Up, Up, and Away

[Termin8r]

I guess Hopkins was seriously "Duc hunting" this day and thought he could catch one up in the air.

Ready for Take Off (http://www.jeffhelms.com/media/videos/hopkinshighside.wmv)

[hypersport]

John Hopkins:

“Well, I’m battered and bruised. I had one of the worst high-sides I’ve ever had on Friday and then came close to topping that one off this afternoon.

“It was my fault really. I’ve been taking a few painkillers that I’ve been getting from Dr Costa. I just tried to do the best I could and stick with the lead group, but unfortunately my foot was bandaged up and I just lost feeling in it. That was really dangerous because you are on the edge of the tyre so much here. With a broken foot, I just couldn’t feel it on the shifter and I tried to keep my foot clear but accidentally hit the lever on that corner, the bike shifted to second and then I was flying.

“It looks like I won’t be doing too much motocrossing at home now. I was also planning to do some promotional events with Red Bull and Crescent during the break but I need to be at home and recover for Brno. I went well there last year and I’m desperate to get a good result”

[GixxerDemon55]

Ouch! Hope he's ok

[melonheadR6]

yowza!

[MarcCBR]

That was pretty ugly. I know he's a local and all but Suzuki would do much better getting someone new like Maladin I dont think Hopkins will ever make it in MotoGP the field is way to strong.

[deathblow]

That was pretty ugly. I know he's a local and all but Suzuki would do much better getting someone new like Maladin I dont think Hopkins will ever make it in MotoGP the field is way to strong.

Put him on a more competitive mike, like an M1 or RC211V and he will definitely get better results. He is resilient and will be back.

[MarcCBR]

Put him on a more competitive mike, like an M1 or RC211V and he will definitely get better results. He is resilient and will be back.

Maybe, but he has never really proven himself. I think the best he did is win the AMA FX championship. I know thats 100 times better then I'll ever do :bowdown: but still well below the best in MotoGP.

[teamgreenzx7r]

That's gonna leave a mark.. :ha:

[deathblow]

Maybe, but he has never really proven himself. I think the best he did is win the AMA FX championship. I know thats 100 times better then I'll ever do :bowdown: but still well below the best in MotoGP.

I agree, at the same time, he is stuck on a Suzuki. I think given that he is on machinery that is obviously inferior to most of the MotoGP field, including the Kawasakis, he has done alot to show his potential. Hopefully he will be on a better ride to showcase his abilities, or Suzuki will give him a bike that is more competitive.

[Kontiki]

Well someone's gotta fill the field or else Rossi'd really be racing by himself.

[kawboy]

Well someone's gotta fill the field or else Rossi'd really be racing by himself.


I thought he already was.

:squid:

[veejay]

Put him on a more competitive mike, like an M1 or RC211V and he will definitely get better results. He is resilient and will be back.

Hoppers contract with Suzuki actually expires at the end of the year... but Suzuki is trying HARD to keep him. If you read the latest Road Racing World mag they are offering him a 300% pay raise for 2 years. Hopper has the desire to finish on top, but don't think the GSV-R is capable (except in the rain!).

Kevin Schwantz made the comment that Hopper should stay with Suzuki. He will be their #1 rider and will develop the bike that suits him, while if going to Honda or Yamaha he will be 4, 5, 6. Suzuki will be completely dedicated to him... which could mean Kenny Roberts may not be with Suzuki anymore.

Tough decision... more money or different bike/different opportunity? I personally would like to see him on a different bike. He's a capable rider... and to say he has never proven himself is BS!!!

he's consistently been placing better than his former world champ teammate...

[zx6racer]

+1 :cheers:

[RubyRed]

That was pretty ugly. I know he's a local and all but Suzuki would do much better getting someone new like Maladin I dont think Hopkins will ever make it in MotoGP the field is way to strong.


I say he should go on a better bike like the 211, and Mladin is a beeyotch, otherwise he would have gone GP a long time ago. Instead he's collecting paychecks as the best US rider, what a punk!

[GixxerDemon55]

I say he should go on a better bike like the 211, and Mladin is a beeyotch, otherwise he would have gone GP a long time ago. Instead he's collecting paychecks as the best US rider, what a punk!

