Ducati Monster Forum

Hopper riding a 3 banger BMW for FB Corse next year.

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/hopkins-back-in-motogp-for-2010/9080.html (http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/hopkins-back-in-motogp-for-2010/9080.html)

Thank god, now JT is out I was wondering who would be the mandatory lapper. [roll]

well....won't he be competing with Talmasci?

not unless they're racing in moto2.

I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to hear about Hopper anymore. 

This isn't gonna be pretty.

I think its interesting to say the least.  If my interpretation of the rules are correct, a new manufacturer entering the championship can have unlimited engines correct? 

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2009/12/22/john_hopkins_to_motogp_with_fb_corse_but.html (http://www.motomatters.com/news/2009/12/22/john_hopkins_to_motogp_with_fb_corse_but.html)

Sounds more like a bunch of testing to begin with.

based on the success of the last triple GP project, they're gonna need 'em.

Was thinking the exact same thing...RS Cubed anyone?

My only question: how're they gonna fit that third cylinder on the Boxer case? Out the bottom?  ;D

All things considered, hasn't Hopkins been racing in the big GP class longer than anyone else? Not much in the way of results and don't see much in the future. :P

Rossi.  Capirossi.

And I'm not sure I'd call what he does racing ('cept for that one year on the Suke).

Yeah, you're right. Forgot about Capirossi. He won the 125GP title in his rookie year, 1990. He moved to the big bikes in 1995. I was thinking (badly mind you... [laugh]) that Hopper started in 1999 but it was 2002.

..or not:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=39028 (http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=39028)

I saw that. When Hopper's manager says it ain't so then you know it's a BS story. Coming back to race AMA/DMG sbk is pretty much the bottom of the barrel. After MotoGP for all those years on factory teams I think I'd rather be dead than race AMA anything... just saying. :P

unless you already have enough money, know you aren't going to be winning anything at the world level, and are down with the idea of someone paying you a little something to stay close to home and rides some bikes.

plus, Monster will probably continue paying him more than a little bit.  probably especially if he's in the states and is able to bring some marketing dollars to that series.

if that is the case, then DMG needs to be breakin him off a lil sumfin sumfin too, if his being in AMA brings people in the gates...

after the mega-debacle that was AMA racing in 2008, i think they will take a more slow and steady approach to things going forward.  in a few years it'll still be the red-headed stepchild of superbike racing (and i doubt that for anything other than the next will-suceed-no-matter-what wunderkind racer that it'll ever again be a launch pad for world level racers, at least not in it's current technical format) but getting a "former MotoGP and World Superbike rider, star of the movie Faster" etc guy into the series will help them get DeWalt or Wonder Bread or whoever to pay a little attention to two wheels.

plus, john-john was respectably quick when they put him in an F1 car for a day.  he could run AMA for a couple years then make a career out of turning left on 4 wheels.  he's got that slightly knuckleheaded lifted 4x4 neon sunglasses shirtless at the supercross air about him; he could easily transition to full-on hotchickswithdouchebags dumbass, i'm sure.

that cracks me up. [thumbsup]