| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Coulon found Colin's Texas accent easier to understand than James' British one?? Wow... who'da guessed that?? | ||
| Trojan |
Coulon found Colin's Texas accent easier to understand than James' British one?? Toseland has a Yorkshire accent, not a British one  Maybe they don't understand a word, but if someone shouts 'COULON or COLIN' they both come running? Maybe Colin is just better at speaking with his hands than JT  (Message edited by trojan on August 11, 2009) | ||
| Jaimec |
Could be worse. Could've been a Geordie accent... | ||
| Blake |
Now Colin is a mid-field rider? And here I was thinking that he is among the top motorcycle road racers on the planet. He's currently 5th in the MotoGP championship. Being able to comprehensively and accurately communicate the effects of new/different parts including tires is an extremely valuable skill. Testing to setup a particular racer's machine will always ultimately rest upon that racer. Baseline testing remains a highly valuable effort. Does this new swingarm work as intended? Does this new tire help reduce chatter? etc... | ||
| Trojan |
Blake, Edwards has had NO input into the testing of the current Yamaha M1. Maybe he did when he was Rossi's team mate, but right now he rides what he is given to ride, so the only development he can do is for his own setup. ALL riders prefer different setups, so just because a swingarm works for Rossi doesn't mean it will work for Edwards ro anyone else. Both Edwards and Toseland have struggled to get to grips with the geometry of the M1 since they went to Bridgestone tyres and have both complained quite publicly about their difficulty in getting it to work. Given that he has complained all season about lack of grip at the front of his bike and has been unable to find a solution until Bridgestone 'imposed' a front tyre on him at Donington I think that some of the mystique regarding his development ability has to be media hype as much as anything else. There are riders who are able to communicate what the bike is doing better than others, which is of course a valuable skill and Colin is probably one of those riders. However that doesn't mean he is a development rider any more than a race winner so far. Because of the ever increasing bans on mid season testing, most of the development work is now carried out by factory 'development' riders who are not even current GP riders but factory employees (Okada, Guareshi etc). They get the bike to the point of it being 'rideable' by GP riders and test the various components for reliability then the factory teams take over. Rossi and Lorenzo get 100% of the say so at Yamaha now, and Edwards and Toseland don't get a say outside of the Tech 3 garage. Likewise at the satellite Honda and Ducati teams get what they are given by the respective factories. Much as I have been a fan of Colin Edwards adn Loris Capirossi (another 'development' rider) for a long time, their tenure in MotoGP is coming to an end and it is time for them to move aside and some of the younger upcoming riders get a chance. | ||
| Jaimec |
I don't remember Colin complaining about the Bridgestones. In fact, he was faster out of the gate on Bridgestones than anyone else on a Yamaha (except Rossi who already had a year's experience under his belt) during the pre-season testing. I do remember Lorenzo being initially very frustrated, but seeing Colin easily make the transition gave him hope. But this is a discussion more for the MotoGP thread... not over here. | ||
| Trojan |
Another rumour that will put the cat amongst the pigeons for 2010.............. Yamaha are considering pulling their factory WSB and WSS teams in favour of employing an outside team to run THE official factory bikes (like they do in BSB). This would probably mean Stiggy (who have already stated they will be running Yamahas next year) will run the WSS and possibly WSB teams in place of the full factory Yamaha effort. Another outside team that could run the WSB effort is Airwaves/GSE who are currently the 'official' team in the UK and used to running factory equipment at world level. If either team was to be the 'factory' team then they would very likely take at least one of their current rider lineup with them (especially GSE with Leon Camier ready to move up to WSB). Yamaha have a meeting later this month to discuss their racing plans next year, and it is known that they want to cut costs somewhere, but are currently leading or close to leading pretty much every major championship including MotoGP, WSB, WSS and BSB. It is extremely unlikely they will ever scrap their factory MotoGP presence so WSB and WSS is the only likely candidate at present. Other WSB teams employ outside 'contract' teams to run their official bikes (Honda/Ten Kate, Kawasaki/Paul Bird Motorsport, BMW/Alpha Technics, Suzuki/Alstare etc) so it would make a lot of financial sense for Yamaha to distance themselves from the front line. However, If this were to happen then it would most likely mean there will be two less prospective top level bikes on the WSB and WSS grid next year and also less attractive for Spies to stay in WSB (unless Yamaha continue to cover his wage bill of course!) | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Capirossi and Edwards would be great for WSBK. | ||
| Blake |
