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Westy the next one out of GP?

west or the Kawi

  • Kawasaki

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • West

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Both

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
ROCKGOD01

ROCKGOD01

Joined Jun 2008
2K Posts | 6+
America
This was on MCN
thttp://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/august/11-17/aug1308-west-would-sack-himself/?R=EPI-102282

West says if he was the boss he would fire himself due to bad results. If I was the Boss I would fire the bikes development team since they have never had a decent bike in MOTO GP yet to have a chance at winning. West is good and he really only has one year in Motogp.
 
West gets beat by his teammate almost every race.

Not to mention...

Hacking was doing double-duty (motogp and superbike) and was still faster than West all Laguna weekend.

I think that pretty much says it.
 
The Green bike gets my vote. I have a hard time understanding how some one can love the wet, but struggle in the dry. I think Ant's head is on crooked, but Kawasaki's is on backwards.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kawzx7R @ Aug 13 2008, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>West gets beat by his teammate almost every race.To nitpick, He's outpointed Hopper 4 times to Hopkins' 5.

However, that includes Hopkins' 6 DNF/DNS races...
 
I think West is on his way out of Moto GP.I haven't read anything that i can remember about his contract though.But if Melandri gets out of Ducati before the end of the year i think he is going to replace West.If Gresini don't want Melandri that is.
 
Keep in mind he has had only 1 full year in moto gp. He is pretty decent from time to time and certianly has the talent to ride the bike. Look at the previous year when he came in half way through the season. He did pretty good. I just think Kawasaki are really messing up the already messy situation they are in. Especailly since Ducati who's market share of products and available cash are NO WHERE near the revenue of Kawasaki and all that they have to pull from.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Aug 13 2008, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>To nitpick, He's outpointed Hopper 4 times to Hopkins' 5.

However, that includes Hopkins' 6 DNF/DNS races...

ok...

qatar: Hopkins 14th, west 17th

spain: hopkins 7th, west 13th

Portugal: hopkins 5th, west 16th

china: hopkins 14th, west 17th

France: hopkins DNF/mechanical, west 14th

Italy: hopkins DNF/crash, west 15th

spain: hopkins 10th (riding with pain-so it's said), west 12th

Donington: hopkins DNF/mechanical, west 10th

Assen: hopkins DNS, west DNF (this is the race in which hopkins was injured and will miss next two rounds)

germany: west 10th (out of 13 finishers)

USA: west 17th (last)

So the only times West has outscored Hopkins is when he DNF'd or DNS'd.

Hopkins missed two rounds and is STILL ahead of west in the points by 10

Casually judging by Hopkins results (not counting the DNFs), the bike is a top ten bike easy. I also don't think Hopkins is that great of a rider to begin with. It definitely would be interesting to see Melandri on it, if only for a few races.

If they were both finishing as bad as west, I'd have to agree the bike sucks. But they aren't, Hopkins has turned in some decent finishes in a few races.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kawzx7R @ Aug 14 2008, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ok...

qatar: Hopkins 14th, west 17th

spain: hopkins 7th, west 13th

Portugal: hopkins 5th, west 16th

china: hopkins 14th, west 17th

France: hopkins DNF/mechanical, west 14th

Italy: hopkins DNF/crash, west 15th

spain: hopkins 10th (riding with pain-so it's said), west 12th

Donington: hopkins DNF/mechanical, west 10th

Assen: hopkins DNS, west DNF (this is the race in which hopkins was injured and will miss next two rounds)

germany: west 10th (out of 13 finishers)

USA: west 17th (last)

So the only times West has outscored Hopkins is when he DNF'd or DNS'd.

Hopkins missed two rounds and is STILL ahead of west in the points by 10

Casually judging by Hopkins results (not counting the DNFs), the bike is a top ten bike easy. I also don't think Hopkins is that great of a rider to begin with. It definitely would be interesting to see Melandri on it, if only for a few races.

