Racing Silly Season - Who is going where in 2014?
Discussion
Apriliaer said:
Completely agree mate, though I've always said I don't think he's up to the job (in terms of being an outright front-runner), there are people in the business much, much, much better placed and well informed than myself who MUST see something in the lad.
That said I do think the tide has turned, the rumour mill indicates that Herve has actively been seeking a replacement and it was only when he'd exhausted all other viable options that Smith was re-signed - well that's how I see it. Jules has also stopped praising him during commentary I've noticed - remember the first five rounds how he kept saying something along the lines of "Smith has said he needs to be the top satellite man in every session, every round to get a Factory bike in 2015"? At the time that took me aback and I thought maybe he's getting a massive bike upgrade or something, but.......
Hence why I think he's lucked out somewhat.
I've watched him through each category and have never been impressed despite the hype and I know I'm not the only one. Again though I hope I'm proved wrong I'd love to see a Brit going well.
How many riders are outright front runners?That said I do think the tide has turned, the rumour mill indicates that Herve has actively been seeking a replacement and it was only when he'd exhausted all other viable options that Smith was re-signed - well that's how I see it. Jules has also stopped praising him during commentary I've noticed - remember the first five rounds how he kept saying something along the lines of "Smith has said he needs to be the top satellite man in every session, every round to get a Factory bike in 2015"? At the time that took me aback and I thought maybe he's getting a massive bike upgrade or something, but.......
Hence why I think he's lucked out somewhat.
I've watched him through each category and have never been impressed despite the hype and I know I'm not the only one. Again though I hope I'm proved wrong I'd love to see a Brit going well.
Edited by Apriliaer on Wednesday 13th August 18:40
Marquezz is so far ahead of the others , after him i guess you'd say lorenzo/rossi/pedrobot then esspagaros/cal/redding/dovi/iannone but there is only 1 frontrunner.
I guess in a year or 2 maybe miller may be challenging but it's one hell of a ask.
I only got into bike racing 5 maybe 6 years ago so missed the whole rossi years but i have watched marquez dominating moto3/2 before hitting gp, something none of the current moto3/2 riders have done.
I still think it is down to tyres.
I think there are control tyres and "control tyres" ! And some get the best, the rest get the rest.
Never been any different in 30 years+ IMO.
I'm pleased for Bradders though. IMO, he is the real deal. Not everyone can be the fastest, but imo, he is one of the top 10 or so riders in the world, and hence he deserves to be there.
I think there are control tyres and "control tyres" ! And some get the best, the rest get the rest.
Never been any different in 30 years+ IMO.
I'm pleased for Bradders though. IMO, he is the real deal. Not everyone can be the fastest, but imo, he is one of the top 10 or so riders in the world, and hence he deserves to be there.
Not sure about tires, not like the old days when certain riders got priority and had the best all weekend, then some got the specials for race day and the rest the standard kit. I remember that was the turning point for Doohan, when he got parity with the then leaders.
You're quite right to point out that front runners are few, but how will the next challengers emerge if rides as good as the T3 are taken up by riders which will not get close?
Tech 3 is meant to be Yams feeder team - but I can't see Bradders making the step up without him suddenly making a much needed leap forward which he has been unable to do for years now.
Smith may be GP class but I think after half a season it's pretty obvious Pol has more chance of progressing to the Factory team. I think reports that they were looking to replace him says it all really.
You're quite right to point out that front runners are few, but how will the next challengers emerge if rides as good as the T3 are taken up by riders which will not get close?
Tech 3 is meant to be Yams feeder team - but I can't see Bradders making the step up without him suddenly making a much needed leap forward which he has been unable to do for years now.
Smith may be GP class but I think after half a season it's pretty obvious Pol has more chance of progressing to the Factory team. I think reports that they were looking to replace him says it all really.
It surprises me how the forums are alive with how these Moto3 riders this and that ... But when Smith finished 2nd to Simon after leading the championship, then 4th the following year having podiumed 15 times, won 3 races, he receives a 'yeah, he's alright but I've never rated him'
In an era against Marquez no one seems rated anymore, everyone is an also ran. Smith was our only hope until Redding arrived and now as a top 4 championship finisher in the toughest class at the time, he's got his shot. He earned it like the others around him on the grid, not the ones at the back.
