Rapid ReaXtion: Kawasaki Signs RV and Weimer
Friday, September 7, 2012 | 3:00 PM
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Steve Matthes:
Monster Energy Kawasaki announcing that they’ve re-signed their two riders from this year to multi-year deals isn’t that surprising, after all both guys are buddies, they’re both really fast and they’ve both put up some solid results. If Ryan Villopoto can stay healthy, he’s the favorite going into each title chase, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for RV, since 2010 he’s missed three complete series (2009 450MX, 2010 450MX and 2012 450MX) in the last four years. Villopoto when healthy is the number one rider in the sport, he’s yet to lose a championship that he’s fully contested aside from his first 450 SX season.
Monster Energy Kawasaki announcing that they’ve re-signed their two riders from this year to multi-year deals isn’t that surprising, after all both guys are buddies, they’re both really fast and they’ve both put up some solid results. If Ryan Villopoto can stay healthy, he’s the favorite going into each title chase, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for RV, since 2010 he’s missed three complete series (2009 450MX, 2010 450MX and 2012 450MX) in the last four years. Villopoto when healthy is the number one rider in the sport, he’s yet to lose a championship that he’s fully contested aside from his first 450 SX season.
Weimer’s proven to be a fast study as he’s gotten more than a few podiums and also, as importantly, stayed healthy since missing the 2011 SX series with a broken arm. Jake’s a perfect second guy for the team, he can make the podium (even win if things break his way) and he’s always in the mix and he gets along with the number one rider on the team.
Some people were surprised that Weimer was re-signed over another up and coming green recruit in Dean Wilson but I know that Kawasaki brass of Reid Nordin and Dan Fahie value team chemistry a ton and as well, Weimer probably costs a little less than Wilson. It wasn’t much of a choice for the guys and they scored a coup by getting Wilson to stay on green for next year with the JWR team.
Weimer’s deal was done a while ago and the hold-up on this PR was Villopoto who’s agent Bobby Nichols was shopping the six-time champion around. Ironically enough, Weimer let Nichols go in order to get his deal done sooner with Kawasaki while Villopoto used the same agent to get him what is probably the richest contract in the sports history (every single contract Ryan had was up this year so there’s no doubt he cashed in big. Fox drove the bidding up but Villopoto will be remaining with Thor as well. No word on the other deals yet).
So while there were some other bidders for Villopoto in the end, it made sense for Ryan, for Monster Energy, for Kawasaki and everyone else for Ryan to stay green and remain on the brand and on the team that has brought him so much success. Between him and Weimer (as well as Wilson), Kawasaki’s looking very strong for the next few years.
Jason Weigandt:
The one thing that makes team moves hard to understand in this sport is that we never hear the actual asking price or salary numbers. In the big team sports, salaries are batted around and made public, which allows fans to make educated guesses as if they were building their own fantasy team.
RV re-signing is no surprise. What took so long? Well, the last time his deal was up, he was coming off some injury-plagued years and had yet to deliver a 450 championship. Hard to believe now, but heading into 2010, Christophe Pourcel’s old agent was trying to convince Kawasaki that his rider was more championship-proven than RV, and thus the brand should open the check book for CP first, and RV later. Pourcel obviously brought some issues, but at the time, Villopoto had merely crashed out of his 450 title attempts, so he didn’t have a ton of leverage.
Since then, Villopoto picked up Aldon Baker, upped his game and won titles against the deepest field ever. Plus the sport is a little healthier financially, so the timing and leverage were now on RV’s side. Might as well wait and let the offers get higher and higher and higher (Kawi was worried. At one point they made a serious run at Trey Canard). And good for Ryan, because he earned those dollars the right way, by training his ass off and winning races.
As for Weimer, he wants to be there and he doesn’t play hard ball (note Matthes’ info above, where Weimer decided to do this deal on his own). He could have tried to squeeze every last dollar out of it, but instead he played the good citizen, which is the way to be when you’re the number-two guy on the team. Plus, he and RV are buddies, they both work with Baker, etc. Weimer helps Villopoto be that much better by keeping the drama out of there and working as a unit.
