RL Hayden to WSBK

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jan 5 2010, 11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i'm not much of a hacking fan but i would like to see this. he's excellent on the 600 but he's well into his 30s...
Hacking may be a possibility I didn't think of. He is deserving of a ride for sure but if you're going for old guys how bout B.Boz. He kicked everyone's ... on the 600 and already knows most of the world tracks.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnnyKnockdown @ Jan 5 2010, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hacking may be a possibility I didn't think of. He is deserving of a ride for sure but if you're going for old guys how bout B.Boz. He kicked everyone's ... on the 600 and already knows most of the world tracks.
BB kicked everyone's ... on a 600 when there was no one there to challenge him. If I remember correctly, Hacking was doing SBK only in 2008 and RL Hayden was hurt or doing the same as Hacker. His only competition was Zemke on the strangely slow Erion Honda and Josh Herrin who was still pretty green at the time.

I'm a huge BBoz fan but his world championship boat has sailed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 6 2010, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>BB kicked everyone's ... on a 600 when there was no one there to challenge him. If I remember correctly, Hacking was doing SBK only in 2008 and RL Hayden was hurt or doing the same as Hacker. His only competition was Zemke on the strangely slow Erion Honda and Josh Herrin who was still pretty green at the time.

I'm a huge BBoz fan but <span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%his world championship boat has sailed.
and sank..........

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 6 2010, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>BB kicked everyone's ... on a 600 when there was no one there to challenge him. If I remember correctly, Hacking was doing SBK only in 2008 and RL Hayden was hurt or doing the same as Hacker. His only competition was Zemke on the strangely slow Erion Honda and Josh Herrin who was still pretty green at the time.

I'm a huge BBoz fan but his world championship boat has sailed.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jan 6 2010, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>and sank..........

Yeah - but he did some world-class crusin' over the years. A life well spent.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Jan 6 2010, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah - but he did some world-class crusin' over the years. A life well spent.
Absolutely, he had a great career.

Geez, you guys talk like BBoz is dead. He's gonna be riding this year and I expect him to have a decent season. I have no doubt given a good ride in WSBK that he would hold his own. Thing is for whatever reason American riders stay in the AMA. Perhaps the money and comfort is to good, or the Euros are too cheap and offer the best seat (deserved or undeserved) to Euros. The man is pasted his prime but he still has more talent than half the field in WSBK/Moto2 IMHO, its the opportunity that is the problem. Plus he has a clothing line now, and I suspect this has created many distractions as well as creature comforts (if ya know what I mean). I can never fault the guy (and I know you guys are not) but at least he gave it a shot (unlike another AMA <strike>champ</strike> chump that will remain nameless).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 6 2010, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Geez, you guys talk like BBoz is dead. He's gonna be riding this year and I expect him to have a decent season. I have no doubt given a good ride in WSBK that he would hold his own. Thing is for whatever reason American riders stay in the AMA. Perhaps the money and comfort is to good, or the Euros are too cheap and offer the best seat (deserved or undeserved) to Euros. The man is pasted his prime but he still has more talent than half the field in WSBK/Moto2 IMHO, its the opportunity that is the problem. Plus he has a clothing line now, and I suspect this has created many distractions as well as creature comforts (if ya know what I mean). I can never fault the guy (and I know you guys are not) but at least he gave it a shot (unlike another AMA <strike>champ</strike> chump that will remain nameless).
I don't disagree with anything you said. All I'm saying is that there likely aren't any decent offers to go overseas anymore. I don't even think he's got that many decent offers in the states for him. How old is he now? 35? 36? The career is winding down, and a great career it's been.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 7 2010, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The career is winding down, and a great career it's been.

As the resident Bostrom hater I must disagree and say that the entire Boz clan are textbook examples of how to completely squander factory ride after factory ride. Europe figured this out quite some time ago and stayed way away from them. Name recognition in a stale AMA series are the only things that have kept them with jobs for the last 5 years.
As much as I dislike Mladin noone can argue that every single time he swung his leg over a bike you knew he was going to leave it all on the track. That type of attitude I expect from factory riders. There's plenty of young hungry privateers who would kill for a factory opportunity. The bostroms were always wildly inconsistent, unfocused and seemingly bored with racing as evidenced from there year to year statements about how they occasionally found racing fun again.
I hope to never meet them because they seem like real genuine guys and I would hate to have my mind changed but I can never fully respect what they did on the track.
I'm gotta go put my bulletproof vest on now

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnnyKnockdown @ Jan 7 2010, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As the resident Bostrom hater I must disagree and say that the entire Boz clan are textbook examples of how to completely squander factory ride after factory ride. Europe figured this out quite some time ago and stayed way away from them. Name recognition in a stale AMA series are the only things that have kept them with jobs for the last 5 years.
As much as I dislike Mladin noone can argue that every single time he swung his leg over a bike you knew he was going to leave it all on the track. That type of attitude I expect from factory riders. There's plenty of young hungry privateers who would kill for a factory opportunity. The bostroms were always wildly inconsistent, unfocused and seemingly bored with racing as evidenced from there year to year statements about how they occasionally found racing fun again.
I hope to never meet them because they seem like real genuine guys and I would hate to have my mind changed but I can never fully respect what they did on the track.
I'm gotta go put my bulletproof vest on now
As big of a Bostrom fan as I am, I don't think I've ever said anything to the contrary to that. It's a career I'd love to have. He had his four years in Europe, made a boatload of money, did whatever he wanted and continued to do the same when he came back to the states.

