test rider and guest for the Donington, Indy, Laguna races.

Good call as he could bring a lot to any team given his experience on the MotoGP equipment.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Feb 26 2009, 07:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But, He's really a fool no to go to WSBK on a Kawasaki. There are plenty of laid of enineers that would love to be on his team.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Wasn't it Kawasaki (not factory) who last year had their fork internals removed on a race weekend because they had not paid bills, aside from which the Kwak is not exactly a WSBK front runner (well wasn't in 2008). But, if the point is that he is best to stay in the frame and within the sight of teams than he shoudl take whatever ride is offered at World level.





Garry

Hopper cops .... because the hype hasn't met the expectation. He gets paid VERY well, and hasn't put the results in to match. Good luck to him for getting the amount he does. All these guys are given chances at the top level with big expectations. If you don't meet those, you're subject to a lot of scrutiny (whether warranted or not).
Lot's of people, (pretty much every one on this forum) have an opinion on who should get a ride and who shouldn't and various reasons as to why this is the case. That's the nature of the beast.
If you really want to find out who is the best rider amongst all the grid put them on the same bike, tyres, mechanics etc on an 18 round championship. That's the only way to do it. It'll never happen, so we'll never know. BTW - would anyone be really interested? After all, it won't be the best bikes will it? It's all a moot point.



PS - Hopper is overhyped.