[beet]

VALENCIA: Valentino Rossi has shocked the motorcycle racing community by signing with Team Kawasaki Racing, along side new teammate Andrew Pitt. Rossi's management released the statement early Wednesday morning after a 4 hour meeting in which the $15.2 million dollar contract with bonuses of $1 million for each race win was finalized and signed. The 2 year contracted salary is the largest in motorcycle racing history. "We knew he [Rossi] was open for options and offers, so we decided to spend our next 2 years of racing and development funding on a talented rider who we belive can dominate on our machine" says Fujito Sakumoto of Kawasaki Racing Corporate, VP of Kawasaki's MotoGP racing team.

[double agent]

now honda is going to up there HP about 15%. thats about 235HP (ludicris speed) now to find someone crazy enough to ride it!

[SEVENSGT]

We know little nicky ain't got the skills yet... Top 5 finally after an entire season, I mean comon

[sahd03]

rossi's website, dated yesterday, says no deal yet. says the rumors are flying, but he has not made any final decisions yet - except to NOT go F1 next season.

and sevensgt is right, nicky can do better - let's see what happens next season! yeah baby!

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
We know little nicky ain't got the skills yet... Top 5 finally after an entire season, I mean comon

you can't be serious.

Simple, Kawi's coming back to OWN, just like they did in the mid to late 80's, and he knows where IT'S AT!!!!

[Collision pro]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Simple, Kawi's coming back to OWN, just like they did in the mid to late 80's, and he knows where IT'S AT!!!!

Late 80's.................That's a long wait to come back!! Suzuki owns them now anyway. That's why they are coming back!

[sahd03]

kawi cannot beat suzuki. well, i shouldn't say that. they do have a chance: a snowballs' chance in hell!!!!!!

[Rye]

Did we forget Chandlers 96 and 97 AMA Championships? Who knows what the old green beast woulda done this year had he not been taken out. Did we forget Scott Russells/Muzzys WSB Championship in 93? Squid.....I'm disappointed in you. Kawi's done well in all eras not bad for the smallest of the manufacturers.

[benVFR]

All the rumors I had heard was that Rossi was going to jump ship to Yamaha, not Kawasaki.

In any case it will be way more interesting if Rossi is riding the slower bike(s). Best Bike + Best rider is OK, but Best Rider + 2nd/3rd best bike is way more exciting.

It seems the Ducati is the only bike that is really competitive with the Honda, so it's good he's not going to go to Ducati either. I bet he'd just whup ass on the Ducati just like he has on the Honda.

Ben

[Rye]

I just hope Kawi straightens out the issues with the ZXR's chassis. Kudos to Ducati. They produce new bikes competitively out of the box. Great engineering effort there. The passion is evident.

Originally posted by Rye
Did we forget Chandlers 96 and 97 AMA Championships? Who knows what the old green beast woulda done this year had he not been taken out. Did we forget Scott Russells/Muzzys WSB Championship in 93? Squid.....I'm disappointed in you. Kawi's done well in all eras not bad for the smallest of the manufacturers.

Me?!!

Actually, hasn't E-Boz won a bunch of AMA titles on the "outdated" 7R?

[Rye]

Yup!

[SEVENSGT]

Originally posted by GMS1000
you can't be serious.

Yes I am???

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
Yes I am???

Ok......your serious, but you don't know what your talkin about. He's finished "Top 5", 5 out of his last 7 races. Nicky was born with the "skills". Top 5 in the Championship, his first year in MotoGP. He's never even raced on any of the tracks before.

Don't hate, appreciate.......

[Kip]

I agree give Hayden a year or two and he will be right at the top with the other big name guys.
Funny thing I heard about Rossi a $20 Mil deal to run the LRRS with Collision Pros Racing, and for every win he gets a free Collision Pros sticker.
Did you hear that NESR guys A FREE STICKER !!!!!!

[Borislav]

What ever happend to Haga, I thought he was very talanted

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by Borislav
What ever happend to Haga, I thought he was very talanted

He is. But he got the yamaha curse! Just like Anthony Gobert.

[need4speed]

Originally posted by Borislav
What ever happend to Haga, I thought he was very talanted

He was supposed to race for Collision Pros Racing, but never got his FREE!!! stickers so he went with Yamaha

As fas as Nicky goes, give him time to learn the tracks.

[SEVENSGT]

Originally posted by GMS1000
first year in MotoGP. He's never even raced on any of the tracks before.

Don't hate, appreciate.......

See; He ain't got the skills yet...... I like Nicky, I just wish he woulda spent one more year in the US

[GMS1000]

just about everyone he's racing against except for Troy Bayliss has seen(raced) all the tracks before. The top 8-10 riders are seperated by around 1 sec per lap! How doesn't he have skill?

If he raced in the US one more year, it would have been that much longer that he wouldn't have seen the tracks in Europe......... forget it, your starting to remind me of my EX.

you could've atleast edited my qoute. that way, taking it out of context would have looked a little better

[Zero]

He is also a young guy that is very close to his family. A lot of riders can't even adjust to the cultural differences, never mind the tracks. You have very few friends over there, even your teammate is not really your friend. There are many more setup options, tire choices, etc. He has done far better than anybody (non Americans) has expected. He really stepped up to the plate and wait until next year.

[SEVENSGT]

Well, I guess I was wrong in saying he doesn't have the skills yet to get the top position in motogp yet... Oh well if I remind you of your EX, He must be one big sexy guy..... ...... Why does it get you sooooo upset that I don't think Nicky is the shining star he really is.... I like his riding and I think by the end of the '05 season he will have the #1 in motogp..... GMS1000, I am not a racer nor do I pretend to be, I like to ride, watch racing, and checking out the newest model of motorcycles, I am not as skilled in what is going through Haydens' head as you apparently are, all I can do is give my opinion on what I see. I like watching racers go from a start of 11 to 5 in an entire race, I love to see inside passes and latre braking I am an average joe that don't know shit, so I say

it's not me making the money or spending it either

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
Well, I guess I was wrong in saying he doesn't have the skills yet to get the top position in motogp yet...

True...

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
Oh well if I remind you of your EX, He must be one big sexy guy.....

Stop tryin to make your boyfriend jealous...I don't butter both sides of the bread.

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
Why does it get you sooooo upset that I don't think Nicky is the shining star he really is.... I like his riding and I think by the end of the '05 season he will have the #1 in motogp...

why would I be upset? You stated your opinion and I gave you some facts. Maybe you should go back and read your first post.


"We know little nicky ain't got the skills yet... Top 5 finally after an entire season, I mean comon"

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
I am not as skilled in what is going through Haydens' head as you apparently are

you should work on whats goin through your head first!

[zombie]

interesting discussion here.
My question would be what about E-boz , does he have the skills to play with the big boys overseas or is he just exciting to watch like Gary Mc Coy and if he was on a similar bike as Nicky in AMA how would he have done.
I believe that Nicky will be fine as the learning curve in moto gp is huge and he seems to be handling it fine, also the competition is huge in GP and there are riders just waiting for you to fail so they can grab your spot

The rider I like with some serious talent is young john hopkins and I hope he gets a decent ride down the road.