yes. the yamaha is a proven winner in wsbk and wss. the kwack has been a complete failure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roby44
Printable View
yes. the yamaha is a proven winner in wsbk and wss. the kwack has been a complete failure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roby44
Not all doom and gloom for Ant.... Kawasaki seem to want to look after him..
Kawasaki close in on Melandri deal and third bike for 2009
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Kawasaki´s Michael Bartholemy has provided an update on the proposed recruitment of Italian MotoGP rider Marco Melandri.
Following Marco Melandri´s comments on Tuesday, on the final day of testing at Brno, that he is set to join Kawasaki at the end of this year, the Japanese manufacturer´s MotoGP Competition Manager Michael Bartholemy has confirmed that a deal is on the table – with final confirmation from Japan currently being awaited.
Bartholemy told motogp.com on Wednesday that the stamp of approval from his own bosses at Kawasaki Heavy Industries was still required, commenting, `We have reached an agreement with Marco Melandri meaning that he would join us for the next two years, but the deal still has to be approved by Kawasaki in Japan.´
Explaining what Melandri´s arrival would mean for current Kawasaki rider Anthony West, Bartholemy declared, `With regard to Anthony he will not be part of the main Kawasaki MotoGP team next season but we want to offer him a contract to remain as a Kawasaki factory rider, because we have invested a lot in him to bring him up a level since he joined us last year. That could mean that Anthony rides for us in another World Championship series.´
Meanwhile, Bartholemy is also still finalising plans to bring a third Kawasaki machine onto the MotoGP grid on a permanent basis next season and is positive about such a project taking place. For West that could mean a chance to remain in the premier class of motorcycle competition depending on sponsorship demands.
As Bartholemy explained, `If we do run a third bike it would be up to the sponsors and the management who the rider is, but Anthony West could be part of the package that we offer. In Misano we should be able to confirm that Melandri has joined us and we should be able to clarify the situation with the third bike.´
Even if he goes to WSS/WSBK, he can still get back into GP one day.. After he wins the championship that is :P Fingers crossed for a stay in GP's!!
Silly season in full swing!
Looks a bit brighter for Westy although it will be interesting to see whether the sponsors support him.
I don't think too much of Bartholomy's alleged comment that ".....we have invested a lot in him to bring him up a level since he joined us last year" given that it appears obvious that their bikes have not yet been developed to the point whereby they are potential race-winners and even Hopkins has been having his share of problems with the handling and getting the power down.
Personally, the more I read comments from Bartholemy the more I start to think of him as a total up himself prat.
IMO (and as mentioned in earlier posts) the comment 'because we have invested a lot in him to bring him up a level since he joined us last year' really does (to me at least) smack of high arrogance.
IMO, West has riding talent and this has been shown at times on the Kawasaki but was (again IMO) best displayed on the Yamaha in WSS. To me, West has not risen a level in MGP but rather remained stagnant or perhaps even dropped slightly and personally I read the comment more as a 'nice' way to say he (West) isn't good enough.
To me it appears obvious that more money is coming into the team from somewhere if they are now to afford Melandri as well as put in place a third bike (irrespective of the rider).
IMO as others have said, West would be best served at another manufacturer in terms of longer term future prospects, but staying another year with Kawasaki may earn some brownie points as well. Tough call time.
Garry
Perhaps statement about having invested a lot in someone is measured from amount of time, money spent to reflect that the team was attentive to the riders, whether or not the bike and the riders suffice it to say success developing their strength.
Usually every investment is expected to trigger benefit for the team. Therefore they will not let go someone whom they have invested in for the better result unless they gain considerable amount of feedback from the investment.
As stoked as I am for Kawasaki to snare Melandri, I'm disappointed for Ant whose MotoGP dream appears over just as it begins. I really hope that for the rest of the year he can really show his full wares and snag the (if there is one) third Kwak GP bike or a top factory WSB ride.
I'm glad to hear Kawasaki's support for him and that they want to keep him with the factory. His endeavours have obviously left a positive imprint given they want to continue having him in some capacity. I read Bartholemy's comments to include last year where they brought him into MotoGP and I think they've done a lot to try make him competitive. If he does race WSB or WSS (on the new ZX6R) I would hope the factory would do him justice and throw a lot of support behind the project.
world of warcraft gold Promotion! Here guarantee the lowest price of wow gold in the market! There will can make your wow life rich and we can promise you will be a hero in world of warcraft cause you will have more and more wow power level to get good weapen and other stuff ! we have sell Buy wow gold the price Slashed again! Unbeatable price from the direct sale. You are buying World of Warcraft gold from the game developers directly, not from the resellers, no hacking, no cheating, guarantee work ! but please keep your mind clear , don't pay more time and money there , cause you have your live life ! ok that's all thanks for your read . ( maybe this is a good news)
you know what, 13th is not much, but westy is now faster than hopkins the last 2 races, and that's a nice feather in the cap.
West to LCR.. you heard it hear first ....
Wishful thinking perhaps :D But he'd be SO much cheaper than DePuniet (pretty much ZERO crashing) and he might get on perfectly with the Honda.. Strap some Bridgestones on and im sure he'd achieve equivelant results with far less of a damage bill..
Come on Lucio! Give another Aussie a go :D
Geez Louise!!! :eek: I read that and thought GREAT!! Westy stays in MotoGP.
Hopefully LCR and Lucio read this forum and get the message.....
Ant "Rain-Man" West shines again in the wet at Indianapolis..........
