| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Silly Season Part 2: Hopkins to Tech3 to replace Edwards? Melandri to LCR? I thought the silly season was over! I wouldn't beleive too much of the rumours circulating at the moment, as they are pretty much 100% conjecture. Edwards is 100% signed for 2009, as is Toseland in Tech 3, so there is no liklihood of a place for Hopkins. To be honest, Hopper has hardly gone into 2009 with a strong CV anyway, even before the collapse of the Kawasaki team, and would not be top of any teams shopping list this year. Tech 3 have also had talks with Ben Spies and Simoncelli, both of whom would be more attractive to them than Hopper. The chances of Martinez taking over the Kawasaki team are even more limited, as he has some very strict terms of his own that he wants Kawasaki to adhere to. He would inists on a Spanish rider, which would probably mean Hopper losing his place (Melandri is more attractive to European sponsors), and has also said that he is not interetsed unless he gets improved 2009 spec bikes. As Kawasaki wants to stop development completely I can't see how they will get over this important sticking point. I think that if Kawasaki are to be saved at all it will be with the existing team and some injection of cash from somewhere rather thana new setup with Aspar. MotoGP is in deep crisis right now, and it wouldn't take much to see it collapse completely. With only 17 riders starting the season it will be pretty dull racing even before injuries take their toll. The problem is that any attempt to reduce costs will just 'dumb down' the series and clash with WSB, which is enjoying a real high at present and would be seen as the 'major' series by a lot of people if MotoGP continues to have trouble. | ||
| Babyhuey |
I think that wsb is a more appealing series anyway. with the motogp field getting smaller i think that a dominating racer would get less kudos for actually winning seeing as wsb seems to have a better and deeper field of riders. it looks like motogp is loosing its backing due to high costs associated with fielding the teams. i think more people can relate to wsb being as they are more production based. long live wsb you can keep motogp in my opinion. | ||
| Jaimec |
I enjoy MotoGP because it showcases technology in development. A nice window into what is possible and what may eventually trickle down into production. I for one would HATE to see this series die. | ||
| Babyhuey |
If the factories are developing technology for the street then why not use a more production based bike to keep costs done? i'm sure the factories could send the money develop new stuff without a race series costing million and million of dollars. | ||
| Jaimec |
A ray of hope: http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-kawa saki-reconsidering-motogp-withdrawal//P2/ | ||
| Jaimec |
Because a "Production Based Bike" is one that has already been built and produced, that's why! MotoGP tests components and technologies BEFORE they reach the production stage. Consider it a testing laboratory that is also entertaining to watch. | ||
| Babyhuey |
I understand that wsb is production based, but not all bike development comes thru motogp. its not inconceivable for the factories to use production based bike for their development base. i don't see why superbike couldn't be used for r&d not unlike motogp and keep costs down and rider/team participation up. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Financial ramifications aside, I bet Rossi would choose WSB over MotoGP.... | ||
| Babyhuey |
thats cuz wsb is better,better talent pool and closer racing. | ||
| Bads1 |
thats cuz wsb is better,better talent pool and closer racing. I wouldn't say better talent pool. We have plenty of riders that would do fine there.... just fine. | ||
| Jaimec |
Better talent pool??? With the exception of Troy Bayliss nearly everyone who came to MotoGP from WSBK found themselves running in the middle of the pack. Where do you get these ideas??? | ||
| Eboos |
2006 was the most interesting (at least as long as I've been watching) season to watch MotoGP. Anyone could win then. That made the races exciting to follow. All of the riders, except some of the here today gone tomorrow back markers, have great star power. People follow them like they follow the careers of their favorite baseball player. It just seems like MotoGP puts on a better show. | ||
| Jaimec |
Things started going downhill with that senseless change to the 800cc machines. Bring back the fire breathing 990cc machines and limit the amount of electronic rider aid and you'll see better racing. | ||
| Jaimec |
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jan/090108kawi nn.htm | ||
| Jaimec |
