MOTOGP » Hopkins wants podium on 100th start

You go get that 5th podium in 100 starts Hopper. That''s one enviable record, and easy to see why you''re one of the highest paid riders in MotoGP today!!!

good job it wernt me that said that,,, Casual Obs would have moaned......
but caseys buck teeth is right though considering how long he's been in racing he's got a crap record.

I think he's a brilliant rider, but he's perhaps even better at being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That said, one thing many true greats have in common is their ability to build a winning team and a winning atmosphere around them (Rossi, Schumi etc) and Hopper obviously hasn't been able to turn things around for his teams so far. I still wish him the best of luck though and I hope he'll finally be going places on that green machine.

In fairness to Hopper, look at the bikes he's been on.

Team Green, has he always been on the kwak, Errrrrr no. he's only been there 5 minutes so lets not blame the bike. Oliveir proves its a quike bike every test session so although perhaps not a race winner it dose'nt deserve to be were it is

hopper might not have goten on the podium that much buit he is always consistant look at last season he was fairly high up the order! better than you or i oculd do on any bike i think!!

Team green, SORRY about that dude, i did'nt read you comment right. but still stick by the rest of what i said......

BURBS You might not be as quick, but if poss i would like to find out where i would be if id been doing as long as he has!

Don't get me wrong, i like Hopper and he's a good rider but i think his reputation far outways what he's achieved in his career.
Like what was said before, 5 podiums in 100 races. Thats not a good record in anyones book. How many other people in motogp have had 100 starts and such few podiums?

As for his bikes McCoy won on the 500 Yamaha, Vermulan won on the GSVR last season. He might not have always had the best bikes but other people on the same machinery have won with the same equipment.

And, look where Yamaha were before Rossi joined. He turned them from serial underachievers to race winners in half a winter! Surely if Hopper is that good he should be doing the same at Kawasaki?

Don't compare Kawasaki to Yamaha or Honda please...they have less amount of budget and knowledge in motogp also Suzuki is still weak there. Rossi of course has a talent and know what information he should give to developers. Hopkins couldn't do that couse first he was in non factory Yama (2 stroke which has less power and speed as 4 stroke 990) and then moved to Suzuki which was very poor team. Also John know that Kawasaki has more motivation than Suzuki now. He just get no chance to ride on competitive machine like Honda or Yamaha (and maybe Ducati) Don't forget that factory Suzuki was (or still is) at the same level as other satelite teams. About Kawasaki is too early to any statement.