RL Hayden to WSBK

Austin · Jan 13, 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 13 2010, 05:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Are you suggesting that without these relative disadvantages you believe RLH is Championship material? Perhaps in a few years?
Put RL on the best package out there and I think he's a regular top 10 guy (after a year of familiarity with the circuits. Not much more.

Jumkie · Jan 14, 2010

I was reading this article today and it made me think of RL. LINK

This, my friends, is the state of Kawasaki. They are like this at all levels, national and world. They are not serious about racing, this is why they don't win ..... This is why RL will look like .... at WSBK, because Kawasaki has no passion for racing and ZERO LOYALTY TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL RIDERS (RL, Hacking, Szoke, etc). They just make a bike to sell, but this is not their mainstay.

mylexicon · Jan 14, 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 14 2010, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was reading this article today and it made me think of RL. LINK

This, my friends, is the state of Kawasaki. They are like this at all levels, national and world. They are not serious about racing, this is why they don't win ..... This is why RL will look like .... at WSBK, because Kawasaki has no passion for racing and ZERO LOYALTY TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL RIDERS (RL, Hacking, Szoke, etc). They just make a bike to sell, but this is not their mainstay.

I don't think it has much to do with the Japanese parent companies b/c they've been trying to divest from SBK for quite some time. I believe the problem is specific to North American operations. The collapse of AMA SBK is a good case study for how they operate (maximize collateral damage at all times), and most of the riders you reference are employed by the North American bosses.

Kawasaki Japan honored Hopper's contract and they even came to an amicable split so Hopper could harm what remained of his reputation on the Stiggy Honda squad. I think the NA racing programs were Sjornstrom's baby. He's gone, and the riders have got to answer to the bean counters now.

povol · Jan 14, 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jan 15 2010, 12:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think it has much to do with the Japanese parent companies b/c they've been trying to divest from SBK for quite some time. I believe the problem is specific to North American operations. The collapse of AMA SBK is a good case study for how they operate (maximize collateral damage at all times), and most of the riders you reference are employed by the North American bosses.

Kawasaki Japan honored Hopper's contract and they even came to an amicable split so Hopper could harm what remained of his reputation on the Stiggy Honda squad. I think the NA racing programs were Sjornstrom's baby. He's gone, and the riders have got to answer to the bean counters now.
But like Jumkie said,they are like this on all levels,GP and WSBK. They make a hell of a product and built their reputation on having the baddest ... fire breathing hair on fire machines you could buy.
Mach 3 , Mach 4, Z1, GPZ, ZX11,zx12r, zx14, but for some reason,never took racing seriously. Every once in a while,they will run a cross a rider like Russell,Chandler etc that wins because they are who they are,but overall,their racing history leaves a lot to be desired from a company that built its name on performance. As far RLH, i want him to do well but i agree with Austin,he has not shown to this point he can ride a superbike. He is magic on a 600 when healthy,[physically and mentally] but hasnt shown .... on the big boy bikes

mylexicon · Jan 15, 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Jan 14 2010, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But like Jumkie said,they are like this on all levels,GP and WSBK. They make a hell of a product and built their reputation on having the baddest ... fire breathing hair on fire machines you could buy.
Mach 3 , Mach 4, Z1, GPZ, ZX11,zx12r, zx14, but for some reason,never took racing seriously. Every once in a while,they will run a cross a rider like Russell,Chandler etc that wins because they are who they are,but overall,their racing history leaves a lot to be desired from a company that built its name on performance. As far RLH, i want him to do well but i agree with Austin,he has not shown to this point he can ride a superbike. He is magic on a 600 when healthy,[physically and mentally] but hasnt shown .... on the big boy bikes

I think they've built their reputation on being "out there". Huge power and performance are definitely part of the equation, but they like taking big risks.

The new ZX10R is rumored to feature a small electric motor that will turn the crank at low rpm b/c they are going to use a massive gap between firing instances. Also, in 2008 they completely remade their entire GP team after building one of the best Kawasaki race bikes they have ever made.

Their marketshare is minute so I'd imagine the motorcycle people are usually begging Kawasaki Heavy Industries to keep the division alive.

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