Melandri will race Kawasaki in MotoGP!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Feb 26 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>looks like we will have a backmarker after all... LINK

MOTOGP » Melandri will race Kawasaki in MotoGP!

This is on MCN as well so it must be true; they are saying marco is waiting for the qatar test to commit.

Hard to see it going anywhere when they were already backmarkers last year as you say.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Feb 26 2009, 01:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This is on MCN as well so it must be true; they are saying marco is waiting for the qatar test to commit.

Hard to see it going anywhere when they were already backmarkers last year as you say.
spot the oxymoron

MotoGP.com .... them ......s what they say..rofl
they said Eurosport had lost motogp coverage lol
now they say Eurosport will continue to show motogp..

Melandri prob his best idea is test the bike if its ..... then dont bother with the Kwak

Hopefully he decides to ride. I don't like Kawasaki's, but that bike seemed pretty decent and it would be a shame to have it go to waste...I do think Marco could keep things interesting, even though Dorna only wants him as a filler. Hopefully that won't get to him.

Dorna: "Hey, we'll pay you a couple million dollars to fill the grid this season. Maybe cause a few big wrecks, make things interesting." (not an actual quote)

We'll see what he decides to do with it. Hopefully he'll put his heart into it, but I won't keep my hopes too high.

this is annoying helping out a huge company wtf.... they should be gettin teamKR back on the scene they had a better machine than that piece of crap.

kawasaki are just dam loosers that give up to easily total shambles....

I hope it is true... A few years ago Melandri was one of the top riders...i felt bad for him last season. Hopefully he could get that ...... kawasaki in the top 10 a few times, if he decides to race of course.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Feb 26 2009, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>this is annoying helping out a huge company wtf.... they should be gettin teamKR back on the scene.
In a word: Absolutely. The voice of reason!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Melandri wrote "for the moment, we will test the bike at Losail, we will see whether it's going to be worth racing the bike after the test: if the bike's a disaster, we will all go home."

Wow, you really inspire hope and dedication Melandri, surely you are the right man for the challenge. (I say, just go home now and spare us the diary entry that is sure to come about how the 'bike' is ...., that you will not risk injury, and you're crying yourself to sleep.)

Newsflash, the bike was .... last year while the company's balance books where super inflated from stock value. Now that they have an excuse to throw their 3rd tier engineers, I doubt they will get much better. (Disclaimer, that is unless Dorna ban development for all the other teams but extend a wavier to Dornasaki).

For one, as a fan of the sport, I'm glad we will see some form of a Kawasaki on the grid. Funny how they called it "constructive talks" more like Dorna lawyers got around a table across from Kawaker lawyers and said, look, we plan on spending about as much time suing you as you will spend on a one-man team, so lets just race and everybody looks good and happy.

But you bring up an excellent point Jaz, and that is, if Dorna (undoubtly providing a BAILOUT of Kawasaki) wouldn't their efforts be better served putting an entry that on a shoe-string budget can put a competitive team on the grid with alittle help. I'd think this would be better for the show itself. Of course, Dorna is probably thinking Kawasaki, a global brand, will retain more views. This must be the explanation, since when Team KR left, you didn't hear as much as a rat-fart in protest.

Another thing, and for sure this will most likely be the topic of conversation (perhaps more posts on the 'lets .... on Hopkin's thread pete/austin ) the question is: why Melandri? I'm thinking, besides him being a more marketable guy (damn his stomach for a challenge), I'm thinking his contract clauses have something to with that "constructive talk" the lawyers had. In other words, I'm thinking, the way his contract was worded may have lead to a better legal standing to get him on the bike (Disclaimer: all speculative on my part).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 26 2009, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Another thing, and for sure this will most likely be the topic of conversation (perhaps more posts on the 'lets .... on Hopkin's thread pete/austin ) the question is: why Melandri? I'm thinking, besides him being a more marketable guy (damn his stomach for a challenge), I'm thinking his contract clauses have something to with that "constructive talk" the lawyers had. In other words, I'm thinking, the way his contract was worded may have lead to a better legal standing to get him on the bike (Disclaimer: all speculative on my part).
I think it ultimately comes down to marketability and who appeals the most to sponsors. But I had the question written down in the reply box a few hours ago but deleted it as I thought it might be misconstrued as .... stirring, but how do you think Hopkins feels about this? Dorna bails out his factory just enough to get one bike out of them and then pass him over for Melandri? Where's John's handout? Where's Kenny Roberts's handout? Where's Ilmor's handout? Where's WCM's handout?

I really think Marco is racing for free (or close). Why else would he say Hopper is "about the money"? Kwak either had a per-race pay structure or just bailed on their rider contracts, forcing expensive litigation for any potential salary recovery. Marketability plays a hudge role because it = money to offset the project costs.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Feb 26 2009, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I really think Marco is racing for free (or close). Why else would he say Hopper is "about the money"?

Can you please direct me to where/when Marco said this?