This is a case of Villopoto using the leverage he had to make this a hard negotiation process, and make as much money as possible. And it’s a case of Kawasaki and Weimer taking the path of least resistances in regards to each other.
As for Weimer’s deal shutting out future Kawi talent like Blake Baggett (or Dean Wilson), well, when you have Villopoto on lock down, you’re not really desperate for talent. Second, Kawi kept Dean anyway, just on a different team. It’s hard to bet on what future talent can deliver, but it’s easy to go all-in on Ryan Villopoto.
Chase Stallo:
No real surprise here. Although Ryan Villopoto was being shopped around, I don’t think he ever really wanted to leave Kawasaki. And it looks like Kawasaki seemed content on bringing back their superstar instead of a younger rider out of their farm system, ala Dean Wilson, like they have done in the past.
I also think Jake Weimer fits in nicely as a second rider. While he won’t win a championship anytime soon, he will contend for podiums and had a great year, both indoors and out, in 2012. Some will proclaim that Weimer’s success was just a product of the mash unit that was the 450 Class this year. But let us not forget that he did have a podium in Phoenix—when everyone was healthy—and was leading the next week in L.A. before a run in with James Stewart. Also, one must remember that he did win the 2010 Western Region Lites Championship.
At the end of the day, Kawasaki made the best decision with the cards it was dealt. While I think Wilson would have been a better fit, he was probably too far out of their price range after the signing of Villopoto. The only question that I think will loom large next year is where does this leave Blake Baggett when he moves up—considering Weimer signed a multi-year extension?
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Would've been cool to see him wear something other than Thor next year. Don't really care what bike anyone is on as long as they're all healthy and going fast.
How come contract details are not disclosed?? every stick and ball sport tells us the terms and such. Interested in the bonus structure.
Damn glad for RV and Kawi. Can't wait to see the #2 flying the #1 in SX and the big 2 with the Red background in MX next year!
Sure Glad Nobama is not a moto fan, if he was he would probably be a Friese fan!
Im glad Weimer has a ride. I`ve always been a fan of his and i think he deserves it.
Damn Steve. Rough first paragraph for you. "Unfortunately for RV, since 2010 he’s missed three complete series (2009 450MX, 2010 450MX and 2012 450MX) in the last four years." Is 2009 really between 2010 and now? Lol. Also, RV missed a few races in his first 450 SX series. He went out with some mystery ailment, changed trainers, came back and won Seattle and Vegas.
@ Red54m,, Keep that to yourself.. If "Nobama" hears about Moto, him and his tree-hugger buddies might put a stop to it.. To hard on the environment,,, hahaha..
@mxmofo1, it is carry over from the article announcing the RV Weimer resigning earlier today.
I was just being a wise ass to get under a few peoples skin, specifically one MotoXscript THE MOTO FORUM GESTAPO!
I would have taken Wilson over Weimer.....Just my opinion...
I think everyone knew this was coming months ago. Everyone else already has a big name rider signed except Yamaha, and nobody wants to ride their 450. Logical conclusion: Villopoto will stay at Kawasaki. I personally would've liked to have seen him ride something different, but there's no denying Villopoto and that KX450F gel together. 2013 450 class should be good, but we've said that every year since 2009.
Wow, I bet Weimer will feel great about his progress after reading this article! LOL
Poor JW21, he is taking a beating around here. "While he won’t win a championship anytime soon....." Like Spicolli said, "You Dik!!!!!!!!"
I hope JW21 reads that and uses it as motivation to kick some rear fender next year.
I think ol' Wimez can do it, what a story that would be. The writers would have a hay day with that one!
Anyway..... Kawasaki made a good move in signing them both. It would have been very interesting however to see RV1 on a 22 bike tearing apart his old team.
Who is Jake Weimer sleeping with?
Really Mathes? Villopoto is the favorite in each series "no doubt"? Dungey is every bit as fast as Villopoto and every series he is in he is equal to RV2 in regards to favorites. In fact in my book he is the better bet, every bit as fast as Villopoto but more reliable. Factor a stacked field with 22, 7 and whatever number Canard is running and you think RV2 is "no doubt" the favorite with his injury track record? Pulleeeeez!?!
