OJ to replace Hofmann

[aardvark]

Following the news that Kawasaki's Alex Hofmann will miss the next two GPs due to injury, it appears likely that former 250cc world champion Olivier Jacque could be called up to steer his ZX-RR at Shanghai and Le Mans.

Jacque, who beat current Kawasaki rider and then team-mate Shinya Nakano in the 2000 250 championship decider at Phillip Island by a fraction of a second, tested the team's Ninja machine at Estoril yesterday.

Kawasaki were reported to be impressed by his speed, especially as Jacque had not ridden a race bike for a significant period of time. As such, and with no contracted test rider of GP standard on team green's books, it is likely that Olivier will take Hofmann's place for the next five weeks whilst the German receives treatment on his broken wrist.

Jacque and Nakano are long standing acquaintances and both graduated to 500GP in 2001 with Tech 3 Yamaha. Nakano left Tech 3 for D'Antin Yamaha in 2003, to make room for Alex Barros, and then joined Kawasaki in 2004 after D'Antin signed a deal to run Ducatis.

Meanwhile, Jacque was dropped by Tech 3 at the end of 2003, but rode in a few wild-card races for Moriwaki last season after Andrew Pitt switched back to World Supersport.

OJ then found himself without a ride for 2005, and will be hoping to impress in the next two rounds of the MotoGP championship, at Shanghai on May 1st and his home round at the French circuit of Le Mans on May 15th.

[kempy]

Good, maybe they'll see how useless Hoffman is. But what's happened to Yanagawa?!?!

[Barrabob]

Yep a fresh rider out to prove himself cant hurt team greens cause.

[mfzx6r]

Good news He'll be out to impress !!

I think Yanagawa Was injured on his last outing and has retired from racing but may be doing something in the backgroung for Kawasaki in Japan



mario

[icebreaker]

in testing he was like 10 seconds slower.. which makes you wonder what is the point of having him for testing if he can't replicate the conditions..

[Wannabe]

Well it'll be nice to see two green machines out there for the next few rounds. It was a bit strange seeing only one of the bewdiful green kwakas in sundays race.
And I wouldn't be surprised if Jacque does so well that he takes Hoffmans ride off him full-time.
IMHO Hoffman is neither experienced or talented enough to do the Kawasaki justice. I say it's time to get rid of the pretty-boy and get someone who at least has enough bike control to NOT highside the bike at 40kph

[omen_child]

It'll be good to see Olivier Jacque back in the top class.

On a Kwakka is just a bonus.

[Neka79]

IMHO Hoffman is neither experienced or talented enough to do the Kawasaki justice. I say it's time to get rid of the pretty-boy and get someone who at least has enough bike control to NOT highside the bike at 40kph

*puts hand up*...oh u said NOT a pretty boy??
least if i were gunna highside it id make it spectacular!!
mite as well give me the ride....i can crash as well as ne1 else!!

[Barrabob]

From what i have read in various magazines riders can pay for rides if they have megabucks or dorna can tell a team they can run a second bike but they have to use x rider because he is from x country and its good for the tv rateings to have riders from diferent counties because then viewers have someone to follow.

[Neka79]

o..i re-read the post..it seems they are not replacing hoffman with orange juice, but instaed sum french prick...

[redzedx7r]

six pack he drops it in on the first corner
the reason the guy hasn't had a ride for the last 2 years is that he is a crash king and suffered some pretty bad head injuries. OJ was fast on the Tech - 3 Yammy, nearly won the German GP on a 500 ahead of Rossi (on a RC211V) before Barros took him out
Typical f#$%kn Kawasaki and Eckl, they just don't want to win.
In so far as Hoffman is concerned, as much as i bag him he is a talented rider and needs some time on the bike to get his stuff together. He and Shinya also need to realise they now have a bike capable of winning (it's fast and rideable unlike the Suzuki, KR and WCM) so lets see some results fellas.
Sean

[Yankee]

sorry, a "guy" who has a name that could be a "guy" name: Oliver (gay, but atleast a guy name)
but
insists on going by "Olivia".... well, i guess that's the french for you (sorry frozzie!)
oh sorry again, trying to be funny..... didn't work, huh?

hope he does well! will be good to see another green machine out there.

