[Nepenthe2]

Well? Maybe in a couple of years after he has two AMA Superbike and two AMA Supersport titles under his belt? He's only 20 now. I figger he's good for another 10 years.

I think he could be competitive in WSBK, maybe right now (given the requisite track familiarity).

But MotoGP? Is he too heavy? Would he be merely mediocre in that crowd? Could he do what he does now on the big twin if he had a 240 hp V-5 to pilot?

Am I friggin' idiot?

 

[gavilan2]

I think he has more to prove before going to GP...WSBK would be a plataform where he would shine within a couple of years, no doubt. The boy is consistent, has got talent, and is always giving it 110%.

just Ride!

 

[amos01]

The kid is a great and smart rider. He could probably run towards the front in either. If I ran HRC I'd look to putting him in WSBK.

 

[RumJungle]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

But MotoGP? Is he too heavy? Would he be merely mediocre in that crowd? Could he do what he does now on the big twin if he had a 240 hp V-5 to pilot?

Am I friggin' idiot?

<hr></blockquote>



Here are your answers: No, yes, yes, maybe, and yes./images/icons/wink.gif

GP is a whole different breed of rider nowadays...especially now that there's GP1. I'd like to see Nicky proove himself on the world scene first.

 

[JETPILOT]

I think he's a great rider. Smart? well seeing him bin it on a fresh set of qualifing tires `after' securing the pole position I would question smart. Young yes, but smart?....

<font color=yellow>Zoom,Zoom,Zoom</font color=yellow>
<font color=yellow>MOVE OVER COMIN' THRU</font color=yellow>

 

[nobody996]

I would like to say yes but it all will be seen. I would just like to have another american over there in WSBK or GP1!

 

[bikearch]

Who knows. I would like to think he would be. Remember john hopkins is over there and there isn't a lot of pressure on him to win so if they give him time he could possibly do it.

Right know lets see if he can just win the ama superbike.

craig

its all in the transitions

 

[RaceRXX]

In his monthly article in Road Racing World he stated that he wants to go GP racing next year while he is still young. He also stated that he is in his last year with HRC so that will pretty much give him what he wants. He has his sights set on the World and the Kid is good enough to go.

 

[pastU]

will he wildcard @ Laguna? this would be a good venue if he intends to go world class...

<font color=blue>SPEED</font color=blue><font color=red>MATTERS !</font color=red> /images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Nepenthe2]

That's a good question. How did he do last year at Laguna?

 

[pastU]

he won in 2000 SB, DNF in 2001, don't remember what happened there or in 600SS

it's our world track but I look at Brainerd more for talent,
I don't know why, just do.

He can ride that track and he may have the consistency now to be an excellent wildcard choice for Honda, trick paint & all.

<font color=blue>SPEED</font color=blue><font color=red>MATTERS !</font color=red> /images/icons/wink.gif

 

[amos01]

I think he's smart. Yes he made a mistake on his cool down lap in qualifying but he also rode a smart race as he did at many of the '01 races. He seems to learn from his mistakes.

 

[kman]

I think Nicky could do well in WSBK, but I'm unsure about MotoGP. Look at Haga! Some people don't do so well when they switch over!!/images/icons/shocked.gif Of course with the new 4 strokes that may change.

kman

<font color=red>Live it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Ride it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Race it</font color=red>

 

[RaceRXX]

Nicky, stated that he would like to ride WSB at Laguna he said he is awaiting word from HRC.

 

[Rizzo]

Nicky is a great racer but he needs to put together a good season in the AMA first. He did well at the end of last season with 4 wins in a row but the rest of the season he was too inconsistent. I think this year will be a good one for him and then he'll be ready for bigger and better things. Right now, I can't see him placing anywhere in the top 10 or 15 in WSB.

Look at Ben Bostrom in his first year in WSB. He had a tough time adjusting to the new tracks and new countries. Now after a while overseas, he's rollin'. I figure Nicky will follow much of the same path. Good things to come on the world scene...just not yet.

 

[WinkoR1]

Re: Could Nicky compete at the WSBK or MotoGP leve

I'd love to see him in WSBK and I think he'd do pretty good once he learns the tracks

Your signature here

 

[jay64]

Re: Could Nicky compete at the WSBK or MotoGP leve

Last year at Laguna the Kawasaki riders were the only AMA racers to enter WSBK. The other teams didn't get their riders signed up in time. I think Gobert was signed up, but he backed out because of his injuries. Nicky didn't do too well at Laguna last year. But you guys got to remember that a lot of the inconsistency last year was due to the bikes, not to Nicky. I think any rider that goes over seas to new tracks will not do that well the first year. Haga didn't do well because he didn't know the tracks that good. Look at how well he was running at Phillip island where he knew the track. I'm sure Nicky will go to WSBK next year as a stepping stone to GP. Hopefully he has decent finishes his first year.

Jay #43
http://haleanuenue.com/racing.html

 

[RISS]

Re: Could Nicky compete at the WSBK or MotoGP leve

I think Nicky can raise his game to whatever level he needs. Can he chase down Rossi? I really don't know but we should have a good idea when the GP1 wars start and we see how Rossi performs vs the other Honda V5's. In fairness I would first like to see Colin Edwards get a shot and Nicky take his spot in SBK.