These damn ex-superbike riders...

Bayliss, Hodgson and Edwards... I don't think I can envisage a
situation where more was promised and less delivered in a season.

I wonder what the story is. The most "successful" recent SBK champion
switch to 500gp was John Kocinski, but his results in '99 were about as
mediocre as Edwards'.

Is SBK just not an appropriate feeder class to MotoGP? Perhaps their
ability to choose suspension and tyres is not up to the task?

 

they just suck.

 

The only full-time Superbike racer to have gone on to win a motoGP/500 race
was Simon Crafar. (Although 2 Superbike wild-cards have done it)
Clem

 

He was a good rider crafar.. wasnt him that totalled the OWO1 at
bottom of the hill at The creek one yr.. came out of 3 down hill and
rolled it about 20 times?

 

On his first tour of duty in Grand Prix he promised much and almost
delivered. Another big mouthed Texan, riding the Cagiva from memory (Didn't
he win the Aussie GP one year?). When he started GP racing he said if you
hadn't won the championship after a few years you should move on... as I
remember it he didn't get to make the choice on his own in that instance....
but there are a few riders riding Motogp now who could take heed *not
mentioning Kenny Roberts Jnr or anyone in particular*.

Speaking of the correct way to run in a bike, didn't Kocinski get a podium
finish, then fail to make it to the podium because on the other side of the
circuit in the cooldown lap he pulled in the clutch and opened the throttle
right up and then revved the bastard till it shat itself. .. pissed off the
bike not having the balls to win or something... didn't he get sacked from
Cagiva right after that?

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

When he started GP racing he said if you hadn't won the championship after a few years you should move on...

If we went by this rule, 99% of the field would be changed each yr...
Which I think should happen this yr, there are so many people out
there that have had their chance... Not to mention Roberts either, but
**** him off.

 

One day you will discover women, and all this will seem like a drop in
the ocean, grasshopper.

- sanbar

 

And then one day he'll get married and have children, then all this will be the most important thing
in the world as an escape. ;-)

 

I thought Jules had already discovered women ...
or is that the other other Jules?

-----sharks

 

Errmm.. Kenny winning it in 2000 not enough for ya? Was only 4 years ago.


Jules

 

Well Bayliss is doing as well (or not) as Capirossi, so the problem is more that

I don't think Bayliss is doing well at all. He has finished a total of
4 races (from 10) this season. Last year he was the no 1 crasher wasn't he?

Capirossi is doing far better, as evidenced on Sunday by still finishing
ahead of Bayliss despite nearly being knocked off by Biaggi and finding
himself in p20 at the end of lap 1!

That was all the proof I needed that Bayliss just isn't cutting it and I
have little doubt he will be dropped next year.

Yes I'm bitter because I've cheered for him too much and am sick of the
bloody disappointment ;-)

Jules

 

ago.

He *just* got home 1st. Rossi could have won first year if he was a little
more serious like he is now...

CDIHL

 

he?

No, Bayliss is not doing all that well either is the bike he is riding or
any body else really

Capa is a better rider than Bayliss in the GP's, he could have been on the
podium if Max didnt ram him [a win looked unlikely though] i still believe
Capa will win 1 race this year

He may have to head back to SBK the current 2 factory riders are USELESS

Me too, just shows how much fastrer the GP riders are v SBK riders

CDIHL

 

Me too, just shows how much fastrer the GP riders are v SBK riders

Annoying, because Vermuelen will be hopping on the HRC factory bike soon
(the BEST bike and you KNOW it), will probably do well in the tests and
score a Honda ride of some sort.

Then he may well disappoint in race situations just like all the other
ex-SBK guys.

Jules

 

3 years ago Barry Sheene and Mick Doohan reckoned Vermuelen was
heading to MotoGP and a World Championship, and that was during
Vermuelen's last season in Australia on a 600. I was in the pits at
P.I. and was watching them being interviewed by RPM.

I reckon those guys know something.

Next season will be interesting.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

 

Knobdoodle said....

And as Foggy once pointed out, not too many ex-GP riders have
successfully made the switch the other way, either.

Different bikes, different riding styles, skills, setup ability, etc.
Michael Scott's recent column talks about this.

 

Jules said....

Why on earth should you be "bitter" about this? To you, it's something
that you watch on TV.

Like someone else said, you should get things into perspective. Riders
win, riders lose and they retire. The world continues to turn. If you
want to feel bitter about anything, have a read of the headlines
currently adorning our newspapers' front pages...

 

And as Foggy once pointed out, not too many ex-GP riders have

Um yeah, because one only drops back to SBK when their GP contract is
not renewed.

I expect there's generally a good reason for that, and it doesn't always
involve failure to attract Spanish sponsorship cash ;-)

Jules

 

Why on earth should you be "bitter" about this? To you, it's something

If you choose to read my comment (note the smiley face at the end) as
implying I really am deeply bitter about the current crop of Australian
riders in GP, then that's your business, champ.

Jules

 

I think that was another Kiwi: Andrew Stroud.
(That footage used to feature during the closing credits of race telecasts
on... Channel9? SBS?)