Crap! | ||
| Eboos |
Another link | ||
| Jaimec |
I wonder how often and how hard Hopper's been kicking himself in the ass for leaving the Suzuki team... | ||
| Babyhuey |
do you think hopper left suzuki for more money? its seem as though the current suzuki riders have done better, or do you think its just the riders. hopper spent a lot of time helping to develop their bike just to leave for a new team. | ||
| Eboos |
I totally think that Hopper chased the money. He was doing good in 07. Kawasaki wanted a bigger name, and I think that Suzuki was already starting to scale things down a bit to save money. I have never been a John Hopkins fan. He certainly was not ready for Moto GP and failed to produce results year after year. He would have done himself better spending another year or two in the national level. | ||
| Sd26 |
It's a pay check. How many people have even had the opportunity to race in the 500cc and MotoGP championships? Spies couldn't get it done. Hopper caught the eye of Peter Clifford years ago, and he was snatched up for the recognition of his talent and how he showed his ability in actual AMA competition against pretty seasoned guys that knew the tracks. If sponsors and teams continue to want to pay you for what you do, you take it until you don't want to do it anymore. As for chasing money. I think that's how we all work with our jobs. If someone else values us more than our current job, you go to the new employer. Staying in the AMA would have got him stuck as "an AMA rider". Do we need to make a list of last years AMA riders that don't have contracts with teams that they worked with in world series racing, racing that is predomiated by European sponsors and teams: Pridmore, Zemke, Lynn, Hayes. Do we include the guys that went to Macau? Remaining in the AMA wouldn't have helped John learn more than he learned under the McLean team in world competition. Just to ad, I'm not a Hopper fan. | ||
| Jaimec |
"Spies couldn't get it done???" In his three showings on the Suzuki MotoGP bike he outperformed Suzuki's regulars. The fact that he DIDN'T get a seat has NOTHING to do with his ability and everything to do with Suzuki not wanting to pay him what he's worth. I have a sneaking suspicion he'll do damn well in WSBK and will probably end up on the Tech3 team with Toseland if/when Edwards retires. | ||
| Sd26 |
Spies has no ride in MotoGP. He couldn't get it done. What he's worth? Yamaha didn't pay him more than Suzuki, so he had to take a pay cut as the world stage doesn't value him as much. That's just the way it is. Might be a really good thing for him anyway. He's been lucky like that many times in his career. As for competing against others...it can be easier to show up for select events and throw caution to the wind vs trying to remain healthy and upright race after race for a whole seasons showings. Did he do well? Yeah, he did. | ||
| Jaimec |
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Dorna+CEO+Ezpel eta+on+Kawasaki+withdrawal | ||
| Babyhuey |
I was never a spies fan,just a case of seeing the same people winning ever race thing, but think and hope he does well in wsb. i'm also excited to see how all the british riders due. | ||
| Trojan |
"Spies couldn't get it done???" More to the point, Spies management (mother) couldn't get the over inflated price they wanted for him for a competitive ride in MotoGP. if he had lowered his pay expectations even for the first year he would certainly be in MotoGP right now. As it is, he is now telling everyone that will listen that he is a 'shoe in' for the Yamaha Tech 3 squad next year to replace Colin Edwards or James Toseland, which seems a little premature given that the MotoGP season (or WSB season come to that) hasn't even started yet and both riders have a year left to run. Spies is obviously a great talent, and I have been banging on for a couple of years saying that he should have left AMA racing and gone to the world stage. He has shown that he can be competitive right from the start in both MotoGP and WSB, but maybe he should keep his mouth shut for a while and let his riding do the talking. | ||
| Jaimec |
Interesting new development... | ||
| Jaimec |
Isn't there supposed to be some kind of testing ban in effect this month?? http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Kawasaki+undert ake+private+test+at+Eastern+Creek | ||
| Smoke |
with kawasaki's official factory withdrawal from moto gp, the moto gp rules are no longer applicable? non moto gp rider and team doing factory testing. tim | ||
| Sd26 |
Well, what can be done to them? | ||
| Jaimec |
Maybe the ban is just on the MotoGP regular racers and doesn't apply to test riders? You'll notice it's NOT Hopkins and Melandri riding the bikes... |
