Here's another depressing article.

centeroff said:

When Kenny Roberts went to Europe and kicked everybody's ass in 500 GP, he was a product of the AMA Grand National motorcycle racing program. To be number one you had to race flat track, mile ,half mile, short track, TT and road course, this made for very skilled riders, the group that followed him over came from the same series. When AMA split the road racing and made it a seperate deal America lost it's edge. Couple that with Kenny opening up his racing school in Spain, teaching riders American flat track racing, then putting them on mini road race bikes to get them comfortable sliding the front getting in, and sliding the rear getting off, it changed GP racing. By the way, Spain has kept that program going, to great effect.

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I agree with what you're saying but IMHO the American "Golden Age" of 500cc GP was after Roberts with Lawson, Rainey and Schwantz. Those guys weren't products of dirt track but rather went mostly through road racing ranks. Doug Chandler was a supremely capable dirt tracker but when he got to the Big Show he wasn't able to make a dent.

In modern times, Nicky Hayden is certainly in the mold of KR Sr. - dirt-track upbringing followed by domestic road-racing domination. However, he was only able to compete at the highest level back in the 990cc days before TC. He hasn't been able to be competitive since the 800cc/TC days until the present.

MotoGP and road racing now has become so specialized that it has evolved past those "analog" roots. Young riders now, aside from the raw talent, need the new skill set of working with a team of engineers and those that are able to translate their needs of the bike and chassis to the team are the ones that will be at the top. Not sure what type of farm team that needs but certainly coming from the most bike-racing-centric countries helps.

I disagree somewhat with that idea. Marquez is the most analog rider on the grid and is widely reported to be using less electronics in comparison to everyone else. Same trait existed with Stoner.

I think the trend is in fact going back to riders who simply exhibit supreme control in all situation. Rossi, Lorenzo, Marquez and a host of other GP riders didn't have flat tracks built at their houses for no reason.

shakazulu12 said:

I disagree somewhat with that idea. Marquez is the most analog rider on the grid and is widely reported to be using less electronics in comparison to everyone else. Same trait existed with Stoner.

I think the trend is in fact going back to riders who simply exhibit supreme control in all situation. Rossi, Lorenzo, Marquez and a host of other GP riders didn't have flat tracks built at their houses for no reason.

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I don't disagree with you. Virtuoso is an apt description for Marquez, the same way that Rossi was when he was in his prime. That clear step ahead of the rest.

I agree that being well rounded is essential, just that dirt/flat track isn't the magic key it used to be. Or, as centeroff pointed out, that once KR Sr. shared his "secret" at his school, then everyone started adding it. Now a lot of people train with Supermotard as well, because of the sliding in that style of motorsport.

Totally agree. All the club guys who have added flattrack/supermoto to their routines have dropped time pretty dramatically. Harescramble riders as well.

1. Scrap AMA Roadracing. It's got great history but it's well past saving.

2. Expand the Superbike Shootout to include Laguna and COTA (for apples to apples comparison with MotoGP times).

3. Add true Moto2 and Moto3 support classes a la the CEV championship in Spain (basically a MotoGP academy).

4. Rebrand it something simple and catchy, like California Superbikes. Apologies to the rest of the nation, but California has the critical mass of sportbike and roadracing interest without it being too diluted by spreading it across the whole of the US of A. And keeping it geographically limited (with the exception of COTA) will help to contain costs.

Fini.

centeroff said:

When Kenny Roberts went to Europe and kicked everybody's ass in 500 GP, he was a product of the AMA Grand National motorcycle racing program. To be number one you had to race flat track, mile ,half mile, short track, TT and road course, this made for very skilled riders, the group that followed him over came from the same series. When AMA split the road racing and made it a seperate deal America lost it's edge. Couple that with Kenny opening up his racing school in Spain, teaching riders American flat track racing, then putting them on mini road race bikes to get them comfortable sliding the front getting in, and sliding the rear getting off, it changed GP racing. By the way, Spain has kept that program going, to great effect.

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Funny you mention that, the movie "On Any Sunday" which I saw at the cinema when I was about 13, showcased the big motorcycle following in the USA in the 70's. It featured Kenny Roberts going to Europe and doing so well. There is great footage of a young kid doing a wheelie on a dragster pushbike with no shirt or helmet. Just how we all used to ride then. No one cared to much about injuries then. I am surprised that the USA is not producing more competitive riders in MotoGP. Statistically with the population you should produce more riders that can make it too the top.

I enjoy watching all the top riders no matter what nationality. At the moment I would love to see Pedrosa win the championship just because he has not had one in the top rank and is trying so hard and has had some bad luck.

You will need a 55kg american on a factory honda to be competitive

Guys, get out there and tell the world about it (friends, family, work buddies, church, ...)! promote "our sport", create the fascination, show them your vidz, of how you got passed, lapped or whatever ...

Get a cheap ninja 250, an sv650 or a 600 and go racing. You don't need a lot and it's the best thing that will happen in your life (after having a kid maybe). The biggest fun is on the smallest bikes, some racers have more fun on the minis than on the 1000s...

Sign up with wera or ccs or whatever is available where you live. Have fun for cheap, gain skills you would have never thought and promote the sport by doing it and telling people about it. The racer community is open and welcoming, there are no stupid questions.

If you happen to have time on the 7th of june, stop by at road atlanta and see me whip the competition on gunny's old sv650 bring your kids. And force them to get up sunday mornings to watch motogp. And take away their gadgets except for 1h a day.


Cheers