Really Mathes? Villopoto is the favorite in each series "no doubt"? Dungey is every bit as fast as Villopoto and every series he is in he is equal to RV2 in regards to favorites. In fact in my book he is the better bet, every bit as fast as Villopoto but more reliable. Factor a stacked field with 22, 7 and whatever number Canard is running and you think RV2 is "no doubt" the favorite with his injury track record? Pulleeeeez!?!
Stoked on this! Dont mess with a good thing. Really want to hear about the RC/Hart H/H Team though..any word there?
Weimer is talented, but no one believes he will win a championship on a 450. Not even himself. That said, I would love to be as good a rider as him. Playing second fiddle to Villopoto, Dungey, Reed and Stewart isn't as bad as some people make it seem. When you can count on one hand the number of people who can beat you at the top level of any sport, you're pretty amazing in my book. Also, is Villopoto's contract really the richest in the sport's history? I was under the impression that these guy aren't making anywhere near as much money as Ricky did back when he was on top. Maybe that's after counting win and championship bonuses?
I believe that the stacked field factor was factored in........... and RV2 became RV1. He is the favorite.
motokris where where you in this years sx championship? dungey as fast as villo? all the races are on you tube i really think you should see the races again, dungey was in a lot of races a full second faster than dungey PER LAP so please dont make comments like that, when you do so everybody realize that you dont know A THING about supercross and imj not mentioning that in the MEC 2011 rv was not one but TWO seconds faster per lap than everyone and dungey was there so dungey running with rv? in supercross? pulllllllleeeeezzzz
rv was in a lot of races 7 main events a full second faster than dungey, my mistake above
every 450 (full) season rv has competed in he has been the champ at the end so no doubt come a1 rv is the favorite
Alessi spunked weimer all season. enough said. they should have signed RATTRAY to KAWASAKI with RV.
What do you all think....rv2 making around 2.5 - 3 million a year in salary from kawi alone, while weimer is closer to 350 - 500k a year? Thoughts?
Weimer works perectly with Villopoto, they are both good for the Kawasaki brand because they are young and talented. Weimer works hard, he's got pace and the image. The image is just as important. And Deano will be fine at JWR, he'll be top priority there and won't have to play second fiddle to RV. Should be a great season for Kawi, it'll be intersting to see if JG33 stays at JWR or goes to JGR. Either or would be a good fit for him I reckon
@alezx9 On paper Dungey has won three championships in three years in the 450 class versus Villopoto's three championships in four years. The fact remains that Villopoto can't win a championship unless he's actually racing in it. In terms of always "being there", Dungey gets the nod over everyone. I will agree that Villopoto is probably always the favorite to win any race he enters, but championships are a little harder for him. I expect Dungey to be closer to Villopoto's speed this coming Supercross season. He's got a year of racing the new bike under his belt combined with the confidence that he knows he can win on it and with KTM. I'm not saying he's going to beat Villopoto, but he'll definitely be improved. Hopefully it will make for some exciting racing, because we were watching a RV clinic at most rounds this year. If Stewart manages to return to his 2007/2008 self on the Suzuki, it could be his year. Then there's always Reed. I wouldn't mind seeing him win it and then retire.
Weimer is pretty solid (most of the time) and I'd say RV is a title contender any given day. So you got your champ and your guy who you might see on the podium here and there with him, sounds like a solid team to me.
You can use what ever Buzz word you want. Perspective,Lookin forward. It is what it is ..........What ever other than the last 250 motos left and MXdN....... Best thing that comes out of tommorrow is ..................
"COLLEGE FOOTBALL"
Hey Buddy !
Poor Jake... Kawi's whipping boy.
@ Chowderhead
I'll be the whipping po boy for the ride and the money he is making..No won will know but I bet its over $ 500 G a year...........When that JT Money was riding for team Subway by know means was that a BIG Factory 4 or 5 team po old Jason Thomas was pulling in Salary alone $ 375,000 a year not counting other indorsments that the true facts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know which is funnier. The fact that you spell by phonetic sound, or that you think $500k is big bucks.
