| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Just seen this post on twowheelsblog quoting a respected source (bikesportnews is usually pretty reliable) that Hopper may end up in BSB next year. http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/5668/john-hopkin s-to-british-superbikes He will certainly be taking a huge pay cut if he does, as the most any of the BSB front runners seem to attract these days is around UK£20-UK£30K from the top teams (+ personal sponsor deals of course) . Everyone else pays to ride! Crescent have just lost the official Suzuki factory backing from their team for 2011 so it is doubtful they will be running a full BSB factory spec team next year and nobody is even sure which manufacturers bike they will be racing (although with a long Suzuki history, Suzuki dealerships and Paul Denning as team manager it is probable that they will stay with the Japanese manufacturer despite their apparent snub). Maybe Jake Zemke will come over as well  | ||
| Jaimec |
I think Hopper's reputation has taken a BEATING over the past several years so a pay cut may be worth it if he can prove he's still competitive. | ||
| Trojan |
I think most importantly he needs a very competitive ride wherever he ends up, as he needs to re-establish himself at the font of the field after a couple of poor seasons. Crescent haven't released any details of their team structure for 2011 yet but it must be reasonable at least if they can get his interest (although seats in AMA seem very limited anyway so maybe he will grasp at straws?). There will be some pretty big names in BSB next year (and bigger teasm than Crescent too) so it wouldn't be an easy ride even for him. Would be nice to have another big name in the series though Maybe he would do the XR1200 cup as well......... | ||
| Blake |
Hopper seems to have fallen into the category of those with incredible talent, but poor work ethic/character. Besides talent, winners need to have incredible determination, drive, and an obsessive overwhelming commitment to being the best in their profession. Hey, I don't have that either. Erik Buell does. Ben Spies does. Valentino Rossi does. Mat Mladin did. I wish him well though. It's not impossible to turn things around, just highly unlikely. | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like his former employer is none too happy with him. http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/john-ulrich -john-hopkins-injury-contract/ | ||
| Blake |
From my experience, John Ulrich is an honest and fair man. | ||
| Trojan |
Reading between the lines it seems that Crescent Suzuki are probably more interested in the Monster Engery Drink sponsorship that Hopkins would bring with him and the fact that he is a 'big' name in racing to advertise their team. Maybe they would rely more on the second rider to actually provide the race results once Hopkins has brought in the cash. Crescent have been left in the lurch with the withdrawal of factory Suzuki support and their principal sponsor (Rizla) is also pulling out of the team for 2011 I believe. Their first priority therefore is to ensure the survival of the team rather than to win the championship next year. On that basis Hopkins would be a good choice, but it would be a huge risk if he decides to implode again or is still being 'selective' about his ongoing injury problems. BSB is suffering as much as any series at the moment from lack of sponsor money, so the big teams are all looking for that 'extra' funding boost however they can get it | ||
| Vagelis46 |
How much is the cost of a top BSB bike ?? Is there traction control ?? | ||
| Trojan |
BSB has (had) two classes: Full BSB status - pretty much anything goes and the rules are the same as WSB. Evo class: spec ECU with no traction control etc. This was supposed to save money. These ran side by side last year but I don't think the EVO class will run in 2011 due to lack of demand from teams. A top BSB bike would cost around the same as a WSB bike but the team structure would cost less, as they are only allowed one bike per rider (although most top teams can build another bike from spares if they have to). | ||
| Vagelis46 |
So the teams can blame themselves for the high required cost , since they do not follow the EVO route.... It is funny that everyone complaines about the cost , but they do not do anything about it ...... | ||
| Jaimec |
Banning traction control in a producion-based class could be problematic when traction control is standard on the actual street-legal bike, I assume? | ||
| Trojan |
So the teams can blame themselves for the high required cost , since they do not follow the EVO route.... It is funny that everyone complaines about the cost , but they do not do anything about it ...... The original idea at the start of last year was that all teams would be required to run EVO bikes this year instead of the 'full fat' WSB spec bikes and that last years split championship was just to get people used to the EVO idea. However as the year progressed the big teams definitely went off the idea of the EVO spec and the fact that they wouldn't be able to tune their own electronics etc. Despite the huge costs involved in running high spec bikes there will always be big teams who resist any 'dumbing down' because it will mean they have more of a fight on their hands (just look at Moto2)from the 'lesser' teams. Banning traction control in a producion-based class could be problematic when traction control is standard on the actual street-legal bike, I assume? All they can really do is run a Superstock style spec that requires the fitting of the original ECU. but then manufacturers like BMW and Kawasaki will build a 'race bike with lights' to get around it, and include all sorts of technical whizz bangs on their road bikes. This is one of the reasons why the BMW has been incredibly succesful in Superstock racing last year but relatively unsuccessful (in terms of wins) in Superbikes, where everyone runs state of the art electronics and BMW have no advantage over other bikes. | ||
| Jaimec |
Confirmed: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/official-jo hn-hopkins-british-superbikes/ | ||
| Trojan |
We wait with bated breath until the whole thing implodes again  Hopefully he won't butit is a big risk for Crescent Suzuki coming straight after they lost the 'official' Suzuki team as well. No doubt Hopper will bring Monster Energy money with him though, which is undoubtedly one of the big attractions in signing him methinks |
