Kwak OUT?!?!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jan 2 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Migs isn't it Hayden's fault ...


BRILLIANT!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 2 2009, 08:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And getting a hangover cuz you stayed out all night with umbrella girls cuz you got in a fight with your girlfriend is hardly a reason to blame a man. Man rules, something you don't know about...
If John was more of a man then his girlfriend would be more satisfied with him....but I am sure he does the job for you.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jan 3 2009, 12:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Migs isn't it Hayden's fault that we are in this mess anyway.

Nothing of what is happening to GPs is Nicky's fault....that would be giving him credit for something.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jan 3 2009, 01:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Migs isn't it Hayden's fault that we are in this mess anyway.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jan 3 2009, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nothing of what is happening to GPs is Nicky's fault....that would be giving him credit for something.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jan 2 2009, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Though the article was about the GP problem....the point being made and the topic of the thread is about Kawasaki's possible pull out of GPs....Hopper's salary is an example of team Green spending money on a part or a tool that did not give any improvement their performance at all....

The rest of the American riders should stay if they can get good results to show they are worth their salary. If they are not then they can/will be shown the door.

Regarding Rossi.....I think his 2009 title and several wins....and his and JBs development of the M1 over past few years show he is worth every penny paid to him and more.....the same cannot be said about Hopkins....
What thte .... is you rproblem with the americans in GP? IF anyone should be gone who is a ...... waste of a seat is Randy piece of .... Depoopyeah! He has wasted more money on the bikes he crashed this year. Then you have Sylvain Guintoli who NEVER should have even been in GP. Oh what about Shitya Nakano who pretty much was a no show where ever he raced. At least an American won the championship in 06 and 00. I think that there is room for americans without question since it is a huge market that has been growing now with Indy and Laguna on the schedule. Sure Hopper isn't the best or really I should say at his best since he has been injured for most of the year. He is pretty good just look at his last year at suzuki. I think he should have stayed with them instead of going to Kawi but that is how it goes eh. If he can get the front to stick better I would venture to guess he would have a much better chance at being up on the podium.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What thte .... is you rproblem with the americans in GP?
None....I think Colin deserves to stay in GPs and he deserved the 2003 Repsol ride over the guy who got it. Hoppers rides should have been McCoys (a proven winner).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>IF anyone should be gone who is a ...... waste of a seat is Randy piece of .... Depoopyeah! He has wasted more money on the bikes he crashed this year.
Agreed

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Then you have Sylvain Guintoli who NEVER should have even been in GP.
Agreed...you will note he is gone from GPs....much like Byrne and Ellison as well

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh what about Shitya Nakano who pretty much was a no show where ever he raced.
Yep....can't argue with that since Tamada was a much better token Japenese rider in MotoGP.....but now we have Takahashi

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>At least an American won the championship in 06 and 00.
KRJR won the title in 2000....
Rossi's bike/tyres lost the title for him in 2006, and Nicky had the most points at the end of the season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think that there is room for americans without question since it is a huge market that has been growing now with Indy and Laguna on the schedule.
Did you buy a new bike in 2008 that reflects your support of your favorite rider? If so then you have contributed to that huge market otherwise you did not and so Kwak may have lost your business and so lost money to go racing with Hopper.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jan 3 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sure Hopper isn't the best or really I should say at his best since he has been injured for most of the year. He is pretty good just look at his last year at suzuki. I think he should have stayed with them instead of going to Kawi but that is how it goes eh. If he can get the front to stick better I would venture to guess he would have a much better chance at being up on the podium.
I agree....but Hopper will never win GP race on any bike even when in the best of health.....he has loads of potential.....just like everyone else and some of those you mention above...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72609

I love this quote from Marco's manager

"But if you think that (Dani) Pedrosa has won six Grands Prix in his career and Marco five, then it's obvious that MotoGP can't do without someone like Melandri. However, if Dorna is not interested in having strong riders taking part in the races, then it's another matter. Now it's up to Dorna to make a move."

I guess this spells doom for the like of Hopper and RDP.