>>>Edwards has had NO input into the testing of the current Yamaha M1. Maybe he did when he was Rossi's team mate, but right now he rides what he is given to ride... First, how do you know this? 2nd, how does that have anything to do with the fact that he is a great development rider? Third, why you always going out of your way to rag on American racers? If everyone had your view of who is a top calibre rider, then no-one but the top four need apply. I don't get it. The major reason Pedrosa is competitive is due to his 30 LB weight advantage. Take that away, and he'd likely not make the grid. Edwards skills on the bike surpass the miniature humans no question. | ||
| Trojan |
First, how do you know this? 2nd, how does that have anything to do with the fact that he is a great development rider? Third, why you always going out of your way to rag on American racers? 1st. Tech 3 is satellite team. They only get given the same parts as the factory bikes weeks or months after Rossi/Lorenzo. Edwards has NO role in developing any of these parts. 2nd. How can he currently be a great development rider when he has nothing to develop? Maybe he was before (like I said) but all he is developing now is his own bike. 3rd. I have absolutely nothing against American riders at all. In fact nationality doesn't come into my opinion about riding ability. Josh Herrin is one of my current favourite riders and should have been fast tracked into WSS/WSb rather than marking time in AMA/DMG Sportbike. I have a very high regard for Jason Di Salvo and both of the Bostrom brothers (who have been great on their day) and there are a number of other young American riders that I really rate. I was one of the first people here to praise and support Steve Bonsey in GP racing, although he seems to have gone off the boil of late. I even have nothing against Nicky Hayden personally (although he was lucky to inherit a championship) and he wasn't given (or retained) a Motgp GP ride out of charity so must be pretty good. I'm sure there are plenty of good US riders around, but I can only judge those riders in MotoGP right now. There are plenty of European riders that are great too, and plenty of British riders who are not, so I am not playing any kind of nationalistic card I can assure you. If everyone had your view of who is a top calibre rider, then no-one but the top four need apply. I don't get it. The major reason Pedrosa is competitive is due to his 30 LB weight advantage. Take that away, and he'd likely not make the grid. Edwards skills on the bike surpass the miniature humans no question. There are plenty of top riders around, but none who currently hold a candle to the top four riders. This isn't my opinion but simple results. As for Edwards vs Pedrosa.....just because Pedrosa weighs less doesn't mean he still hasn't got 15 other riders to beat or is not a class rider. I know plenty of riders who are of similar stature to Pedrosa who will never be world class. Look at Pedrosas/Edwards respective GP records and there is no evidence that Edwards is better than Pedrosa at all! Even allowing for Pedrosas higher start record he still outscores Edwards by miles in points and every other stat possible. Pedrosa: Race starts 138 Wins 30 Podium finishes 72 Pole positions 30 Fastest laps 29 Points 1990 Edwards Race starts 103 Wins 0 Podium finishes 10 Pole positions 3 Fastest laps 3 Points 816 Nicky Hayden has a far better record than Edwards even if you don't include the championship win. Race starts 109 Wins 3 Podium finishes 25 Pole positions 5 Fastest laps 6 Points 1034 Colin Edwards has been a good rider for years, but has yet to win a GP and after all the time he has had I very much doubt he will do it now. Bring on the new riders (Message edited by trojan on August 13, 2009) | ||
| Jake318 |
Anouther forgotten aspect is that GP riders are like prize fights in a way . People want to see the young title contender Spies with his wild riding , elbows out, riding style against the Title holder and current champion Rossi . Much like the golden era of racing with Roberts VS Spencer and later with Rainey Vs Schwantz . it just anouther facet of marketing and the factories know it Jake | ||
| Vagelis46 |
"If everyone had your view of who is a top calibre rider, then no-one but the top four need apply. I don't get it. The major reason Pedrosa is competitive is due to his 30 LB weight advantage. Take that away, and he'd likely not make the grid. Edwards skills on the bike surpass the miniature humans no question." You seem to have a huge dislike for Pedrosa. You express it in any oportunity. What has he done so wrong to you, to diminish him like that ?? | ||
| Gaesati |
Pedrosa is a huge talent. What he might gain in acceleration and top speed because of his size and weight is more than made up for by the sheer physical effort required to stay in control of the bike. Pedrosa's weight was only a real advantage in the 125 class. He may not be "Mr. Personality" but he has a huge heart to go with his talent. | ||
| Jaimec |
Vagelis: Some of us haven't forgotten what Pedrosa almost did to Nicky in 2006. But this discussion belongs in the MotoGP thread, not here in the WSBK thread. | ||
| Crusty |
This discussion does belong in the MotoGP thread; but I just want Vagelis to understand that he won't find many supporters of that little rat weasel Pedrosa in the US. | ||
| Jaimec |
