Hopkins closes in on BSB title... - Ducati.ms

ZDM · Sep 26th, 2011, 7:49 pm

..I was persuing SPEED's Moto coverage and learned that Hopkins has an 8 pt. lead going into the last round triple header at Brands Hatch. Furthermore Hopkins will be the 1st American to win a BSB title....pretty darn cool!
Would rather see John riding an 1198R, but riding the Suzuk is OK!

**Chuckracer** · Sep 26th, 2011, 8:28 pm

So...what does that tell us? Why couldn't he duplicate those performances in MotoGP, or even AMA Superbike? Was it all injury's slowing Hopper down...or is the talent pool in BSB not very deep?

freighttriain · Sep 26th, 2011, 10:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDM

Hopkins has an 8 pt. lead going into the last round triple header at Brands Hatch. Furthermore Hopkins will be the 1st American to win a BSB title....pretty darn cool!!

i do share in your enthusiasm... that i do, but i may have said WOULD be the first American to win...
i do hope that Hoppers latest surgery doesn't slow him down and that he makes a good run for it... would be fun to see it happen...

And for you Chucky boy...

is right... perhaps it's a bit of the injuries he had in the past at fault.. and perhaps John has straightened himself out a little bit mentally as well... good to see the guy get another shot at something that he loves to do.. perhaps we will see Hopper back in MotoGP again... the way that he's going on the bike now it would seem that he just may get another shot.
That would be cool to see...

**Chuckracer** · Sep 26th, 2011, 10:46 pm

Yep, be good to see all that hard work and pain pay off for him.

Go Hopper!!

tye1138 · Sep 27th, 2011, 1:24 am

Hopper was too young when he moved into MotoGP and he was also attached to a team of who's bike was not that stellar. As we all know, he brought Suzuki their best MotoGP results by far.

Sadly, John had a lot of personal issues, drinking being one of them. He cleaned up his act, moved to the UK and pretty much started a new life with BSB. He made an extremely intelligent move and is being seen by those looking for new competitors in world superbike as he hones in on a BSB title.

On a side note, I do find it funny that (outside of Ben Spies in recent years) American's haven't been interested in running in a "world championship" favoring sticking to their home championship. Yes BSB is the UK's equivalent to AMA Roadracing, but at the same time World Superbike beckons and nobody is comin'. The series knows American's draw attention, so who is the next big "American" to make it? My money is on Hopper... Now that is one guy I will root for in WSBK!

Matt_P · Sep 27th, 2011, 4:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

or is the talent pool in BSB not very deep?

Obviously. Kiyonari and Byrne were midpack riders in WSBK and have multiple BSB championships between them. Hopper is kinda shooting fish in a barrel over there, but it's doing him good after all the tough luck he's had the past few years.

Hopper belongs in a higher category, but it's good to see him on the mend. If he needs BSB to get back on his feet then so be it.

Apparently he isn't going on benders and partying all the time now either.

Matt_P · Sep 27th, 2011, 4:46 am

Here's a question for you guys. Say he gets another shot at MotoGP... then what? The few good seats that are out there are already solidly spoken for.

Would he really want to go to MotoGP just to fight for 7th or 8th place?

The factory rides are locked up, the CRT bikes don't even exist yet, and a satellite bike hasn't won a race since the 990 days. IMO the options in MotoGP are about as deep as the talent pool in BSB.

J.C. · Sep 27th, 2011, 5:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_P

Here's a question for you guys. Say he gets another shot at MotoGP... then what? The few good seats that are out there are already solidly spoken for.

Would he really want to go to MotoGP just to fight for 7th or 8th place?

The factory rides are locked up, the CRT bikes don't even exist yet, and a satellite bike hasn't won a race since the 990 days. IMO the options in MotoGP are about as deep as the talent pool in BSB.

Yes. The comparison between his options in GP, weighed against the talent pool in BSB, equals a wise choice by Hopper.

whippersnapper · Sep 27th, 2011, 5:57 am

I'm surprised the guy got so many chances. He is the USA's Anthony Gobert albeit not as talented

samizx7 · Sep 27th, 2011, 7:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

So...what does that tell us? Why couldn't he duplicate those performances in MotoGP, or even AMA Superbike? Was it all injury's slowing Hopper down...or is the talent pool in BSB not very deep?

it takes more then talent , sometimes good luck is just as important