How do you spot a talented rider?

[GSVR]

Been thinking about how someone gets recognised as a talent. I read how around two years after Andrew Stroud started racing he won the Production 250 class ahead of Aaron Slight. We all know the story after that with Andrew getting many prestigous rides and winning more championships.

[wbks]

Well for starters he only got a real bike at 15 so that gives you a bit of an idea if whether he's a natural or not when he is beating Aaron...

[AllanB]

I find that they are usually in front of me :whistle:

[johnsv650]

if people protest about his bike or say hes to young........ he must be worrying to them

[GSVR]

if people protest about his bike or say hes to young........ he must be worrying to them

You mean like Karl Morgan or Sam Love. Which one do you consider has the most talent? After all Sam broke all Karls records didn't he?

[roogazza]

Been thinking about how someone gets recognised as a talent. I read how around two years after Andrew Stroud started racing he won the Production 250 class ahead of Aaron Slight. We all know the story after that with Andrew getting many prestigous rides and winning more championships.

One word G, results !

[oyster]

First of all get a class that's level playing feild (they all ride the same stuff) and make it accessible to a wide population. Varying ages, riding background
socio etc. Then provide prenty of riding oportunities on a variety of tracks, supported by coaching across the group (not focussed on any individual).
Then spotting it is easy, the talented ones are fast, consistent, learn incrementally and stay on the bike most of the time. They also get good results by adding a clear head to their talent. Over 10 years and supporting over 100 teenagers in the South Island, I've enjoyeed the odd "diversion' by pravately picking out talent. In most cases the obvious emergence of the talent doesn't occur until "well down the track"
The bigggest risk to new talent is frantic and overwhelming attention by people wanting to support someone really not thinking of the riders welfare but their own ambitions and ego.

[scrivy]

Been thinking about how someone gets recognised as a talent.

Dude, it's easy!! It's when you have to beat people back with a stick, cause they are always after your autograph!! :killingme

[slowpoke]

Dude, it's easy!! It's when you have to beat people back with a stick, cause they are always after your autograph!! :killingme

You'd know all about that Scrivy! I reckon you would have signed a few boobs in your time, eh?

[Hoon]

Spotting talent is firstly seen when you are on the racetrack battling against them. You can see where they are better than you and how much better than you they are. Only on the racetrack are you able to assess the full skillset required to be a talented racer.

This is what leaves a lasting impression and sometimes has you returning to the pits in amazement of what you have just witnessed. Eventually more people form the same opinion and word gets around.

[johnsv650]

some go great one year, then go backwards the next year,
is it women, booze, lazyness, machinery, others in class or growth of competetion , suspension knowledge, too much knowledge, pressure , schooling time , desire, amont of crashes, sponsorship pressures, team happiness, tyres, motors........
could be one of the above or many of the above and i may have missed some or alot also..........
chris ozzy 450 might have some clever idea's......2 meeting 2 laps records what a record ......

[Shaun]

The bigggest risk to new talent is frantic and overwhelming attention by people wanting to support someone really not thinking of the riders welfare but their own ambitions and ego.


Agree with this mate. I had set out this year to help a certain rider for 2 reasons

1- My buisness name and promoion which = ME ME ME

2- Because the guy I choise to help IS BLOODY GOOD

I have since decided to sit way back from the scene, I supplied his Race suspension parts ( With very good support from CKT, thanks Ohlins) and some spare wheels ( I have them mate if you read this) and have Now passed on some product given to me from a past sponsor for him to sell himself and to pay for his entry fees, it is also my intention to move him up to a current model 600 for the NZ champs later in the year.

I can hep him big time from the back ground, whilst letting him manage himself basically and learning about how to deal with the buisness side of the life, which I am very confident he will achieve well at.

[wharfy]

some go great one year, then go backwards the next year,
is it women, booze, lazyness, machinery, others in class or growth of competetion , suspension knowledge, too much knowledge, pressure , schooling time , desire, amont of crashes, sponsorship pressures, team happiness, tyres, motors........
could be one of the above or many of the above and i may have missed some or alot also..........
chris ozzy 450 might have some clever idea's......2 meeting 2 laps records what a record ......

He obviously has the knack of spotting talent, but Glen Skachill was not an overnight sensation, he has worked hard and had some top coaching (He sold his own bike to get the dough for the Moto Academy - a damn good move, and shows just how smart he is). He has raw talent for sure but that is only the begining.

I like his style, and he seems like a good guy as well (although I don't really know him).

Umm... that still doesn't answer the question of how to spot talent in a racer, maybe if I had some I would know what to look for ??

[Skunk]

How to tell a good up and coming? Easy.
Who is doing what with what equipment. Not just who's at the front.
Attitude.
Ambition.