If they were both finishing as bad as west, I'd have to agree the bike sucks. But they aren't, Hopkins has turned in some decent finishes in a few races.
What a 5th and a 7th is good, dont think so also the Kawa put him in hospital a couple of times.
I would like to see Melandri on it ,to see how he goes, the Kawasaki is a career ending bike , looks like.
 
The Kawasaki isn't that great of a bike. Worse, I think, is the team Westy is on. It's clear he's lost at this depth of set up and is getting no help from his garage. The guy has plenty of talent, just can't seem to figure out setting up his bike. Hopefully he can land on his feet with a respectable ride in WSB.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 14 2008, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The Kawasaki isn't that great of a bike. Worse, I think, is the team Westy is on. It's clear he's lost at this depth of set up and is getting no help from his garage. The guy has plenty of talent, just can't seem to figure out setting up his bike. Hopefully he can land on his feet with a respectable ride in WSB.


I tend to agree, the Kawasaki isn't looking very clever this year. But, it would be interesting to see what a more experienced development rider could do with it. I think Melandri would be a good call for the team.

I read in MCN yesterday that Hopper would like to have CE as a team mate to develop the bike. I did laugh to myself at that one, I'm sure he would! Hopper would do well to go as "junior" rider in a team until he really does something like start winning races. His last teams have been with riders of roughly equal GP experience, as has been dicussed on here, the young rider and the more experienced rider set up works well for a team.

Obviously Ducati have turned that on it's head, but, niether Hopper or Westy is Casey Stoner. (And the Kawa certainly isn't the Desmoseidici!)

In my opinion, the rider line up for Kawasaki has done niether rider any favours, which is a shame, I like to see the green bikes mixing it with the big boys.

Pete
 
I voted for Kwak

I love how Melandri always gets the free pass.

Please throw up a comparison of Melandri and Stoner, Melandri and Westy. Oh, you say that only Stoner can ride the Duc. Yes this may be so. But then you claim that it would be nice to see Melandri develope the Kwak??? If he is such a good developer what happened at Duc? He hasn't really developed .... over at Ducati, please enlighten me on his developement resume'.

I have never been a fan of Westy but I have respect for him. I think you could make the same arguement for him. He needs to be on a competitive bike to show his true talents. And with a little more experience I think that he would be a very competitive in the mid pack.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pepik128 @ Aug 13 2008, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What a 5th and a 7th is good, dont think so also the Kawa put him in hospital a couple of times.
I would like to see Melandri on it ,to see how he goes, the Kawasaki is a career ending bike , looks like.

Every bike except the ducati has put one of it's riders in the hospital, some more than once this year also, so what's your point?
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 14 2008, 04:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I voted for Kwak

I love how Melandri always gets the free pass.

Please throw up a comparison of Melandri and Stoner, Melandri and Westy. Oh, you say that only Stoner can ride the Duc. Yes this may be so. But then you claim that it would be nice to see Melandri develope the Kwak??? If he is such a good developer what happened at Duc? He hasn't really developed .... over at Ducati, please enlighten me on his developement resume'.

I have never been a fan of Westy but I have respect for him. I think you could make the same arguement for him. He needs to be on a competitive bike to show his true talents. And with a little more experience I think that he would be a very competitive in the mid pack.


Is this directed at me? If so, my mistake, I didn't make myself clear.

I didn't mean to say that Melandri was an experienced development rider, but he is a more experienced rider than Hopper or West. And lets be honest, he has 5 more wins than the two of them put together at top level. That has got to be worth something to a team.

If you read my post further on, I'm saying that the situation at Kawasaki isn't doing either of the guys any favours. I'm not a fan of either of them really, (I certainly can't be accused of being a Hopkins fan! Have you read any of my previous posts on the guy!)

And I don't think I'm alone in saying that casey is the only guy who makes the Ducati work. Coz lets face it, he is.

