Kawasaki sign Jacque to replace Nakano

The theory is sound.... get an experienced rider and teach the younger rider to be faster, how to communicate with the mechanics, etc etc....

Having a japanese guy whos grip of the english language was mediocre, teaming up with a french guy whose grip of the english language is also below average.... would probably have been comedic and also quite a hindrance....

Just my two cents worth

Why would you assume that a German team all speak english? And a Japanese rider's english is relevent when Kawasaki itself is Japanese?

I don't quite share your logic...

I typed a big huge long reply..but deleted it and started again.....

You have a good point, however Shinya's mechanic is actually french.... So is Randys head mechanic....

In any case...... my point was that communication between the riders and the mechanical team is a must........ Im sure we all agree on that...
HOWEVER, communication between the two riders is not really required.... Although definitely prefered.... I'm not saying that Shinya and Randy never spoke.... but I am speculating that if both riders are french they are able to communicate track status, bike setup and stuff like that more efficiently, more quickly and they are more likely to do exactly that because of it.........

Just my 2c worth thats all...

I also won't be expecting much from next year, unfortunetly OJ didn't perform much beyond Hoffman on a dry track, so in all honestly, it was great he came second in such trying conditions, but for a season of performance why in god's name would you want OJ...

Lets just hope that the developments on the 06 bike itself were a direct reflection of OJ's previous performance, otherwise if Randy can stay upright he could find himself being big K's number one rider...

I also won't be expecting much from next year

I agree with that one......

Well

at least I will not feel guilty at sleeping off the beer while the race is under way

i'd rather have gibbers or max as no1 rider than OJ.
he's good, but he's no winner. not even someone capable of regular podiums.

From what i saw of OJ at pi he thought he was stil testing he went out inthe main event did a few laps and ran off at turn 4 went back in got some diferent tyres and did a few more.

maybe he will go better as a reguler rider but i am not holding my breath either.

I heavily agree with Dan, and that lines up with what I said before. OJ was the test rider, so knows the bike and hopefully much of what we saw in the improvement of the ZX-RR was a direct result of his testing.

That can give us some hope for pace. He will be rusty, and I don't think we can expect good race results straight up. But remember it was he who stole the 250cc championship from Nakkers.

I've always had the opinion that Jacque really hasn't had a proper go at it. And, given the options out there, what else could Kawasaki have done? There was a threat about it a little while ago, and everyone was throwing out fanciful (and quite nationalistic) names, with very few real serious contenders.

I'd much rather have a guy who has spent years making solid contributions to the ZX-RR project on the bike then some whinging has been who never was (ie Gibernau/Biaggi/Checa)

Mind you, I do agree that Kawasaki really needs a top line rider to help develop the bike. All I'm saying is, given the options they had they probably made the best one available.

I also won't be expecting much from next year, unfortunetly OJ didn't perform much beyond Hoffman on a dry track, ...

or u could just pray for a downpour...every week...

I'm Trying to Be Optomistic, I actually think the Kwaka Was THE best bike in certain conditions this year. It lacked nothing in the top speed area, held a line heaps better then the Spewie & was lighter on the tires then the fukati but ...... Nakkers raced like he was rooting someones daughter & didn't want any one to notice him.

The real positive is that Both 07 riders have Webbed Feet & do great in the wet. So maybe that combined with the "Shitemselves" in the heat Bridgestones may see us get our First Win.

Either way Bring it ON

Kwaka could do a lot worse than the two riders they have signed that is for sure. I won't shitcan OJ straight away, he has one a 250 championship afterall and he was doing OK on the 500's before his big off that had him sidelined for a long time. The general consensus is that the 800's are a means to let the european 250 riders graduate to premier class without killing themselves. Both 2007 Kwaka riders had reasonably success stints in 250's so here's hoping (I will ofcourse be cheering for Casey and Chris the V at the same time).

Well we have till march 10th 2007 to see if they perform

go team frog

Lets just hope they have an 800cc bike by then...

Lets just hope they have an 800cc bike by then...

theres no "changeover" period like there was with the 2/4 stroke era....

i guess it would be hard to police, unless the restriced them in sum way that it would require development neway!!

maybe give em a 30sec delay off the start?

lets hope he doesn't do this again
http://www.superbike.co.uk/gallery/cras ... er_jacques

Dunno how OJ did that!?

I think next year is a development year for Kawasaki and they need an experienced rider to hopefully lead them in the right direction. Hopefully that will allow them to chase some fast young talent like Lorenzo or H. Aoyama in 2008.