Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Catalan GP - Kawasaki chasing Capirossi
Eurosport - Wed, 06 Jun 16:47:00 2007

Kawasaki want Italian Loris Capirossi to head their rider line-up next year in an attempt to move to the top of the Moto GP pile.

The Japanese squad are believed to have one of the fastest bikes in Moto GP, but riders Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque have so far been unable to unlock it's obvious potential.

And 34-year-old Capirossi, who is renowned as one of the best development riders currently racing in Moto GP, and who was integral in making Ducati's 990cc Desmosedici a championship contender, is the man they think will get the job done.

Capirossi's manager Carlo Pernat told Motorcycle News: "We have spoken a lot with Kawasaki and we are very interested.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner has endured a tough transition to the 800cc formula on a GP7 Ducati that is far more suited to the 250cc riding style of his championship-leading team-mate Casey Stoner.

And with the Italian team looking likely to make a swoop for disillusioned Gresini rider Marco Melandri, Capirossi is looking elsewhere.

He faces competition for the ride, even though current rider Jacque looks set to retire at the end of the season following the arm injury he sustained in China.

As well as de Puniet, Kawasaki have confirmed negotiations with Suzuki duo John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen have taken place, while Sylvain Guintoli and 250cc rider Alex de Angelis are also rumoured to be in talks.

Jamie O'Leary

If he cant win on the duc, how is he going to win on the kwaka?

matt76 wrote:If he cant win on the duc, how is he going to win on the kwaka?

The Last couple of years Capirossi went very close and probably would have won it if it hadn't been for injuries! ... this year however he just seems to be an "Also ran" I haven't been following it much this year though to comment on why

Cappirossi is good but if it were me Hopkins is the one I'd be chasing.

They need someone fast and experienced... Hopkins is my vote!

Capirossi would bring development forward though.

No point sticking another ex 250 rider in (ala de Angelis)...

red_dave wrote:
No point sticking another ex 250 rider in (ala de Angelis)...

agree'd waste of time

I think they should hire me. I'm even prepared to go do superbike school if the offer's high enough.

That's big of ya Loz, you'd probably be a bit cheaper than Hopkins too but I gotta agree with the above, Hopkins is who we should be chasing

hopkins and melandri would be an excellent combination. would put kawasaki in the top 3 for sure in constructors and rider championships.

TITANIUMBULLET wrote:hopkins and melandri would be an excellent combination. would put kawasaki in the top 3 for sure in constructors and rider championships.

Really so who will Kawasaki knock out of the top 3 spots?

Stoner on the Ducati?, Rossi on the Yamaha? or Melandri on the Honda?

ducati_paul wrote:

TITANIUMBULLET wrote:hopkins and melandri would be an excellent combination. would put kawasaki in the top 3 for sure in constructors and rider championships.

Really so who will Kawasaki knock out of the top 3 spots?

Stoner on the Ducati?, Rossi on the Yamaha? or Melandri on the Honda?

thats easy seeming though i said melandri riding the kwaka, that would mean he`d be taking his spot riding for honda

TITANIUMBULLET wrote:
thats easy seeming though i said melandri riding the kwaka, that would mean he`d be taking his spot riding for honda

fair enuff!

hopkins, capirossi, vermeulen, west -not allowed to speak tho..

These guys know how to wring a bikes neck and always give 100%.
if the big K get any of the above, i would be happy.

randy seems to be making more of an effort this year, so i wont be surprised if they keep him.

jeremy burgess said if rossi was on the Kawasaki, the bike would be at least 1/2 second quicker. well, capirossi is overall not too far off rossi, so i think he would get the bike regularly near the front of the pack.

then we poach rossi off yamaha for 2009 and we win a world championship..see, its easy!!

Vermuelan...mmmm vermuelan...young, aussie,can ride....

red_dave wrote:They need someone fast and experienced... Hopkins is my vote!

Capirossi would bring development forward though.

No point sticking another ex 250 rider in (ala de Angelis)...

Yeah, I'd be spewing if Kawasaki signed Lorenzo or Dovizioso. Though I agree that de Angeles is only a slighty better RdP. Speaking of Randy, I reckon he always tries hard, even last year, he's just not up to being a MotoGP frontrunner. No-one ever has when they crash out of 2/3's of a season when they are running between 8th-10th.

There will be a lot of rider movement for 08 I reckon and if Kwak can get any of the four guys mentioned (CV, Hopkins, Capirex and Marco) then they will no doubt become regular podium contenders. I think they would be a good chance of landing at least one of them given they have already spoken to them and there is an influx of new riders to join next year in Lorenzo, Dovi, de Angeles and possibly James Toseland. No doubt this a talent rich period of motorcycle racing.