Kawasaki

If we had Elias, Capi, Melandri, and West on Ducati ONLY/EVER (and never Stoner)--would we be saying the same thing about Ducati?

If we put Rossi on a Kawasaki, what would happen? Very intriguing to speculate, what might happen?

It must be very expensive for Kawasaki to field a team (with no other sponsor) because frankly, Kawasaki is the sponsor (I actually like that, their bikes look very cool). I don't think they are in it for the fun of it. I do think they are trying (maybe not enough) but the other factories are trying harder it seems. But wait, we have a championship brand in Ducati, that devastated the field and runs the current champ, so then why do the rest of their bikes (it seems) suck? Maybe Kawasaki doesn’t suck, but haven't found that synergetic harmony of rider and bike that Ducati/Stoner or Yamaha/Rossi (and to a more obvious extent. Honda/Pedrosa) have found. I think for the most part, most reasonable and informed posters agree that Melandri & Hopkins are talented yet are struggling this year. I'm not gonna look who said it here, but somebody here on the forum has said Hopkins sucks; obviously they must not be factoring in those mechanically-not-rider-fault DNFs he has suffered. So barring ridiculous assessments like this, we must then point to the machine in his case. But then again, we may have a situation where a very capable machine, having very peculiar characteristics (as with Ducati/Stoner) can only be taken to it potential by a unique rider. These are just questions to ponder. I don't know the answers to Kawasaki’s problems.

But I do know these facts: They are non-competitive in MotoGP, WSBK, and the AMA (except for Suppersort under Tommy & Roger Lee Hayden). Other than that, they are certainly the poorest effort in the three major forms of racing I follow. (If somebody could enlighten me how they fair in the BSB, that would be nice...but I bet they are about as good as WSBK). Anyway, who knows, I suppose your guess is as good as any.

Oh, by the way, citing what Hopper is paid is irrelevant. It has very little to do with the development of the bike (Kawasaki has enough resources to pay the rider and not be hurt by their payroll). If it did matter, then that’s mismanagement of budget, in which case its still management’s fault. Why this comes up in discussions about him related to Kawasaki’s racing effort is ........! If you are prepared to walk into your employer’s office tomorrow morning and request a pay 'decrease' you are brain dead, so posting it as relevant is just you being jealous or a very stupid hater. Last I check Suzuki isn't setting the world a blaze in race wins, with two very capable riders I might add.

Vermy and Suzuki still have one win on Hopper and Kawi.

I'm curious that this poll has the timing it does. Granted, Hopkins had another mechanical DNF, but West, the penultimate backmarker actually finished 10th...in the dry. I'd heard that they just had a test and got some things sorted. Maybe this is the turning point and things will be better?

Although, as much as I don't like to admit it, they won't be contesting any wins this year and probably not next year either. Not with those two, but stranger things have happened.

I voted that both riders suck, because West was never up to scratch and Hopkins is too new to the team to know what direction to take things.

I believe the Kawasaki is a good bike as it proved last couple seasons.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Jun 25 2008, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I voted that both riders suck, because West was never up to scratch and Hopkins is too new to the team to know what direction to take things.

I believe the Kawasaki is a good bike as it proved last couple seasons.

Let's not forget that Kawasaki motorcross riders have been pretty dominant the last few years in the 450 and 250 classes in the US..
You might say that is because James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto are way better than everyone else
which is true but their teammates have also shared the podium with them just about every week.
I know this isn't about MotoGP but Motocross here is a way bigger sport than road racing.
Kawasaki and Suzuki are a lot smaller in terms of their share in the motorcycle market here. So yes they are a smaller company.
I don't know what their percentage of dirt bike sales are compared to the others but I wonder if they are more focused on the dirt bikes because they know that is where their sales are going to be.

One thing I find strange is that after Roger Lee was injured he was not replaced with a wildcard rider on the superbike or the supersport class.
Kawi's only factory effort in the AMA right now is Jamie Hacking on the Superbike.
I would think they would put someone else on the bike for further development and exposure.
To me it seems like they don't give a .... about the racing program.
How does that relate to Moto Gp? I don't know? Could it be that is prevailing attitude of the whole company.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnnyKnockdown @ Jun 25 2008, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Let's not forget that Kawasaki motorcross riders have been pretty dominant the last few years in the 450 and 250 classes in the US..
You might say that is because James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto are way better than everyone else
Johnny, I gotta call you on this suggestion that Kawasaki is successful in MX/SX simply because a certain rider happens to have a green bike on the podium, then as a mild blip say it may be because Bubba "might" be better. Dude, Kawasaki is nothing without Bubba Stewart. How many race wins (or even close podiums) did Kawasaki get after Stewart dropped out of Supercross this year? Come on, we can't say Kawasaki is even marginally successful without first making the case that its almost all due to the fact that they have the best and most extraordinarily talented rider in SX/MX today (not even a close second).

So please, Kawasaki is NOT successful in SX/MX whatsoever without these two top guys. Its almost like saying Honda were pretty good when Carmichael rode for them, WTF did Honda have to do with Ricky being the GOAT?--almost nothing. SX/MX are totally different than MotoGP in that the bike has much less to do with the results than the ability of the rider. Let me ask you, do you think Bubba would have any problem wining on any bike (HON,KAW,SUZ,YAM) tomorrow if he so chose to ride another brand in Motocross? Now compare your answer to the question, do you think Rossi (the standard of talent in GP) would win outright in the next race on a Kawasaki? Please, it has very little to do with Kawasaki, and 99% to do with Steward.