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 Download PDF
20 APRIL 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


JACQUE TO SUBSTITUTE FOR INJURED HOFMANN
Former 250cc World Champion, Olivier Jacque, will make his racing return with the Kawasaki Racing Team for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai and the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

The 31-year-old French rider has been drafted into the team as a temporary replacement for Alex Hofmann, who sustained fractures to the ulna and scaphoid bones in his left wrist when he crashed during a promotional event ahead of last weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix, putting him out of action for five weeks.

The severity of Hofmann's injuries mean that the 27-year-old German rider will definitely miss the next two Grand Prix events in China and France, but is aiming to return to the MotoGP grid for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on 5th June.

The decision to run a replacement rider was taken jointly by Kawasaki Racing Team Manager, Harald Eckl, and senior Kawasaki staff in Japan as soon as the extent of Hofmann's injuries became apparent.

Jacque received the call up late on Sunday evening and immediately jumped on a plane for Portugal, taking advantage of a planned test at the 4.1km Estoril circuit on Monday to familiarise himself with the Ninja ZX-RR ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

Despite the fact that his MotoGP experience over the past 12 months has been limited to infrequent wild card appearances for Moriwaki, and a brief outing on the 2004 version of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR for a magazine test, Jacque proved at Estoril that he's lost none of the skills that took him to a World Championship title in 2000.

Although the test was brief, it allowed Jacque the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the sheer speed of a MotoGP bike, always a problem when a rider returns to racing after a long absence.

Jacque was reunited during the Estoril test with two people who played a very big part in his World Championship winning season back in 2000. Regular Kawasaki rider, Shinya Nakano, was the teammate that the Frenchman beat to the title by the narrowest of margins, while Kawasaki's current MotoGP Technical Director, Ichiro Yoda, was the man responsible for designing the 250cc machine that both riders campaigned that year.

Jacque will sport his trademark number 19 on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR when he takes to the track for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in just over a week's time.

Olivier Jacque: #19
"I am really pleased to be back racing again, and this is a fantastic opportunity for me. It's good to be riding again in the same team as Shinya, who is a friend as well as being a great competitor, and I'm happy to be working again with Yoda-san, for whom I have a great deal of respect."

"The test at Estoril was a short one, but I was immediately impressed with how much of an improvement this year's Ninja ZX-RR is over the 2004 version I rode for a magazine test at the end of last season. The new engine seems to produce more power and the stability of the chassis is also much improved since last year. As Shinya has proved with his results this season, the bike definitely has potential."

"After seven months away from racing it takes some time to get back up to speed and to rediscover your feeling for the bike. The Chinese Grand Prix will provide an opportunity for me to find this feeling, to get more experience of the bike and to find a set-up I'm happy with ahead of my home Grand Prix at Le Mans. So, while I'll be looking to do the best I can in the race in China, the main goal is to be competitive by the time we arrive at Le Mans for the French Grand Prix. To score a good result in Le Mans would be fantastic for me and for Kawasaki."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"While it is unfortunate that Alex will miss the next two races through injury, we were lucky that someone of Olivier's calibre was available to replace him at such short notice. Jumping on a MotoGP machine after such a long layoff is difficult for any rider, but Olivier adapted quickly during his brief test at Estoril and I'm sure that, as he becomes more familiar with the characteristics of the Ninja ZX-RR and our Bridgestone tyres, his lap times will continue to improve during practice and qualifying ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. Nobody has raced in Shanghai before, so Olivier will not start next weekend at a disadvantage, and few riders know their way around Le Mans as well as he does. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on our bike at his home Grand Prix."

[Ment]

.... well, i guess that's the french for you (sorry frozzie!)

Hey theres nothing wrong with being french.

[Neka79]

.... well, i guess that's the french for you (sorry frozzie!)

Hey theres nothing wrong with being french.

rumour has it the chicks dont shave their pits, let alone any chance of a brazillian!!
YUCKKKKKK