He had all the talent in the world but racing always seemed secondary to whatever hobby he had at the time. Partying, Italian supermodels, rock climbing, surfing, clothing lines, etc. I don't blame the guy, I'll bet he had a good time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnnyKnockdown @ Jan 7 2010, 06:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I hope to never meet them because they seem like real genuine guys and I would hate to have my mind changed but I can never fully respect what they did on the track.
I hear you bro, If you met them, I'm 100% sure they would change your mind brotha. Seriously. They are no ........, genuine, down to earth guys with just enough flair to admire them. In part, I agree with the general idea of what you are saying, that is, they seem not supremely focused like say a Mick Doohan. But it has allot to do with their personality. Think of it as two surfer dudes turned road racers. They simply have a different approach to life. But they put in their time bro, on a shoe string budget, going from race to race in a van that doubled as their living room.

I'm 90% sure I'm gonna be out there at Daytona this year. My buddy is building the bikes for Lenny Hail, a WERA racer that plans to do the 200. (In fact he's racing at Fontana this weekend, along with Noodlerizer). Plus, GatorDuc & Levigarret have invited me to stay with them. Anyway, my buddy who is building the bikes knows the Bostroms, and he told me we might actually hang out during down time; you are more than welcome to come with (KIM I will be a guest too). I'm sure you will see these guys mean business when they prepare for the race, but also intend to enjoy life while not on the track. At least its the impression I've got.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 7 2010, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As big of a Bostrom fan as I am

You should come with. Daytona 200.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 8 2010, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You should come with. Daytona 200.
I'd love to but working minimal hours has made vacationing anywhere very difficult. If I can land something with more hours in the meantime, I'll see what I can do. I'm not holding my breath though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 4 2010, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>BTW, you heard it here first. Benny Solis, the American Rookies Cup campion, got picked up by Graves Yamaha to ride WERA this year. The plan is to put him on a Graves AMA effort for the following year, and if everything works out, then seek a Moto2 ride. His ambition is to go to GP racing as soon as possible. I got my figures crossed.

I was wondering where he would end up. He pretty much struggled in his first year in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, but I think I read about him (or it could have been some other American in the Red Bull series) saying that European racing is much more aggressive than U.S.-based racing. So I guess he didn't really adjust well to that. But unfortunately he didn't get invited to participate in the 2010 RBR Cup, so he can't build on that experience. Though it's good he will be racing somewhere else to build his confidence back up and get back on track to where he wants to be.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (eltoro @ Jan 10 2010, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was wondering where he would end up. He pretty much struggled in his first year in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, but I think I read about him (or it could have been some other American in the Red Bull series) saying that European racing is much more aggressive than U.S.-based racing. So I guess he didn't really adjust well to that. But unfortunately he didn't get invited to participate in the 2010 RBR Cup, so he can't build on that experience. Though it's good he will be racing somewhere else to build his confidence back up and get back on track to where he wants to be.

I just spent the weekend pitted next to him at a WERA event in Fontana. First of all, the kid is nails. I'm really hoping to see great things from this kid.

I think you mean he struggled in the European Rookies cup, because he was the American Rookies cup champion. The kid was 13, the youngest in a series were the age limits were 13-16. The European rookies had just come off a season of running the European tracks, not to mention before they had made the cup, these are the vary tracks they were familiar with to begin with (keep in mind the tracks they ran in Europe span less than the geographic space as they did in the US.) Also, did you get to see any of the races here? I think they were fairly aggressive, check out Barber and Laguna race 1. The margin of victories were both within 1/1000th of a second and they were banging their bikes into eachother at the finish. So I think "aggression had less to do with it then track familiarity. BTW, speaking of European style riders, that same year, an American named JD Beach won the European Rookies cup. I'm not sure if he did get invited, but if he didn't, that is a big mistake by the organizers.

May i ask what those of you familiar with RL Hayden's history are expecting of him next year? Being in a non factory Kawasaki team can't be ideal, but maybe you guys will be hoping he can be favorably compared to other Kawasaki riders, if not Vermuellen then at least Tommy Sykes?

I'm only speaking for myself when I say RL Haydens season will be a dismal one. He will unfortunately be a one legged man in an ... kicking contest riding the Kawasaki. Finishing in the top 10 will be a pipe dream, top 20 on occasion. With that however I'll wager that if he stays healthy, he'll score more points than Hopkins did last year.
But given the current state of road racing in the USA what else was he to do?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L8Braker @ Jan 12 2010, 07:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm only speaking for myself when I say RL Haydens season will be a dismal one. He will unfortunately be a one legged man in an ... kicking contest riding the Kawasaki. Finishing in the top 10 will be a pipe dream, top 20 on occasion. With that however I'll wager that if he stays healthy, he'll score more points than Hopkins did last year.
But given the current state of road racing in the USA what else was he to do?
pretty optimistic aren't ya breaker...... yeah i almost agree but i think he'll fair a bit better or should i say hope to. i think he'll have a leg & a half in the kickin contest & toke on the pipe once & get at least 1 top ten maybe even a top 5..... at miller of course. hope springs eternal!

I agree that his potential top 10, he could score a top 10 on a few occasions depending on how well his machinery shakes out. On average, I'd say he's going to be a regular 14-19 kind of guy. I rate Sykes a fair bit higher.

ADJUSTMENTS

On a Kawasaki: -10 positions
On a supar Kawasaki team: -5 positions
On all new tracks: -5 positions

RL will be in the top 25 .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 12 2010, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ADJUSTMENTS

On a Kawasaki: -10 positions
On a supar Kawasaki team: -5 positions
On all new tracks: -5 positions

RL will be in the top 25 .

Are you suggesting that without these relative disadvantages you believe RLH is Championship material? Perhaps in a few years?

Roger Lee has talent, if on a better bike this year I would give him much better odds at top tens, but championship hopeful...very unlikely because of his unfamiliarity with the tracks.