Almost unbelievable but then again if DePuniet who was 8th in the 250 championship before he came to GP can do well on that bike then its certainly capable of much more. And apparently Kawasaki waved a whole lot of green in front of John...

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/...rture/

 

Dissapointed that he wont stay with Suzuki But... Go Hopper!

I cant be a Kawasaki fan now

 

I told you guys..... (if this story is 100% true)

Now we'll see if my prediction of Capirossi as his team mate holds true

 

Yeah I'm thinking Capirossi is going to leave too. If you asked yesterday I would have bet on that before betting on Hopper getting on the Kwak. I believe Melandri has signed a pre-contract with Ducati already which means its all but a lock that Capirossi will be gone.

These developments open up a seat at Gresini and one at Suzuki. I'd like to see Ant West get the second Suzuki, but my dream rider would be Ben Spies. West can go to Tech3, D'Antin or LCR Honda. I think D'Antin would be a great place for him. Dovizioso will almost certainly take Melandri's seat, but one has to wonder if Elias will be staying put.

At this point the only confirmed riders for next year are Hayden, Rossi, Stoner, and now Hopkins. I'm not sure if the D'Antin and Tech3 riders have one year deals or not though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">At this point the only confirmed riders for next year are Hayden, Rossi, Stoner, and now Hopkins. </TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~150973.htm

Lorzeno is probably going to Yamaha too... looks like I was wrong on that one.

 

for Hopper. I've always wanted to see Hopper do well. I hope this works out for him.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by backlash &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> for Hopper. I've always wanted to see Hopper do well. I hope this works out for him.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think it is almost a parallel move. maybe a year to really get the bike set for him.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .paul &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i think it is almost a parallel move. maybe a year to really get the bike set for him.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ya, going to the kwaker isn't going to be a huge difference.

 

Maybe a lateral move, maybe not. I'm thinking that if DePuniet can get the ZX-RR on the front row then there's probably much better results to be had from that bike with a a better rider.

The caveat is that while the Kwak may be good this year, there's no guarantee it will be good next year. But the fact Kawasaki is willing to pay big money for good riders indicates that they are committed to doing well.

I can't see why Suzuki didn't match Kawasaki's offer because now they are going to be in a bind to get an equally good rider. Melandri is almost certainly going to Ducati, Capirossi is probably going to Kawasaki and that leaves...just about no one.

If I were Suzuki I'd make sure I got re-signed Vermeulen and I'd take a risk and pick up Ben Spies or James Toseland.

 

Wow....maybe now Kawi will get some damn respect from all you fools

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Z Darkside &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow....maybe now Kawi will get some damn respect from all you fools </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont be rediculous

 

What about all his talk of being there to develop the GSV-R and bringing it to a competitive level? And taking pride in that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What about all his talk of being there to develop the GSV-R and bringing it to a competitive level? And taking pride in that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What about all his talk of being there to develop the GSV-R and bringing it to a competitive level? And taking pride in that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mission accomplished, he got his podium and has performed well with the bike all season.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Z Darkside &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow....maybe now Kawi will get some damn respect from all you fools </TD></TR></TABLE>

actually, i really like kwackers. I got on a 636 last week and wrung it out...and really enjoyed myself. at this point i'd prefer it to any of the other big4 600's.

i think hopper's maybe going over there to put the finishing touches on a kwak bike that's showed promise this season? maybe a lateral move, but when there's millions of $ involved, i'll do the electric slide all day every day. so he could just be going green to get paid, which i understand.

there's also some symbiotic marketing relationship b/w monster energy and kawi so hopper could be seeing the green on both ends.

i think by next year HRC will have sorted out the 212 and they'll be back on top, or close to it. moreover, you have to think michelin will close the performance gap b/w them and BS, which should make the field more wide open (or return the balance of power to honda works and yammy works and leave the other teams--esp suzi--on the outside looking in)

 

Always the chance the suzuki decided to let him go; hopper gets some podiums, but mostly has been finishing somewhere in the top ten. I suspect he'll do the same on the kawi. Suzuki want Spies, who knows if he'd want to do it. He can make plenty of money here and be number one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Suzuki want Spies, who knows if he'd want to do it. He can make plenty of money here and be number one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i don't know if they want spies for their MGP spot...most people think he'd get a ride in WSBK first.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Always the chance the suzuki decided to let him go; hopper gets some podiums, but mostly has been finishing somewhere in the top ten. I suspect he'll do the same on the kawi. Suzuki want Spies, who knows if he'd want to do it. He can make plenty of money here and be number one.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I doubt Suzuki would so easily let Hopper go. He has been riding more consistently up front now more than ever.

I'd rather see Spies stay in AMASBK and give Mladin some competition.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I doubt Suzuki would so easily let Hopper go. He has been riding more consistently up front now more than ever.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

He's rode in the top ten mostly and Suzuki can always find someone else to do that.

 

I think it's a bad move for hopper (in a racing sense, obviously good move monatarily speaking) They want to shuffle Colin to Tech 3 which I think would suck, maybe he'll sign with Suzuki. Spies contract goes through 08 if i'm not mistaken. He would get swallowed in GP though. As said above I'd rather see him WSBK. We need some Americans back there. And don't forget about Toseland who's trying to make a move to GP and Hodgeson who's a great rider and currently isn't racing!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He's rode in the top ten mostly and Suzuki can always find someone else to do that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which is pretty much all that bike is capable of

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He's rode in the top ten mostly and Suzuki can always find someone else to do that.</TD></TR></TABLE>


4th in the points is hardly second rate.. and not easily replacable.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian* &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Which is pretty much all that bike is capable of</TD></TR></TABLE>

Can't blame the bike forever.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ASteele2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
4th in the points is hardly second rate.. and not easily replacable. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not bad, but its not winning either. Suzuki can't brag that there guy is in fourth in points! Could also be that everyone decided it was in their best interest to seperate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Can't blame the bike forever.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope, but you can't question reality