kawasaki

im still pretty new here, but have noticed that not many or if any one talks much about kawasaki/hopper/west. i'm a kawa fan and would like to see them do well in 08, any one else a fan or got any thoughts of what they could do next year



plus might take a bit of discussion away from the whole tyres thing

Speak to antfan I think he supports Mr West.

Hopper is gonna kick all .......nuff said

Hopper has never won a race and i don't think Kawasaki are any better than Suzuki have shown.

The Kawasaki is capable of regular podiums.

I think Kawasaki have been waiting for a rider as talented as John Hopkins. I see them as a dark horse, finally investing in a decent rider, where as west is .... ! Sorry yorrlll westy fans
Hope they have good results, as i once owned a KX100, awsome bike

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rgvneil @ Dec 27 2007, 05:40 PM) [snapback]105338[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Speak to antfan I think he supports Mr West.


Don't dare mention any Westy negatives though!

Or God help you.

I'm a Kawa supporter and I wish them well, but I'm unhappy about how they have handled their team, IMO they should have kept DePuniet. And getting Hopper looked like they were more interested in the Monster sponsor deal than in the rider.

I'm not particularly fond of neither Hopper nor West so I will support Kawasaki moderately next season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<div class='quotemain'>I think Kawasaki have been waiting for a rider as talented as John Hopkins. I see them as a dark horse, finally investing in a decent rider,

i have always thought that kawa have spent money in the wrong places i.e on delevopment and the bike i think it quick enough to have numerious podiums but only this year coming as the riders they have had are not that good, shame they didnt have louris and hopper as a team


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<div class='quotemain'> IMO they should have kept DePuniet

yea he was getting good towards the end of the season in serpang he did well, and he didnt fall off the 2nd half of the season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Teomolca @ Dec 28 2007, 11:08 AM) [snapback]105361[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
IMO they should have kept DePuniet.

There comes a time when a team has to consider the cost of a rider that doesn't deliver ... that time ... for "De punt it down the road" had come ... he had to go!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krusty @ Dec 28 2007, 11:36 AM) [snapback]105368[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
There comes a time when a team has to consider the cost of a rider that doesn't deliver ... that time ... for "De punt it down the road" had come ... he had to go!


The same could have been said of Stoner in 06.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phleg @ Dec 28 2007, 11:01 PM) [snapback]105370[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
The same could have been said of Stoner in 06.

Talent shines through!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<div class='quotemain'>finally investing in a decent rider, where as west is .... !

harsh but not far off, but if it wasnt for a stupid jump starts i think he could have won a race which is not bad gor someone that just jumped on the bike half way through the season. if west concentrates more i think he could win races next year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ninja10 @ Dec 28 2007, 01:37 PM) [snapback]105373[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
harsh but not far off, but if it wasnt for a stupid jump starts i think he could have won a race which is not bad gor someone that just jumped on the bike half way through the season. if west concentrates more i think he could win races next year.


If it's wet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ninja10 @ Dec 28 2007, 01:37 PM) [snapback]105373[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
harsh but not far off, but if it wasnt for a stupid jump starts i think he could have won a race which is not bad gor someone that just jumped on the bike half way through the season. if west concentrates more i think he could win races next year.


They had the same thought about OJ, goes well in the wet.

I am not a Kawak nor detractor. I am fairly neutral on the Company as whole. Now as far as kwak Motogp. I really like the fact that Hoppers is on the team. I don't think that the bike is any better than the Suzuki but I think that Hoppers is finally coming into his own.

I really would like to see if he can push it up to the Stoner, Pedrosa, Rossi level for 2008. I know that he can push it for 3/4 of the race but he never seems to have the tyre or effort in the last 3 to 4 laps of the race. (i hope this year he breaks through... oh yeah welcome to married hell!! ha ha)

Westy... I like him. I don't think that he is as fast as DePuniet but he keeps it up right and he or his father will keep things interesting in the paddock should anyone want to knuckle up...

I hope Westy keeps it in the top10 next year...

I'm also not a fan or an anti-fan of the Kwaky GP organization but I do like their roadbikes (the recent ones). I like that Hopper has made the switch.

I'm impressed by what the team has done over the last couple of seasons and the moves they have made with their riders was expected.

When Nakano left (during the team management change) they needed someone to replace him. They took a stab at Hayden for 07 and probably had a look at a few other people. The 2007 team was nothing more than a patched together squad.

The Hopper/Westy combo is a good ticket on paper. You've got a guy who keeps the bike on two wheels, doesn't complain, and finds speed in the wet and at certain circuits. The other rider brings money, sponsorships, fans, and a half-decade of riding experience on the three most recent motogp machines.

DePuniet wasn't an option, he wasn't going to ride behind Hopper, and he wasn't going to do anything other than harass ownership if they had dual #1 status.

I secretly hope Kawasaki can lure Hayden away and then baby Hayden can join him. Even if they barely made the top 5 at season's end it would be entertaining and it would be great for Kawasaki's North American sales. John and Nicky can just swap rides for the 2009 season.

I don't think Hopper and Randy get along too well so Randy's mind might have been made up once Hopper signed to leave. De Puniet is quick but at times erratic. I think Hopper will be more consistent.
I agree with Duc999 though. John seems to lose ground when the tyres are going off late in the race where as some of the other riders are able to ride around those problems better. On his day though he is very good. I expect several podiums through Hopper in 2008.

Howdy all, havn't posted in a while.. been busy with things, plus it is a fairly hectic time of year!

Anyway, as far as Kawasaki's success in 2008 goes; I think it's very much up in the air.. Im undecided about the quality of the Kawasaki package, as a whole: funding, team members, getting their .... sorted, im just not 100% convinced that Kwak will advance as much as Honda/Yam will and with Ducati allready clearly strongest, well, you get the picture..

Rider wise, it's a pretty darn strong lineup, (despite what some uneducated naysayers think) they both get along very well (reportedly) and will push each other to the optimum results that the bike(s) are capable of..

If the package progresses from its occasional promising showings this year, then they should be fighting for top 5 placings throughout the 08 season, top 10 at the very least.

I expect Hopper to outpace Westy to begin with, but i do think Ant will only get stronger and stronger as the year progresses, whereas Hopper has just about reached his peak as a GP rider, IMO..

Anyway, its all heresay and conjecture at this point.. Only time will tell! Honestly though, i really cannot wait for the 2008 season to kick off, with the newcomers injected and the dead-wood removed, the .... is going to hit the fan in this place, especially with one JT banging elbows with the rest.. Golden times ahead

Peace out..

De Puniet is a .... rider but with TC he is really good until it fails and he wrecks the bike but hes certainly a good rider for the way things are in the sport now.

Wow, someones been on the nasty stuff tonight.