He is underperforming, badly, he knows it, we know it. But if the combined might of Rossi, Lorenzo and Pedrosa can't get near Marquez and no one on a satellite bike has won a GP since 2006, if Smith finished top 6 this year he'll still have done a first class job - I don't think he will mind you.
As for Moto2 he had a dog of a bike which on occasion he was able to make look like it didn't have a hinge in the middle of it.
Smith will need an exceptional finish to this season and full on tilt at top 5 in the championship next year to keep a top satellite seat, I doubt it will happen, but he earned his shot through results against some rather good competition and should be credited accordingly.
In an era against Marquez no one seems rated anymore, everyone is an also ran. Smith was our only hope until Redding arrived and now as a top 4 championship finisher in the toughest class at the time, he's got his shot. He earned it like the others around him on the grid, not the ones at the back.
He is underperforming, badly, he knows it, we know it. But if the combined might of Rossi, Lorenzo and Pedrosa can't get near Marquez and no one on a satellite bike has won a GP since 2006, if Smith finished top 6 this year he'll still have done a first class job - I don't think he will mind you.
As for Moto2 he had a dog of a bike which on occasion he was able to make look like it didn't have a hinge in the middle of it.
Smith will need an exceptional finish to this season and full on tilt at top 5 in the championship next year to keep a top satellite seat, I doubt it will happen, but he earned his shot through results against some rather good competition and should be credited accordingly.
Don't rate Smith much if I'm honest, I should being a Brit but meeting him a few years ago set the rot in, and the fact he has never performed on the world stage I'm surprised he's got another year but as we know Herve had hopes for other riders and BS was the fall back.
Unless he can turn things around he'll either be in a wheelchair given the amount of crashes he's having, or in WSBK in 2016.
There's too many good riders coming through Moto2 and 3 now, it would be intresting to see a certain Mr Lowes in the big class too.
Unless he can turn things around he'll either be in a wheelchair given the amount of crashes he's having, or in WSBK in 2016.
There's too many good riders coming through Moto2 and 3 now, it would be intresting to see a certain Mr Lowes in the big class too.
Freakuk said:
Don't rate Smith much if I'm honest, I should being a Brit but meeting him a few years ago set the rot in, and the fact he has never performed on the world stage I'm surprised he's got another year but as we know Herve had hopes for other riders and BS was the fall back.
Unless he can turn things around he'll either be in a wheelchair given the amount of crashes he's having, or in WSBK in 2016.
There's too many good riders coming through Moto2 and 3 now, it would be intresting to see a certain Mr Lowes in the big class too.
Unless Lowes stops crashing and finishes a race in the top 3 then you won't. Smith got 3 podiums in his first Moto2 season.Unless he can turn things around he'll either be in a wheelchair given the amount of crashes he's having, or in WSBK in 2016.
There's too many good riders coming through Moto2 and 3 now, it would be intresting to see a certain Mr Lowes in the big class too.
graphene said:
Freakuk said:
graphene said:
Crashes table, may be 
Unlikely, 4 crashes in a weekend at Germany, parctically 1 a session, must be costing Yamaha a fortune.Apriliaer said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Bradley Smith has resigned with Tech3 for 2015
I'm hoping he proves me wrong for the 5th or 6th season running! From what I've read he's lucked out big time as the few riders the team were after were Redbull aligned and wouldn't be able to ride for a Monster backed team.I'd have rather seen an untested youngster like Lowes on it. Herve must be disappointed with how the season has gone.
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/207614/1/bradley-...
agree with Apriliaer. Smith has his new deal more through luck. Sorry guys, as much as he is a decent bloke and a bloody fast rider, he's not quite got the killer instinct to win anything. Apologies Johnno but when you say he finished second to Simon after leading, you're absolutely right, he finished second. He'll never better that and I wish so much it could be different.WaferThinHam said:
Lincsblokey said:
And Mr lowes is well into the teens with 17 crashes so far this year.... most crashes in any class in GP's!!
I think you're forgetting De Puniet and Checa who both had north of 20 crashes in a season. I think De Puniet managed around 30.
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