Carry on with your bad self.
Average person makes $ 30 k to 70 k 500 k riding a bike I think anyone on this site would take that gig.........
mx40
How does Dungey's nut taste? haha Dungey fans won't be so loud when RV JS CR return, you can bet on that. Just like how quiet they were when the 2011 supercross started, remember? haha
Dude, what are you, twelve? Grow up. I don't get why some people hate on Dungey. He has beaten Villopoto, Stewart and Reed straight up plenty of times. Indoors and out, no excuses. He's always a threat for the win and the championship, get over it. I'd still pick Villopoto to beat him more often than not. Personally, I'm a Stewart fan. I want him to come out swinging at A1.
I'm super excited to see who Dungey will be racing at the end of the season!
Everyones dollar figures for riders seem really optimistic to me.I doubt that Jason Thomas has ever made $375k in a single year.I doubt that he cleared that much in all 16 years combined. I'll bet that Winner's salary is less than $350k a year.I even doubt that Villapoto got $2.5-3million per year from Kaw.Not in this ecomany.I think you people are dreaming.
@uneasy rider.I guess tomorrow you will get to see who Dungey gets to race at the end of the season.I bet it is the same people that he has been racing all year.
@ fred
I begg to differ its easy to find look at old Pulp Mx tapes or some other moto archives its out there plus he used to be my neighbor its there beleive it or not I'll try to dig for it next week but it was just discussed on the pulp show not to long ago for about the 5th time in last couple of years..............Pluss you dont live in a 500 grand house making minimum wage what ever its is I'll take it ........Later Fred ....
mx40 i agree with you in some things i dont like james that much but he is the only one that has the raw speed to hang with rv, villo was untouchable in lap times in 2012sx but js7 was the only one with almost the same speed he just have to keep it in two wheels, for me the best race of 2012 450s was actually a heat in oakland rv and james up front too bad they run out of time to battle it was the only time they where side by side with non of them falling in the entire seasonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyoGD73iU0o
I agree with Fred. Weimer is well below $350k, which is why he is still there. Don't forget, we're talking base salary. Weimer would rather sign with Kawasaki for anything, than be on his own for nothing. Pretty smart. Alessi I'm sure would try to break the bank, demanding 2-3 times what Weimer got. They still get gear deals and bonuses, goggle deals and bonuses, etc. I think Dungey's base salary is STILL a lot more than RV's. I'm betting RV's base is around $1.5-$2 mil, where Dungey's base is $2.5 mil.
In other sports, they have salary caps, or in the case of baseball, a luxury tax. So they have to report all player salaries to comply. The baseball luxury tax means once teams go over a certain amount, they have to pay a penalty to the league which then gets disbursed to the lower payroll teams. So in all the other sports, the salaries have to be made public. In sports like golf, it is as much a guess as it is in MX.
I also find it hard to believe JT$ was ever making $375k as a base salary, but maybe that is why the team went away after one year. What did they get on their investment? It is not unheard of for riders to have ever made way more than they should have, but that does not translate to 2012-2013. Fifteen years ago, there were 10th place riders making $800k but they didnt make it for long and oh yeah, the economy went to sheet since then. Pourcel didn't get a sniff of what he was asking.....not even a nibble. People need to understand some riders get it, and price themselves where a team is always there for them and others price themselves out of every job available. Nick Wey comes to mind when people wonder why he is always getting rides.....because all he needs is bikes, mechanic, flights.....not $500k in salary.....or even $150,000. Keep that in mind when wondering why a team signed so and so when the other so and so was available. Also keep in mind what a pain the ass some riders are while others are a pleasure to work with.