Mladin is just too old for MotoGP! I think he's older than Barros and even he has kids as old as Nicky Hayden. Majority of the GP riders are in the 20's while Mladin is in his early 30's. I'd would of been nice to see what he can do up in the GP level. Either way as long as Rossi is in MotoGP, no one will beat him. Rossi just can't be beat.

[RubyRed]

Mladin is just too old for MotoGP! I think he's older than Barros and even he has kids as old as Nicky Hayden. Majority of the GP riders are in the 20's while Mladin is in his early 30's. I'd would of been nice to see what he can do up in the GP level. Either way as long as Rossi is in MotoGP, no one will beat him. Rossi just can't be beat.


I think the Hopper or Kenny Jr. can in a more competitive bike, say a Yama or the 211, heck I'd put money on them even if they were on a Ducati. The thing with Suzuki is they are concerned with sales especially in the US market, that's why they concentrate on the Gixxer and not too much on their GP bikes because they get enough global attention with Corser in the WSBK. Yamaha and Honda I believe have more competitive spirit in the pinnacle of road motorcycling race, that is why they concentrate more on the GP and not so much on the other boddies (AMA, WSBK).

[GixxerDemon55]

I think the Hopper or Kenny Jr. can in a more competitive bike, say a Yama or the 211, heck I'd put money on them even if they were on a Ducati. The thing with Suzuki is they are concerned with sales especially in the US market, that's why they concentrate on the Gixxer and not too much on their GP bikes because they get enough global attention with Corser in the WSBK. Yamaha and Honda I believe have more competitive spirit in the pinnacle of road motorcycling race, that is why they concentrate more on the GP and not so much on the other boddies (AMA, WSBK).

I totally agree with you on that. Suzuki is more into their production bikes. Put Hopper and KR Jr on an RC 211V and they'd be more competative on the GP Level. You hit it right on the money!

[Cyanide41]

Well Hopper has a history with Suzuki and will be hard pressed to leave. At the same time, he knows that the GSV-R is not a contender and he wants a machine that he can be competitive on. Suzuki is suppossed to be putting a lot of effort in to developing the bike and if hopkins stays with Suzuki I would expect vast improvements.

[RubyRed]

Well Hopper has a history with Suzuki and will be hard pressed to leave. At the same time, he knows that the GSV-R is not a contender and he wants a machine that he can be competitive on. Suzuki is suppossed to be putting a lot of effort in to developing the bike and if hopkins stays with Suzuki I would expect vast improvements.


But Suzuki said the same thing when they picked up that guy (I forget his name, there was an article on Road Racer X last year) who helped KR Jr. on his 500 bike in 2000 when he won the GP championship, and still I see no progress. This guy (he's Japanese by the way) was supposed to solve their engine and throttle problems as well as the firing sequence to the GSVR, but we all know the bike is still subpar. Untill Suzuki decides to go to Michelin and puts up the same amount of cash on their GP bike that they put up on the AMA, then they will not win even if they had Rossi on their camp, but I guess if that were the case then they actually would be spending the same cash as Yamaha or Honda. Which is to me a mystery because I know Suzuki sells more than Yamaha satetside maybe even globally; with that said, I really feel that Suzuki cares more about the Gixxer's popularity to have steady sales on that lineup. Understandable, so if they want success with the Gixxer, that's their business, but they can't expect Kenny and Hopkins to produce wins with a bike that can only podium in the wet.
I own a CBR and I love Honda, but I do respect Suzuki alot because they make a great bike: the Gixxer lineup. I don't understand how their engineers cannot come up with a bike that can compete with the M1, or the RC211V. I do have a theory to Rossi's success however: Jeremy Burgess.

[Arnold_R1]

Mladin is just too old for MotoGP! I think he's older than Barros and even he has kids as old as Nicky Hayden. Majority of the GP riders are in the 20's while Mladin is in his early 30's. I'd would of been nice to see what he can do up in the GP level. Either way as long as Rossi is in MotoGP, no one will beat him. Rossi just can't be beat.

Bayliss is pushing 36 yrs old. :shocked: I think as sucessfull as Mladin is in AMA, seeing him on a Moto GP bike, I don't think he'll do too well. .02

[RubyRed]

Bayliss is pushing 36 yrs old. :shocked: I think as sucessfull as Mladin is in AMA, seeing him on a Moto GP bike, I don't think he'll do too well. .02

I agree, that may be why he's scared of the challenge.---I hope you're reading this Mladin and Duhammel.---