<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Sep 11 2009, 11:59 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Correct me if I'm wrong, but your post stated that it was reported within sport insiders (as well as reported throughout the sport media) that Kawasaki had great potential, but only needed a good rider. (At the time Hopkins was the only available "top rider".)
You also say that he stayed with Suzuki way to long? Uhm, is there some disconnect in your logic I'm not understanding?
Ducati's Luvio Suppos just mentioned the Kawasaki is not as bad as people think, as I recall you received the interview well. So the Kawaski, even from other insiders (not just the 'bias' team green, thinks the bike isn't that bad).
So are you going to make a case that the Suzuki is that good? Perhaps you forgot that Suzuki have never thrown down the gantlet, that's is, we are pulling all the stops, we need a championship effort--yet, that is what Kawasaki made public as their goal, and were will to pay for that service. DePuniet had already shown some glimpse into its potential which took it out of the realm of "what might be" into the realm of they really do have something worthy. In 07 much was made of the "speed" of the Ducati, did you forget that the Kawasaki also had above average speed trap performance stats? Hindsight? That was the tenor in which Hopkins made his decision (not the hindsight you now say was the reality). Look again my friend, I think you forgot some details.
The best argument I've seen so far is that he got alot of money to crap on the dude, as it is always mentioned in any position that debates his move as bad. Point to one reason that Suzuki made public of substance that would have convinced you that they were really going to try and make a title run. You really are going to have a tough time. Conversely, I can list several reason why I would have left, and even for free to another factory with the promise of really trying another approach. Need I remind you that they also had an opportunity to keep Hopkins, and they did not. They also had Ben Spies to loose, and they showed him the door. What does this say about their willingness to make a run? Mere spectators knew it was a bad move to let Spies go, and now we have teams falling over themselves to sign the man. What does this say about Suzuki's willingness to change their mediocre effort or their understanding of talent, or what they need to improve their effort?
Would you have stayed with Suzuki Austin?
As far as the insiders and Suppo suggesting the potential of the Kawasaki, they obviously see something, and Hopkins must have seen it himself or bought into it to make the switch. Putting myself in his shoes, if I had just finished fourth in the championship and my teammate was only two places behind me, I would need hard evidence that switching brands is the right decision. I'm talking results, Honda and Yamaha results. Podiums, race wins. Not "well Kawasaki has two .... (at the time RdP was ...., you can't argue it, even if I've grown to rather like him) riders who are getting reasonably respectable results and the traps speeds are good..." For me, it was too big of a gamble.
I can't argue your point about Suzuki committing 100 percent and pulling out all the stops for a championship. But at least they were there for the decades leading up to the switch to four strokes. Where was Kawasaki? You can complain about Suzuki not putting in the effort to win a championship (or a race, for that matter), but at least they were there. Meanwhile Kawasaki was off thinking of clever ways to market the Ninja 500.
Would I have stayed at Suzuki? I would hope I wouldn't have to but if my options were Suzuki and Kawasaki, I'd pick Suzuki.