It ain't no fluke and in my opinion, reinforces the general view that past performance problems rest with the bikes.
The team bosses can run around like decapitated chooks trying out different riders but should obviously focus on improving what is basically a good machine.
hey guys, writing you live from indy. westy was awesome today and i have a good feeling for the race as it is supposed to rain all weekend. gonna buy an aussie flag and show big support for westy.
the track is fine and safe, btw.
report back later.
Absolutely! Sign him up now for the 3rd Kwak bike next year. :up:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Richardson
Onya T-D, that's great. Westy needs all the support he can get!Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
Buy 2 Aussie flags and wave one of them for me!! Westy is on a mission! Let's hope he keeps it up all weekend..
And hopefully Ike stays away!!
And Tina... :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Roby44
Ant got a mention on the 12noon news on the radio today!!!
Australian rider Ant West fastest in morning practice... I near crashed my car!! NOT because Ant was fastest BUT because they even mentioned and /or MotoGP!!
It was a pity that the grid positions had been determined during a dry QP otherwise West and Vermeulen would no doubt have been right up at the pointy end on the grid and at the end of the race.
Was a wet race if he was that good he should of been able to get up through the race field, i don`t think he`s good enough heard he maybe going to WSB.
the race conditions really conspired to hurt the wet specialists like vermin and westy. the tires were destroyed early on in a dry-ish track trying to catch up. by the time th erace was called after the rain and wind picked up all the riders were in survival mode. still, that's three straight races that westy has topped hopper, two of them in the dry.
Ant was also fastest in FP1 and FP2 both of which were wet sessions.Quote:
Originally Posted by alfa155btcc
More ....... Ant has finsihed in front of Marco 6 times this year. Marco in front of Ant on 8 occassions. Ant on Kwak crap and Marco on 007 world champ bike and 008 current runner up. Who would I want on my bike if all things were equal ???????????
I would want the one who has proven his potential to win a World Championship!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pantah Jack
Good luck to Westy, I hope he can do something special with the ZX10R
Pfft.. You mean the R1? or CBR1000? Or ANYTHING but a ZX10R..
Here Here JakeQuote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
I'd love nothing more than for Ant to go to a competitive, factory backed Kawasaki team 09 but the latter part of that option appears a pipe dream. Seems to me an R6 is more likely than an R1 and the rest are privateer efforts, back where he spent the rest of his racing life. :(
It's just not fair.. Poor Ant he does his very best every time not like some..
Well he is equal on points with his team-mate and only 3 behind Melandri.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roby44
Whilst we know that he is gone, he should focus on beating this two guys by the end of the year as at least he can walk away with head high and smiling.
But, I do hope he doesn't go to Kawasaki in WSBK as they are uncompetitive. Instead I hoped that rumours of Corser heading to BMW will open an RI door which is a possibility but that could also depend on how Yamaha feel about the split in 07.
Garry
i wonder what, if any, leverage ant may have to negotiate a good wsbk superbike ride. if kwack are serious about landing him there, is that a good thing for negotiations with other teams or bad? in other words, will kwack try to force a commitment from ant to kwack in sbk before he finishes out the season and has an opportunity to negotiate with other sbk teams?
The main leverage a rider has is past results and what they can bring to a team. At least for Ant it appears he has a guaranteed ride on a factory Kwak (where he will be paid, not the other way around) that he can weigh all other options up against.Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
I'm really hoping that Elias signs for Gresini or Alice Ducati and that Checa decides that WSB frontish-running is more enjoyable than at best mid-pack MotoGP. Then Aspar can sign Westy for 1 year and when he finishes above Hopkins next year he can replace John in the factory squad (which is by now competitive) when Bautista joins Aspar in MotoGP. Oh wait, I'm dreaming again! :D
Funnily enough, i've been having very similar dreams of late.. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
Wayne Gardner in his regular article in October Issue of Aussie Mag RAPID BIKES had this to say " Westy is off to WSS at this stage and I think it's the best thing for him to be honest, as the technology in MotoGP just doesn't suit his natural riding style at this stage"
I rekon he would have to be very close to the money shot as Ant's manager is Gardners' former manager and is still in regular contact with him and Tony Hatton ( Suzuka winner + 5 Aussie titles ). One can only wonder if it is the Kwak ZX6R currently running 21st - Fujiwara and 31st - Craig Martin.
And lets get real ..... Fujiwara has 6 WSS wins and 21 WSS podiums and 7 fastest laps,,,,,, plus 2 WSBK podiums,,,,,,, so I guess he can ride!!
Poor !!!
Time will tell where Ant ends up.
Chris Martin only had one ride as a stand in at Donington park. Chris Walker was the regular rider and he was 13th before he walked out of the team to join Paul Bird's superbike team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pantah Jack
Not that bad but not good either
the kwack hasn't done squat in wsbk or wss or bsb or, or(searches mind)...only ama, really.
i say to ant, stay off the kwack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisS
Walker is a class act..... 13th on a factory bike,,,,,, not that good and not that good either :)
See Martin is 5th in Ist Qual in Vallelunga..... it aint the riders at fault.
Wet Qual mind you.. So the bike isn't doing the work, the rider is..
Ant West's (and mine) possible ride for 2009? Talk of the WSB and WSS Kwak efforts going in house for next year as they're not happy with how PSG-1 and whoever runs the WSS program.
2009 ZX6R
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/6r.jpg
looks like a mini ZX-10R
Pretty much but better.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisS
Nice, but I'd prefer the Triumph Street Triple.
But it's green. I guess all the good colours are taken. :p