Discussion
Apologies for the Instagram link for those that don’t have it but I can’t find as much info anywhere else...
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tgyX5Fo7k/?igshid=9j...
So, what’s gone on here then??
I don’t know much about him to be honest, other than knowing the name but no idea if it’s more likely to be him or FIM at fault or six of one and half a dozen of another!?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tgyX5Fo7k/?igshid=9j...
So, what’s gone on here then??
I don’t know much about him to be honest, other than knowing the name but no idea if it’s more likely to be him or FIM at fault or six of one and half a dozen of another!?
Well the background appears to be similar problems I think to those Ianonne is facing.
As for all the other stuff....well, there’s some truth about the tyres, but tags wasn’t against the rules. If you could convince tyre manufacturers to make you special tyres, as far as I am aware there was no rule to say you could not!
As for the ecu...hmmmm. It’s not beyond the realms of believability, but I’ve not heard it before.
There will always be deals and favours done in motorsport, it’s all part of the game.
As for all the other stuff....well, there’s some truth about the tyres, but tags wasn’t against the rules. If you could convince tyre manufacturers to make you special tyres, as far as I am aware there was no rule to say you could not!
As for the ecu...hmmmm. It’s not beyond the realms of believability, but I’ve not heard it before.
There will always be deals and favours done in motorsport, it’s all part of the game.
It seems some sort of pride on both sides of the fence going awry which has made the situation a lot worse than it should have.
His comments about not knowing anything other than racing motorcycles is interesting - what do the professional riders who don't come out of the sport with enough money to effectively not have to "work" do with themselves?
His comments about not knowing anything other than racing motorcycles is interesting - what do the professional riders who don't come out of the sport with enough money to effectively not have to "work" do with themselves?
egor110 said:
There's a lot more on the motomatters twitter page .
Some bizarre ruling from fim that if he competes or trains in ANY sport he's banned from fim events .
I think that’s why he went to Brazil, it’s not FIM. But he alleges FIM then pressure Kawasaki japan to get his local sponsorship pulled. His issue though was compounded as bike racing was banned in some parts of Brazil last year after a series of accidents killed some riders, so in middle of the season, they put the championship on hold. That sad series of events may have made some sponsors quite glad of an excuse to pull their cash. Some bizarre ruling from fim that if he competes or trains in ANY sport he's banned from fim events .
It’s a sad tale all round. Anthony’ West certainly was a proper talent in the early 00s and is clearly quite handy nowadays.
As for what ex racers do..
many work as instructors while they race as most make f
k all racing, and they can carry that on. Some are / go into trades, quite a few go into sales / account management for motorcycles or gear, so set up bike businesses, some go into other race team management, even spannering. Some buy restaurants, go into journalism, etc etc etc. It’s a tough old game that’s for sure. I raced MX from 4 and was pretty handy as a schoolboy, a few championships won, was on the box in BSMA. When I got toward adult age, just had no time or budget to carry it on. So went out and got a proper job. It was surprising how many top, quick lads did that, and many that carried on racing, found the racing suffered as they got jobs, wives, mortgages etc. To carry on and make it in bike racing, you have to be very quick, very brave and very very f
king lucky too. Whilst Anthony’s never quite realised his potential maybe, he’s done better than many others, but also done better than others who may have had more talent and skill but never went for it. So at least he had a shot.
I think the worrying thing about his current ‘meltdown’ is he may be scurrpering his chances of earning a half decent living in the paddock. At near 40, his riding days are numbered. But his knowledge of the paddock had he kept his nose a little cleaner could get him 15 years more employment. He’s blown that now and maybe that’s why he’s reacted as he has?
I had heard this rumour about the Suter bike MM rode in Moto2, but always put his success down to numerous things, obvious speed and talent, but against riders like Iannone and Redding he was so much smaller and always seemed quicker on the straights. I recall reading Redding having to diet like a supermodel and admitting later in life it made him ill to be lighter, then they changed the weight rules a bit I think.
The Rossi tyre thing was going on for a long time and not just for him, Michelin used to do it for a few riders, but mainly Vale yes, but you get into that position by being the best as he was at the time.
Shame for West but I have always felt he was a little unhinged, he got dumped from KTM 250 after criticising the bike did he not, has often taken odd rides and seemed to want to ride forever no matter where. You have to end it sometime chap. He got his best chance on the Shell 250 and was soundly beaten by Ukawa, so maybe never recovered fully from that.
The Rossi tyre thing was going on for a long time and not just for him, Michelin used to do it for a few riders, but mainly Vale yes, but you get into that position by being the best as he was at the time.