Pete
 
Hopkins had a good first season on the 800cc (4th behind Stoner, Peders, Rossi), so Kawasaki decided he was going to be their best bet to pick up a veteran rider to bring their program forward, but the only thing that has happened is Hopkins has DNF'd due to mechanical or crashed in his pursuit to push the bike. I think West may not be as stupid as everyone thinks, the guy may realize that the green beast will try to kill you if it can. He certainly is more then willing to return to the WSBK/WSS ranks racing modified production machinery.

My take on Melandri, after this very demoralizing season on a gamble to try and tame the Duke, his only shot at returning to better performances would be to get back under the Honda umbrella.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Aug 14 2008, 09:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I tend to agree, the Kawasaki isn't looking very clever this year. But, it would be interesting to see what a more experienced development rider could do with it. I think Melandri would be a good call for the team.

I read in MCN yesterday that Hopper would like to have CE as a team mate to develop the bike. I did laugh to myself at that one, I'm sure he would! Hopper would do well to go as "junior" rider in a team until he really does something like start winning races. His last teams have been with riders of roughly equal GP experience, as has been dicussed on here, the young rider and the more experienced rider set up works well for a team.

Obviously Ducati have turned that on it's head, but, niether Hopper or Westy is Casey Stoner. (And the Kawa certainly isn't the Desmoseidici!)

In my opinion, the rider line up for Kawasaki has done niether rider any favours, which is a shame, I like to see the green bikes mixing it with the big boys.

Pete
I'm sure he would, then they could go to the strip club together and it would be considered a team building exercise rather than those two just going to the strip club.
 
If Melandri gets on that Kwak he`s going to start a fresh set of injuries for himself,he needs to be back at Honda where he didn`t struggle so much and gave good results.
<
 
yeah i don't see melandri doin so hot on the kwaker either. his confidence level must be on 0. he needs a honda if he has any chance at turning things around. west is out of his league & hoppers bike development skills are lacking.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Aug 14 2008, 08:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Is this directed at me? If so, my mistake, I didn't make myself clear.

I didn't mean to say that Melandri was an experienced development rider, but he is a more experienced rider than Hopper or West. And lets be honest, he has 5 more wins than the two of them put together at top level. That has got to be worth something to a team.

If you read my post further on, I'm saying that the situation at Kawasaki isn't doing either of the guys any favours. I'm not a fan of either of them really, (I certainly can't be accused of being a Hopkins fan! Have you read any of my previous posts on the guy!)

And I don't think I'm alone in saying that casey is the only guy who makes the Ducati work. Coz lets face it, he is.

Pete

I just don't get how Melandri would be a good fit thats all. The Kwak bike sucks. That is a known fact. The Ducati is a good bike, that is also known. If its a developement/setup issue then Marco would surely have worked his way through it by now?? The Kwak does not need a rider like Melandri IMO. He would give up on the bike after the third race then cry about it and everyone would say yeah he is a great rider put him on something he can ride.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 14 2008, 04:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I voted for Kwak

I love how Melandri always gets the free pass.

Please throw up a comparison of Melandri and Stoner, Melandri and Westy. Oh, you say that only Stoner can ride the Duc. Yes this may be so. But then you claim that it would be nice to see Melandri develope the Kwak??? If he is such a good developer what happened at Duc? He hasn't really developed .... over at Ducati, please enlighten me on his developement resume'.

I have never been a fan of Westy but I have respect for him. I think you could make the same arguement for him. He needs to be on a competitive bike to show his true talents. And with a little more experience I think that he would be a very competitive in the mid pack.
I agree,Melandri could be fast on the Kawasaki but only if it fits him.But i don't think he would be much of a help to develope it either.
As i think very few riders would be tempted to go to Kawsaki if it's not for a big pile of money,probarbly not so many teams would ask for Melandri either.So if Melandri don't get a Gresini ride,he would almost be the best alternative for Kawasaki.At least he is familiar with Bridgestone and has more experience than West,so he would be an easier option compared to a rookie.
I'm surprised that Hopkins would want an experienced-testrider- sort of rider as a teammate.
I thought he wanted to be in charge him self of what to use and so on.
 

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