Oral Roberts: a $500k salary is a lot, a $500k house is not. You own a $500k house on a $100k salary, I bet Weimer's house is s lot higher than $500k and I also bet he makes a lot less than you think. Afterall, he has been making a decent salary for a few year, on top of all his 250 SX title bonuses. Wemier may pull in well over $500k for a year, but that is Kawasaki, Thor, goggles, and every other spnosor he has plus any incentive bonuses.....and he probably earns a decent sum on investments. What Chad Reed is worth is not all due to his base salaries over the years. He makes way more on his investments now than he does on anything else....according to him anyway.
where is JT at? I want his answer to the salary he made now! haha. JT is awsome, its great to listen to him and the boys on the shows. I hope he made good money doing what he loved, even though he didn't show us that raw speed he has been hiding. His place in our sport was perfect and I'm sure that he is pretty upset to be throwing in the towel. I'm sure he has come to peace with it but still, with 16 years of racing under your belt he has gotta be a little sad..... Good luck today JT! Make some noise and leave imprint on that top 10 results list to look back on!
This confirms my lead man / wing man theory regarding team structure in the "new economy era".
Does this mean if we want to see 10 racers capable of a win we have to have 10 teams to support them?
Theoretically, Honda could have Barcia / Tomac next year (as well as Canard) how would that dynamic size up?
To second (or third) that emotion, I would VERY MUCH like to know what the pay / bonus structure is for a RV, Dungey & Barcia nowadays. As said before, I do not believe it is what it once was in the RC & early Stewart / Yamaha years.
@ B-KR Some stuff you talk about is valid but I'm a mortgage specialist you are talking out your ass on some issues.............500 k in la is nothing in most country its a nice real nice place 100 k a year you better have a substantial down I loan you zero.........No bank is going to give out a loan at 50-60 % ratio.......You in dream land................Sorry you dont know your stuff............Plus I'm at the race were are you................
ORU--Oh sorry for being so stupid, Mr. Mortgage Specialist. No wonder the mortgage industry f'ed up the whole economy for everyone else, which you ought to know is part and parcel to why Weimer makes much less now than he may have 10 years ago.
Anyway.......the conversation was about Weimer's base salary not mortgage ratios, and I could go on and get into how little I know and how much you know, but I won't. You were the one using a $500k house as some sort of proof that he must make much more than what I think he does. Yet now you are saying it isn't much of a house at all in Cali. As if Weimer wouldn't have a down payment with all his bonus money form his 250 SX title, either. I wouldn't be surprised if he paid cash on a home worth $1.5 mil or more several years ago. But I still say his BASE salary is around $250,000 or less with Kawasaki today. You can add to that all the other contracts from other sponsors and it probably accounts for close to doubling his base. Real dumb point about being at the race.
I wonder if OralKnoberts can keep his mouth shut for 10 seconds, or is it full of mulch flies already, at Lake Elsinore?
@ B-KR
@ Chowderhead
Yes Im at the track and the motos start soon .; Whole thing was talking to FRED not you to mother f*cker............So f^ck off ^sshole ............It was about JT salary and by the way I dought that most people on this site make 8 grand a month so go back to the racer x typing and leave the real deals to those who know c&ck; su*ckers
@ Chowderhead = Sloan or peston either way you are a D8ck Head
Maybe Mathes will cover this on monday with JT.
@ Oral Roberts in 05,6and7 they were loaning money at a ratio of 125% of peoples salary for house's.
@Oral
Watch the races you are so boastful of being at and stop worrying about typing in your nonsense on RacerX. It was good for a laugh though, thanks.
Rumors had RV's base salary (YES RV) at $800,000 on his last contract......which was also rumored to be a payCUT from his previous contract. Again, BASE salary. He probably tripled that with his bonuses alone and maybe doubled it with all his other endorsements for around $5 mil a year. It is more than a rumor that Dungey's contract with Suzuki was a BASE salary of $450,000, which again was probably quadrupled with all his bonuses in 2010. So you can sort of do some educated estimates off of that concerning what others make.
I forgot that you have to draw pictures for some people, I was talking about who Dungey will be racing at the end of next season.....ie.....who if all the what ifs will be still in it and not broken!
RV a no-brainer for Kawi, of course. Weimer - a good, solid, #2 support rider who isn't going to rock the boat or do something stupid to try and prove he is "the real #1" on the team. And as was mentioned in the article, signing RV meant they weren't going to have the budget for a second superstar.
As for Wilson, I've lost all respect for that tool and I think it's funny as heck that he couldn't find a seat on a factory team. He got exactly what he deserved. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!