This has been a fun read. Who doesn't enjoy Hopper bashing? The guy is living out all of our dreams, racing a GP bike for a living, making loads of money, sleeping with models and umbrella girls on a regular basis (it was his own stupid fault he got married) and traveling the world. What I wouldn't give for that life. Lucky for me, Hopkins is a ...... bag and continually makes poor decisions which lead to his potential continually dropping, thus it makes it easier for me to hide my dislike for him in his poor results, rather than the truth of the matter. Which is that I am insanely jealous of the pearly toothed .......

If Aspar does save the day for Kawasaki, it will be on his terms. Which is a one rider team with a Spanish sponsor and a Spanish rider. It won't solve any of Melandri or Hopkins' problems but it will keep Kawasaki "in" MotoGP and it will keep enough riders on the grid. That is to say, if this goes through in the end.

Migs I can't say I disagree with most of your points. I don't like them but most are relatively close to the mark, even if your distaste for the yanks is pretty evident. But McCoy? Really? That experiment has been tried countless times in MotoGP and failed. It was tried multiple times in WSBK and failed. It's being tried in WSS and failing. He's a one hit wonder. The most spectacular one hit wonder this sport has ever seen.

Aspar was interviewed yesterday.

link(Spanish)

In short, he wants 2009 bikes, supply of parts, maintenance and one Spanish rider to go through, and he said everything is in the air so far only DORNA contacted him, now Ezpeleta is in Japan in a meeting with MSMA and in 10 or 12 days there might be more news about this.

IMO this is not very likely to happen, Aspar's sponsor whoever it is must be feeling the crisis just like everyone else, and the cost of what Aspar wants probably is too much for this sponsor. If I find out who it is I'll tell you if it's feasible or not.

IF it does go through, most likely Melandri stays (Aspar rates him highly), Hopper and his sponsor will be kicked out.

BTW MotoGP has always been the premier class and it will continue to be as long as the best riders of the other series go to MotoGP and get in exchange the loosers and fossiles from MotoGP. Just because WSBK has a lot of wannabes, hasbeens and neverhasbeens on the grid doesn't make it a higher level racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Jan 5 2009, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>BTW MotoGP has always been the premier class and it will continue to be as long as the best riders of the other series go to MotoGP and get in exchange the loosers and fossiles from MotoGP. Just because WSBK has a lot of wannabes, hasbeens and neverhasbeens on the grid doesn't make it a higher level racing.

Hahaha, this part had me laughing. Its amazing how in such a place as this, a forum for MotoGP enthusiast, how so many do NOT understand the sport. This a prototype series where the machine matters a lot. You clowns go all ape .... on the guys at the back as if their talent can overcome the .... bikes they ride and pass judgment that they themselves are ..... Then go all .... sucking the guy who has had the best .... to contend with, while rationalizing losing a couple of titles while still being on the second best package, yet blaming it on bike/tires. The guys in the standard bike series are just as good (and some better) but didn’t have Rossi’s package every year to post the results and all of a sudden they are deemed not ever good enough. Hahaha. Put the “man” on a Kawasaki and lets see how great the benchmark of greatness really is!

All you Hopkins bashers crack me up. Do any of you remember Czech race or Misano 07. While Hopkins was on his subpar Suzuki, he was matching the fastest guy lap for lap, yeah, Stoner (Rossi hasn’t been the ‘fastest’ guy for a couple of years running, not even this year). Now Rossi was in the back trying to sort out something but was looking very weak, this in his home race (closest to his house). Now tell me something, did Rossi forget how to ride, or was he been affected by his bike? Was Hopkins finally a genius that year or was his bike a mid-pack machine (certainly not on par with the Yamaha, if ever there was a better Suzuki to a Yamaha/Honda). Now this is no Rossi bashing, but I’m using the benchmark of greatness that many of you seem to use to compare to ...... results, but yet none of you (at least reasonable people) would ever think he could have achieved this on a bike like a Kawasaki or Suzuki for that matter. Put Rossi on a Suzuki/Kawasaki and ask yourself, how many titles would that great personality have won? Funny, but many of you would have been saying, hey, lets get rid of that Italian, he hasn’t done .... while in MotoGP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 5 2009, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hahaha, this part had me laughing. Its amazing how in such a place as this, a forum for MotoGP enthusiast, how so many do NOT understand the sport. This a prototype series where the machine matters a lot. You clowns go all ape .... on the guys at the back as if their talent can overcome the .... bikes they ride and pass judgment that they themselves are ..... Then go all .... sucking the guy who has had the best .... to contend with, why rationalizing losses a couple of titles while still being on the second best package, yet blaming it on bike/tires. The guys in the standard bike series are just as good (and some better) but didn’t have Rossi’s package every year to post the results and all of a sudden they are deemed not ever good enough. Hahaha. Put the “man” on a Kawasaki and lets see how great the benchmark of greatness really is!

