IIRC, when 2000 world 500GP champ Kenny Roberts Jr was about to leave the Yamaha and Modenas family fold (a Roberts not on a Yamaha...shocking), and jump on the slow-ass Suzuki RGV500 as a factory rider for 1999, Kenny Roberts Senior said something like "I'll only let you leave if Warren Willing goes with you."
R.I.P. Mr Willing