Hopper to Kawasaki...

[k14]

Did Edwards do this? ...and was it Bayliss that won at the end of last year?

I'm new to this MotoGP thing tho...

Edwards who? Oh yeah, the guy who's team mate on exactly the same bike has won two world championships whilst Edwards consistently finishes in mid pack (6th or so) with one or two podiums along the way. Bayliss was a bit of an outlier, yeah he won one race but how many others has he won?

In the long run he'll make as big an impact as Olivier Jacque. He's proven time and time again in 250s that he doesn't have the mental toughness to mount a season long campaign.

Oh yeah, sounds like what everyone was saying last year about another australian. Can't quite remember his name though, think he's going ok this year though.

[James Deuce]

Ant West has been around the GP circus a LOT longer than Casey Stoner. He doesn't have "It". He always goes well in the wet, seems to qualify well in the dry and then disappears down the order over the course of a race.

[skelstar]

Edwards who? Oh yeah, the guy who's team mate on exactly the same bike has won two world championships whilst Edwards consistently finishes in mid pack (6th or so) with one or two podiums along the way.

Still 6th in MotoGP...hes consistently qualifying front-row etc though...gotta be able to make a GP bike go pretty quick eh?

Bayliss was a bit of an outlier, yeah he won one race but how many others has he won?

Like I said, new to this MotoGP lark, how many times has Bayliss raced a MotoGP bike?

[k14]

Still 6th in MotoGP...hes consistently qualifying front-row etc though...gotta be able to make a GP bike go pretty quick eh?


Like I said, new to this MotoGP lark, how many times has Bayliss raced a MotoGP bike?

Well if you are happy with achieving mediocrity then I guess 6th is a good result.

Bayliss had been in motogp for the previous 3 seasons (you say you're new to this so obviously you didn't know) and had some good races on the duke before he was dumped and went to honda where he did crap. Then he went over to superbike, completly dominated and won championship easily. Came back at end of season with no pressure and won his first motogp race. Still he'd had 3 years prior to that on a gp bike.

[k14]

Ant West has been around the GP circus a LOT longer than Casey Stoner. He doesn't have "It". He always goes well in the wet, seems to qualify well in the dry and then disappears down the order over the course of a race.

Yeah fair call. He rode a 500 in the 2001 championship although clearly he was out of his depth. I reckon he does have "it" but his attitude hasn't allowed him the scenario where he has the machinery to show his full potential.

If you look at the races he did in supersport it clearly shows how much better he was than everyone else there. Yes, he did have the best bike but he quite easily showed up Sofoglu (who was wiping the floor before West showed up) and won those two races by quite a considerable margin. Normally supersport is very very close racing. With him there you could quite easily see he was a class above the rest.

Its very hard to gauge who is the best in 250 racing. There are only 3 or 4 guys with bikes that can win a championship so impossible to tell how well someone slightly down the field is doing seeing as we don't know how much worse their bike is than the factory bikes.

Also if you look at assen (his first dry motogp race) he qualified way down the order but finished in the top 10. Dicing with Barros quite closely in the end, only a few tenths between them iirc.

[skelstar]

Well if you are happy with achieving mediocrity then I guess 6th is a good result.

Well last years "champion" is on the same bike as Pedrossa (3rd) and I'm guessing (without checking the table) that Edwards is beating him (actually Ed is 7th, Hayden is 10th)? Like I said, think Edwards has had pole at least once this season (?), guessing Hayden has not, and not even sure Rossi has (can't remember)?

(you say you're new to this so obviously you didn't know)

Yep, I have no clue it seems.

[k14]

Well last years "champion" is on the same bike as Pedrossa (3rd) and I'm guessing (without checking the table) that Edwards is beating him (actually Ed is 7th, Hayden is 10th)? Like I said, think Edwards has had pole at least once this season (?), guessing Hayden has not, and not even sure Rossi has (can't remember)?

Sorry but I'm failing to follow your argument. Are you saying the edwards is better than everyone else cause he got pole position once this season?

[skelstar]

Are you saying the edwards is better than everyone else cause he got pole position once this season?

Yeah alright, well done.

[slowpoke]

Yeah fair call. He rode a 500 in the 2001 championship although clearly he was out of his depth. I reckon he does have "it" but his attitude hasn't allowed him the scenario where he has the machinery to show his full potential.

If you look at the races he did in supersport it clearly shows how much better he was than everyone else there. Yes, he did have the best bike but he quite easily showed up Sofoglu

Ant West has never had a competitive bike in either 250's or 500's.
He's consistently the top rider on a non-factory 250 Aprilia and when he rode the KTM it was brand new and uncompetitive. He raced one season of 500cc at the ripe old age of 19/20 and on a twin or triple, from memory, against the all conquering V4's.
The Ten Kate Honda's have been widely recognised as the best supersport bike for several years (confirmed by independent testers) so many people would disagree that the R6 is the "best bike".
This is his first foray in the big time on a reasonably competitive bike and he's already qualified and finished top ten ahead of the likes of Melandri, Checa, Nakano on a dry track. He had a storming ride at a wet Donnington and but for a trip to the gravel from fifth place (understandable for first ride and patchy conditions) would have easily finished top ten, which he just missed out on after remounting.
Don't forget the guy he's replacing was an ex-250GP world champion and he's already out performed him after just 2 races.
He's already answered any critics, what more can you possibly expect from a newbie? His attitude is fine, he just comes from the wrong side of the world and can't afford to buy a ride.
I'm not saying he's gonna be world champion, I just think he's a very capable rider who deserves the place a lot more than some of the established "stars".

[k14]

He's already answered any critics, what more can you possibly expect from a newbie? His attitude is fine, he just comes from the wrong side of the world and can't afford to buy a ride.
I'm not saying he's gonna be world champion, I just think he's a very capable rider who deserves the place a lot more than some of the established "stars".

Mate totally agree, although he did get a factory aprilia in 03 or 04 but floundered the opportunity. You're preaching to the converted.

[slowpoke]

Mate totally agree, although he did get a factory aprilia in 03 or 04 but floundered the opportunity. You're preaching to the converted.

Hey Kirk, you are missing one important fact: there's a spare seat at Yamaha now, get on the blower fella!!!

[k14]

Hey Kirk, you are missing one important fact: there's a spare seat at Yamaha now, get on the blower fella!!!

Nah that Spanish upstart from the 250's has that. Maybe Ivan could apply? I'm still yet to serve the time on my 125 apprenticeship.

[Brian d marge]

I heard that ant west was a good development rider, So the kawasakis could be on the move

Everyone I talk to at Honda are saying wait and see, so somethings in the pipe line ( me thinks )

Stephen

[k14]

I heard that ant west was a good development rider, So the kawasakis could be on the move

Everyone I talk to at Honda are saying wait and see, so somethings in the pipe line ( me thinks )

Stephen

I reckon they've got a good chance this weekend. Might put a few bob on mr kentucky. Be getting good odds and definate outside chance.

[Skunk]

Kawasaki now (before Hopkins) have a good team with a very experienced Team Manager. I think West can do well, as can Randy - though I'm not sure Randy has the skills to improve the bike like West. Oliver is their test rider still (or again if you like).

I'm wondering where Hopkins is going to. West is on contract till the end of this season only I believe.