Why not Hopkins though ? At least he will go out there and give %100 or die trying. I would say that Melandri is an aweful marketing asset. One thing Hopkins didn't really do is come out and talk .... about how the bike is a piece of ..... But Melandri has a track record of complaining and .... talking. All bad publicity. If one has to decide betweenm Melandri and Hopkins it's a no brainer IMO

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Feb 26 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why not Hopkins though ? At least he will go out there and give %100 or die trying. I would say that Melandri is an aweful marketing asset. One thing Hopkins didn't really do is come out and talk .... about how the bike is a piece of ..... But Melandri has a track record of complaining and .... talking. All bad publicity. If one has to decide betweenm Melandri and Hopkins it's a no brainer IMO

Agree Sacky. But you know, I was pondering for a moment while my cynical hat was on, and I thought about this connection. Tell me what you (or whoever) think. I mentioned the marketability issue, as Austin also agreed, I got me thinking, could Drona have pushed for Marco since bringing back Hopkins might conflict with a certain energy drink brand being placed squarely on the head of the cash cow of the sport...a certain Yamaha rider?

Hummm....I wonder.


I'm thinking its really looking like Hopper's MotoGP career is over. By taking the Monster Energy Money (which really helped keep Hopper in the game) and putting it on Rossi, a better marketing value, this effectively made Hopkins a disowned child. Hopkins has become KRorized.

Dorna=backroom deals, preferential treatment deals, glamour deals, ...NOT competitive parity deals.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 26 2009, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Agree Sacky. But you know, I was pondering for a moment while my cynical hat was on, and I thought about this connection. Tell me what you (or whoever) think. I mentioned the marketability issue, as Austin also agreed, I got me thinking, could Drona have pushed for Marco since bringing back Hopkins might conflict with a certain energy drink brand being placed squarely on the head of the cash cow of the sport...a certain Yamaha rider?

Hummm....I wonder.


I'm thinking its really looking like Hopper's MotoGP career is over. By taking the Monster Energy Money (which really helped keep Hopper in the game) and putting it on Rossi, a better marketing value, this effectively made Hopkins a disowned child.
I wouldn't think there are/would be any conflicts regarding Monster. When it was announced that Monster had signed Rossi they said that it was unrelated to the money assigned to Hopkins. Regardless, I would think that Monster would love having more of a presence on the grid knowing Red Bull has about half the grid in their pocket. I think it comes down to Marco being more familiar to potential sponsors as he came up in Italy and through the 125 and 250 ranks. He's a regular GP guy from a GP background from a GP crazy country. It makes sense, even if the on-track results from the two is a toss up.

I wouldn't say it's the end of Hopper's MotoGP career, he's still young. Can't be any older than 25 I wouldn't think. He's got to do something to keep busy this season, whether it's testing for a factory or what, he's got to ride. Then in 2010 I would think landing a decent WSBK ride shouldn't be too difficult, they're always looking to hire guys recently exiled from GPs. Hopper's marketability to the largest sport bike market in the world and Monster backing should make him a hot property in 2010. A return to Suzuki at Alstare seems a possibility not too far fetched. They're looking for money and replacing Kagayama must be high on their list. Hopkins would be a good fit so long as he can bring Monster to the team. Back to my point, impress in WSBK (which I think is well within his abilities) and it could be back to MotoGP in 2012.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 26 2009, 07:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Can you please direct me to where/when Marco said this?
He expects to be the private Kawasaki team's only rider, as he claimed that potential teammate John Hopkins had chosen not to be involved.

"Hopkins has given up: in his opinion money is more important, while now we have to race for nothing," said Melandri. "I'm ready to invest in myself. I'll be alone."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73315

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Feb 26 2009, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't think there are/would be any conflicts regarding Monster. When it was announced that Monster had signed Rossi they said that it was unrelated to the money assigned to Hopkins.

I agree with most of your post except this part.

Dude, you're gonna go believing at face value their statement? Haha, less I remind you the statements other Dorna-& (submit partner here) press releases and their "reasoning" that later seemed to make no sense: ie Bstone saga. I wouldn't put anything past Dorna-&co.

The was NOT 'new' money brotha, that money was 're-allocated' (notice who this has re-located in it).

Austin, do you ever listen to 'Rage Against the Machine'? Don't be a sucka of a press release.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Feb 26 2009, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>wait till he races the Kaw heap... with little to no backing and no ....... bike development... he'll be wishing he took the year off.
I'm predicting he won't be the last guy, but he will be a back <strike>marco</strike> marker for sure. But he will have the benefit of an excuse. (unlike while on the Duc). Even Hopper was able to have a fifth place finish once on the Kwak. So I do expect Melandri to have a couple of top tens somewhere or another, maybe in the rain perhaps?

Who knows, maybe now that he has an excuse, the pressure and bar will be lowered and he won't feel so under the gun. This might relax his insecurities and we might see a few good finishes...but I doubt it.

But I will predict that if Marco is consistently LAST, he won't stay on and fight for improvement. He strikes me as a guy with the intestinal fortitude to meet a challenging machine about as much as Frenchman in war.