Shame for West but I have always felt he was a little unhinged, he got dumped from KTM 250 after criticising the bike did he not, has often taken odd rides and seemed to want to ride forever no matter where. You have to end it sometime chap. He got his best chance on the Shell 250 and was soundly beaten by Ukawa, so maybe never recovered fully from that.
Prior to the single tyre supplier rules the tyre companies would routinely make different tyres for different riders. Toni Elias was one such rider who got different, unique tyre compounds to suit his riding style. And it also allowed wildcard riders when they went to Japan as they could still race the tyres they were used to in Japanese championships and some were very competitive too.
Then the FIM went to a single tyre supplier and all that stopped. Some tyres really didn’t suit riders and their style at all. James Toseland often said that the move to the Bridgestone tyres and his pre-season injuries meant he was learning the limits of the tyre during races, not in testing and he fell off. A lot. And got injured. A lot. This effectively ended his career both due to crashes and his injuries. Dani Pedrosa often struggled towards the end of his career too due to much harder and stiffer tyres and he just didn’t have the weight to help heat get into the tyres.
Certainly changing to a single tyre supplier reduced costs and meant there were no ‘if you’re not on this tyre at this track you’re nowhere’ situations, but it certainly didn’t help the racing or several riders over the years.
Then the FIM went to a single tyre supplier and all that stopped. Some tyres really didn’t suit riders and their style at all. James Toseland often said that the move to the Bridgestone tyres and his pre-season injuries meant he was learning the limits of the tyre during races, not in testing and he fell off. A lot. And got injured. A lot. This effectively ended his career both due to crashes and his injuries. Dani Pedrosa often struggled towards the end of his career too due to much harder and stiffer tyres and he just didn’t have the weight to help heat get into the tyres.
Certainly changing to a single tyre supplier reduced costs and meant there were no ‘if you’re not on this tyre at this track you’re nowhere’ situations, but it certainly didn’t help the racing or several riders over the years.
That there was inequality with the tyre selection or lack of, before the one make control tyres, is hardly news. Neither are the rumors about MM's Suter, despite the at times obvious extra speed he carried out of corners compared to rivals and small size.
I guess he's finding the end of the road with those that want to pay to be associated with him and his record.
I guess he's finding the end of the road with those that want to pay to be associated with him and his record.
ceesvdelst said:
I had heard this rumour about the Suter bike MM rode in Moto2, but always put his success down to numerous things, obvious speed and talent, but against riders like Iannone and Redding he was so much smaller and always seemed quicker on the straights. I recall reading Redding having to diet like a supermodel and admitting later in life it made him ill to be lighter, then they changed the weight rules a bit I think.
The Rossi tyre thing was going on for a long time and not just for him, Michelin used to do it for a few riders, but mainly Vale yes, but you get into that position by being the best as he was at the time.
Shame for West but I have always felt he was a little unhinged, he got dumped from KTM 250 after criticising the bike did he not, has often taken odd rides and seemed to want to ride forever no matter where. You have to end it sometime chap. He got his best chance on the Shell 250 and was soundly beaten by Ukawa, so maybe never recovered fully from that.
With regards to the tyres comments, didn't Stoner has special Michelins when he wont the title for Ducati? I seem to recall they were different to others that were available to other riders. Clearly Stoner was talented and that Ducati 800 was a missile but i'm sure i read somewhere the tyres he had access to made that extra 1% difference that year.The Rossi tyre thing was going on for a long time and not just for him, Michelin used to do it for a few riders, but mainly Vale yes, but you get into that position by being the best as he was at the time.
Shame for West but I have always felt he was a little unhinged, he got dumped from KTM 250 after criticising the bike did he not, has often taken odd rides and seemed to want to ride forever no matter where. You have to end it sometime chap. He got his best chance on the Shell 250 and was soundly beaten by Ukawa, so maybe never recovered fully from that.
Another victim a different tyre situation was Garry McCoy, he and Hamish Jamieson basically developed the Red Bull Yamaha to run the 16.5 inch rear, no-one else wanted to use it and Garry's style allowed them to develop a totally different way of riding the bike.
Then the other teams decided to start trying it, qualified on the 17 cozoit was faster, then raced on the 16.5 as it lasted longer, not because they rode like Garry but because it just did.
Michelin developed the tyre to suit them instead of Garry ( who did all the work to make it work for him in his compounds) and his advantage sort of left, him, perhaps why they chose Dunlop for 2001 then he crashed and never really made it to the top again.
Then the other teams decided to start trying it, qualified on the 17 cozoit was faster, then raced on the 16.5 as it lasted longer, not because they rode like Garry but because it just did.
Michelin developed the tyre to suit them instead of Garry ( who did all the work to make it work for him in his compounds) and his advantage sort of left, him, perhaps why they chose Dunlop for 2001 then he crashed and never really made it to the top again.
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