Crusty: Must've been a BIG shock to Repsol last year at Indianapolis when Pedrosa's name was met with a LOUD chorus of "Boos" from the audience; especially with Repsol trying to make some headway in the American marketplace. I think a LOT of that animosity is also directed to Pedrosa's Svengali manager Puig who seemed to revel in bad-mouthing Nicky to the European press at every opportunity. Nope, I doubt either one of those clowns have much of a fan base here in the U.S. When does WSBK get rolling again?? | ||
| Trojan |
Richard Cooper to stand in for injured uben Xaus at BMW this weekend! At last, some recognition for Cooperman. One of the most underrated racers in the UK. Some will know Richard from his exploits on the BMW HP2 at Daytona and in European endurance racing and from the BMW Boxer Cup series, but he has also been a very successful racer on the UK domestic scene for some time, riding a huge variety of bikes from club meetings one week to British Superbikes the next! I hope he can raise a few eyebrows in WSB just like he did in BSB a few weeks ago. Good luck Richard, I'll be yelling for ya! | ||
| Rubberdown |
MiniCooper is great!!! Can't wait! | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Haga vs Spies at the "ring" I this we will watch the best races of the year. | ||
| Trojan |
FP1 Haga 1st - Spies 19th Nori will take some beating at the Ring methinks, although I 'm sure Spies will improve if the weather does. He only did 10 laps in FP1 wet practice. | ||
| Simond |
Spies to remain in WSB for 2010. Presumably James Toseland will be looking for a ride in WSB then? | ||
| Trojan |
Spies to remain in WSB for 2010. Presumably James Toseland will be looking for a ride in WSB then? It looks like the deal is for Spies to stay in the factory WSB Yamaha team for 2010 with a guaranteed move to tech 3 (or whoever the satellite Yamaha GP team as that time) in 2011. I would imagine that this is certainly a stay of execution for Edwards and possibly Toseland as well, at least until 2011. While Toseland (and Edwards to a lesser extent) have failed to win or get consistent podiums in MotoGP Yamaha realise that they are both very talented and established WSB riders and both ex WSB champions. if they can hang on to them for another year at Tech 3 they can move both to WSB in 2011 to make way for Spies + AN Other in the 2nd GP team (unless Edwards retires at the end of 2010 as rumoured). That way they cover both bases and retain known front runners in both classes Either way, Yamaha are on to a win win situation as they can keep all the big players under their roof. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
It is then time for Haga to get the 2009 WSBK title...A great rider and personality..He deserves it. Spies can get it at 2010. | ||
| Ceejay |
Haga better learn to keep a line if he plans on taking it Spies mind is top notch for a racer, plus he's fun to watch. 6 to go and its getting good. | ||
| Blake |
Haga is a great racer, but he's not a championship winner. Bad luck today for him, but not so bad as Fabrizio punting Ben a few races back. Way to go Johnny Rae! Woohoo! That kid is an up and comer for sure. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
The Honda looked really impressive in both races. It was on rails, while Spies' R1 was moving around a lot. Was it the riding style or the bikes that made such a diffrence ?? Rea set the lap record in the last lap of race 2, so he was flying. Good to have Honda with a very competitive bike. | ||
| Trojan |
Johnny Rea is a great talent (if a little wild at times!). I hope he doesn't hang around in WSB for too long but gets into Moto2 next year along with Cal Crutchlow and Eugene Laverty Crutchlow looked in another league to everyone else in WSS all weekend and must have been cruising to win by just 10 seconds! Haga still didn't look to be 100% back to his usual fighting self this weekend, and was certainly subdued in interviews before and after race one. I hope he gets his mojo back and can still win the title, as I would love to see him win one at last. Nothing against Spies,but he is young and has plenty of time to win many titles I think Haga would retire happy with one. | ||
| Jaimec |
I felt bad for Haga in Race 2, but I am delighted that Ben in now in the title lead! And is it me, or is it clear to everyone that Hopkins' career is just about over? The guy can't stay uninjured!! | ||
| Trojan |
And is it me, or is it clear to everyone that Hopkins' career is just about over? The guy can't stay uninjured!! Hoppers career was pretty much over last year when he failed to turn up for practice at Misano following 'domestic problems'. After that he has gone down hill faster than a very fast thing and has failed to show a spark of his old self since joining Stiggy Honda in WSB. I know he has had injury problems but I don't think he will be there next year that's for sure. I too felt sorry for Haga in terms of the championship, but don't feel he was right to blame Rea for accident that put him out. Haga had gone wide so should have expected someone to try and get up the inside of him due to his mistake. He should have got back into line and settled for second, or fought for the win later on rather than trying to get back on the racing line that was already taken by Rea. (Message edited by trojan on September 08, 2009) | ||
| Buell2001b |
AMSB would be better if they had BMW and aprillia and more ducatis in the mix. |