All you Hopkins bashers crack me up. Do any of you remember Czech race or Misano 07. While Hopkins was on his subpar Suzuki, he was matching the fastest guy lap for lap, yeah, Stoner (Rossi hasn’t been the ‘fastest’ guy for a couple of years running, not even this year). Now Rossi was in the back trying to sort out something but was looking very weak, this in his home race (closest to his house). Now tell me something, did Rossi forget how to ride, or was he been affected by his bike? Was Hopkins finally a genius that year or was his bike a mid-pack machine (certainly not on par with the Yamaha, if ever there was a better Suzuki to a Yamaha/Honda). Now this is no Rossi bashing, but I’m using the benchmark of greatness that many of you seem to use to compare to ...... results, but yet none of you (at least reasonable people) would ever think he could have achieved this on a bike like a Kawasaki or Suzuki for that matter. Put Rossi on a Suzuki/Kawasaki and ask yourself, how many titles would that great personality have won? Funny, but many of you would have been saying, hey, lets get rid of that Italian, he hasn’t done .... while in MotoGP.

+1

I have said it before, if Rossi wants to prove he is greater then the Amazing Ago, then win a championship for Kawasaki. If he moved to team green and won a title within 2 years of the move he would in my mind unequivocally earn the title of GOAT.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 5 2009, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hahaha...

Isn't it kind of accepted that the creme will always rise to the top no matter what?? The idea that anybody would challenge this notion is unbelievable Rossi would surely win on the Kwak .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Jan 5 2009, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>+1

I have said it before, if Rossi wants to prove he is greater then the Amazing Ago, then win a championship for Kawasaki. If he moved to team green and won a title within 2 years of the move he would in my mind unequivocally earn the title of GOAT.

I would also like to request that he get the same half ... support and team as Hopper and West had.

JB would then be moved to the Hayden camp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jan 5 2009, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I would also like to request that he get the same half ... support and team as Hopper and West had.

JB would then be moved to the Hayden camp.

Five bucks says we get a few apologist coming to rescue.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Jan 5 2009, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If he moved to team green and won a title within 2 years of the move he would in my mind unequivocally earn the title of GOAT.
Booty, I know you and I both can appreciate the Rossi's talent. Hell, I was truly amazed this year seeing him at Laguna no more than feet away from the action on some turns during practice, let not even mention the race. But its usually the cult-type fans (and US bashers like Migs) who are quick to .... on Hopkins for poor results on the Kwaker. All I'm saying is, if were gonna crown one man the greatest, then how can we assess those on lessor machines?

These fools blaming Hopkins paycheck as adding to their narrow minded perception of poor results. Isn't that a bit like blaming a high priced movie star for the price of a movie ticket regardless of whether you liked the movie?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 5 2009, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>These fools blaming Hopkins paycheck as adding to their narrow minded perception of poor results. Isn't that a bit like blaming a high priced movie star for the price of a movie ticket regardless of whether you liked the movie?

One thing is for sure about Hopper is he tries his ... off, to the point where he in-dangers himself. Obviously the Kwak was not a good bike and he pushed it beyond the limits, hence why he spent more time in a hospital bed than on the track. He could have taken the Melandri route and strolled around the track because he wasn't comfortable, but he chose to see what he could get out of the bike, I have to respect him for that. Because of this I know that MotoGP and winning means more to him than just a paycheck.

