Austin
Dr. Gonzo
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2005
- Messages
- 6,706
- Location
- Woody Creek
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Sep 11 2009, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>My friend, we've had this conversation before, it seems we still disagree, eh buddy.
Hopkins was with Suzuki as you said for many years, and surely he would have been in the position to realize they were not committed to taking that next step. Consider this Ooster, Rossi, as you and I are well aware, has now threatened to leave the sport TWICE (1st during Bstone debacle & 2nd while expressing frustration with Lorenzo signing) both times because he sited the ‘possibility’ (not event fact) of not being competitive (agree?). This is on a hunch that he might not be competitive because: suspect tires 07/08 & suspect thinning of resources by the factory (remaining of 09/10), so why is Hopkin’s decision to leave somewhere that has not been willing to make that next competitive step so difficult to stomach? (At very least we agree that Suzuki was not full committed right?) Can you imagine how frustrating that must be for a man who to take another season? I would have left that dead end place in a hurry (apparently not you good sir).
Suzuki to Kawasaki was more a lateral move than the Yamaha/Honda to Kawasaki magnitude of difference you imply. At very least Kawasaki made the public effort (with a salary to backup that claim) that they were serious about going to the next level. Yes, they did not make good on that promise, but neither did Suzuki (as you can see its really a push). You say you would have stayed with Suzuki, which is interesting because you would have been going against your own admitted assessment "Hopkins stayed at Suzuki too long" (that's what you said right?) So then, you would continue with the same insane decision hoping for different results?
I can understand it was probably quite frustrating not seeing much progress made from Suzuki, although he did just come off a career year in which the Suzuki looked rather capable. But like I said before, if my choice was hoping for changes at Suzuki or jumping to Kawasaki, I'd stick with Suzuki. He did stay at Suzuki too long, from what I remember reading, he had his opportunity to jump to Ducati or Tech 3 and he passed because he wanted to come good with Suzuki. That kind of loyalty is commendable but it was ultimately a poor decision. So for me, to pass up on a move upwards only to take a lateral (at best in my opinion) move doesn't make much sense to me.
Hopkins was with Suzuki as you said for many years, and surely he would have been in the position to realize they were not committed to taking that next step. Consider this Ooster, Rossi, as you and I are well aware, has now threatened to leave the sport TWICE (1st during Bstone debacle & 2nd while expressing frustration with Lorenzo signing) both times because he sited the ‘possibility’ (not event fact) of not being competitive (agree?). This is on a hunch that he might not be competitive because: suspect tires 07/08 & suspect thinning of resources by the factory (remaining of 09/10), so why is Hopkin’s decision to leave somewhere that has not been willing to make that next competitive step so difficult to stomach? (At very least we agree that Suzuki was not full committed right?) Can you imagine how frustrating that must be for a man who to take another season? I would have left that dead end place in a hurry (apparently not you good sir).
Suzuki to Kawasaki was more a lateral move than the Yamaha/Honda to Kawasaki magnitude of difference you imply. At very least Kawasaki made the public effort (with a salary to backup that claim) that they were serious about going to the next level. Yes, they did not make good on that promise, but neither did Suzuki (as you can see its really a push). You say you would have stayed with Suzuki, which is interesting because you would have been going against your own admitted assessment "Hopkins stayed at Suzuki too long" (that's what you said right?) So then, you would continue with the same insane decision hoping for different results?
I can understand it was probably quite frustrating not seeing much progress made from Suzuki, although he did just come off a career year in which the Suzuki looked rather capable. But like I said before, if my choice was hoping for changes at Suzuki or jumping to Kawasaki, I'd stick with Suzuki. He did stay at Suzuki too long, from what I remember reading, he had his opportunity to jump to Ducati or Tech 3 and he passed because he wanted to come good with Suzuki. That kind of loyalty is commendable but it was ultimately a poor decision. So for me, to pass up on a move upwards only to take a lateral (at best in my opinion) move doesn't make much sense to me.