^I agree. I think Hopkins definitely tried a bit harder than Melandri for example although it didn't really bring better results.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jan 5 2009, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>One thing is for sure about Hopper is he tries his ... off, to the point where he in-dangers himself. Obviously the Kwak was not a good bike and he pushed it beyond the limits, hence why he spent more time in a hospital bed than on the track. He could have taken the Melandri route and strolled around the track because he wasn't comfortable, but he chose to see what he could get out of the bike, I have to respect him for that. Because of this I know that MotoGP and winning means more to him than just a paycheck.

Dude, that is an excellent point. I had not thought about it like that. And this coming from a guy who was a Melandri fan for many years (see my avatar). But you are so right man. And now look, most are nodding toward Melandri because of his Honda wins. Ah, we can only imagine how Melandri would have faired on the Suzuki. Melandri is a bit of an enigma for me. I liked the guy (reason why I painted my bike with his spiderman replica). I've seen him do great things, at Laguna he crashed his bike during qual in turn 3, I saw it with my own two eyes! That crash looked so bad I though it would end his season. Then he podiumed that same weekend. Wow. But then he went all girly and posted on his online diary (for the world to see) about how he was crying (literally, with tears and ....) about the Honda support. He even said he wouldn't try for position as a ....-u to Honda. He got canned and picked up by Ducati, only to say the bike felt like he was on a wet track and chose to ride around at that pace. Everybody pegged the Ducati as the "best" bike, yet Marco was hard pressed to beat the worst bike on the grid, Kwaker.

Machine matters, some have it some don't, but so does intestinal fortitude and class; something Hopkins has. Just read the report on crash.net. We are all in agreement that Kawasaki is out, Hopkins is not willing to talk about it since he hasn't got an official word. That is what professionals do, they don't air out their dirty laundry.

Hopkins 2007 season was enough proof to me he has talent to be a top Moto GP rider. He finished the overall championship 4th on a Suzuki in the first year of the 800cc formula. It was this performance in 2007 that got Kwak's attention, they wanted to buy a "top 5 rider" so that is what they did. They knew he had the talent, but the results for 2008 speak for themselves, the Kawasaki/Hopkins combo sucks. Nearly everyone involved in motosport will agree that Kawasaki has struggled (aka sucked bigtime) in MotoGP, and this "sucking" we can almost all agree is one of the main reasons they are quick to pull out when times are tough economically.

Bring back 990cc, simpler machines, expand the grid, may the best man win.

Even though Yamaha has more positive history in GP than Kawasaki,they were .... when Rossi arrived.It was an electronic turd that no one could figure out on a regular basis.Im not a Rossi fan BUT,i do believe him and Burgess could sort out the Kwak and win with it.The Yamaha had a front end shimmy that they could not get rid of for 2 years.Burgess and Rossi pin pointed and eliminated the problem in 2 months Rossi has 3 things going for him.One,he is a great rider,which doesnt just mean he is fast.He is a master at feedback and knowing what a bike wants.Two,he has Burgess,the guy that is on the same wave length as Rossi when it comes to implementing feedback.And three,he has star power that allows him to dictate many things,most notable,what goes on inside the factory he rides for.When any other rider,except maybe Pedro, comes out and blast the team he rides for and demands this or that,its usually the first step to out the door.When Rossi has a problem,it is addressed.If he says the engine needs more midrange,they go to work on it.He tells Dorna he wants tires,they go to work on it.He goes public saying electronics need to be cut back,they go to work on it.Not done yet but you can bet its coming.The guy has IT,whatever IT is.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Jan 5 2009, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>.And three...

Exactly. But take number 2 and 3 away, OR maybe just 3 and does he still win? This is the uneven playing field that all riders trying to beat Rossi are treading. He gets the support and he has the crew, wilst other riders like Westy beg for stuff all day long and get nothing.

On the other hand it was reported that Melandri recieved full support from Ducati and that didn't change ....

(sorry Jum, Melandri is an easy target right now, he's just a step above Pedro for riders I don't like)