Agree with this mate. I had set out this year to help a certain rider for 2 reasons
1- My buisness name and promoion which = ME ME ME
2- Because the guy I choise to help IS BLOODY GOOD
I have since decided to sit way back from the scene, I supplied his Race suspension parts ( With very good support from CKT, thanks Ohlins) and some spare wheels ( I have them mate if you read this) and have Now passed on some product given to me from a past sponsor for him to sell himself and to pay for his entry fees, it is also my intention to move him up to a current model 600 for the NZ champs later in the year.
I can hep him big time from the back ground, whilst letting him manage himself basically and learning about how to deal with the buisness side of the life, which I am very confident he will achieve well at.
Yep, I've watched that guy and now I do what I can (f-all). His 'can-do' attitude was the first thing I saw. Talking to him shows his ambition. And he can tell what's going on with the bike but doesn't blame it, he fixes it.

Glen Skachill was not an overnight sensation, he has worked hard and had some top coaching (He sold his own bike to get the dough for the Moto Academy - a damn good move, and shows just how smart he is). He has raw talent for sure but that is only the begining.
I like his style, and he seems like a good guy as well (although I don't really know him).
Umm... that still doesn't answer the question of how to spot talent in a racer, maybe if I had some I would know what to look for ??
He sold his road bike to get the 600 he has now too. I believe he has the talent, attitude, and sense to do well. If only he was more forward in asking for help! :laugh:

[nudemetalz]

Glen (Sketchy-Racer)has talent alright.
Not just his awesome riding/racing ability, but his whole attitude. Not some of the usual "I like me" ego's you see but unafraid to help people out where he can and then go and set blistering lap records.
I agree with Skunk though, but I think he will be more forthright with asking for help/sponsorship.
Nudemetalz Ltd will be helping him out this year... :msn-wink:

[Shaun]

Glen has at least another 12 months ( More realy) of growing to do yet I think. I want him to stay on his K5 GSXR for the winter series, then move onto a current model for the champs.

When the next round of the national are over, WE will all see what the future has for him then?

As he is an apprentice Tool maker- His trade will be in demand big time in the USA, and that is where I want to get him to! Or Ireland maybe??

[svr]

Unfortunately for NZ, the international racing scene has moved on in terms of proffessionalism, so its closer to other high-level sports now.
IMHO International level `Talent' means:
1. you have natural ability (i.e. you have generally been better than you peers)
2. you have learnt the physical skills from a young age (i.e done the activity alot - well on the way to the 10yrs and 10,000 hrs required to be `world class' at anything, )
3. you have reasonable intelligence, high psychological drve, egotistical ambition and the social skills or good fortune to have (preferably wealthy and connected) people around and behind you.

[codgyoleracer]

Slightly off-subject but relevant: One of the mind numbing facts of "natural talent" that i am aware of is Max Biaggi. Never ridden or been a part of motorcycling until he hopped on a mates bike at a trackday when he was 18. ...... 3 years later he was a European champ , 2 years after that a world champion........ WOW ! (Even though he does seem a bit weird)

[Shaun]

Slightly off-subject but relevant: One of the mind numbing facts of "natural talent" that i am aware of is Max Biaggi. Never ridden or been a part of motorcycling until he hopped on a mates bike at a trackday when he was 18. ...... 3 years later he was a European champ , 2 years after that a world champion........ WOW ! (Even though he does seem a bit weird)



weird mmmmmm Gay I reckon

[codgyoleracer]

weird mmmmmm Gay I reckon

Highly likely ducky :rolleyes:

[FROSTY]

IN my opinion the indicator of a real winner is how they recover from a decent setback. Most often that setback is a reasonable crash.
Thats not talent per say I know but I think it weeds out the people that actually dont really want to win at all costs.
Young miss Biddle for example had a pretty decent crash yet she just gets faster and faster.

[svr]

weird mmmmmm Gay I reckon

No, Italian.
Shags alot of hot woman for a gay guy!

Cadalora was another real late starter (ex road rider)

[Skunk]

Most often that setback is a reasonable crash.
Glens been there. Concrete wall at 160.

[FROSTY]

Glens been there. Concrete wall at 160.
Yea so's young two smoker

[Duke girl]

There is actually alot of talent out there of all ages and alot of good role models for the up and coming youngsters to look up to. A few I can name are Local riders such as Glen Williams, Peter Tanner, Tony O'Keeffe, Glenn Skachill, Avalon Biddle, Bruce Telford and Craig Shirriff and Andrew Stroud.
Its just a shame that these riders aren't more known than just hear in NZ as I am sure that if they had the opportunity to make it overseas then they would do NZ Motrcycle racing proud.

[Tony.OK]

There is actually alot of talent out there of all ages and alot of good role models for the up and coming youngsters to look up to. A few I can name are Local riders such as Glen Williams, Peter Tanner, Tony O'Keeffe, Glenn Skachill, Avalon Biddle, Bruce Telford and Craig Shirriff and Andrew Stroud.
Its just a shame that these riders aren't more known than just hear in NZ as I am sure that if they had the opportunity to make it overseas then they would do NZ Motrcycle racing proud.

Crickey..............How'd my name get in there:no:

Don't forget Choppa...(Sloan)............can't wait to see how he goes on the new Suzuki.......................nah I do know actually, way faster than me haha:laugh:

[oyster]

And further to my belief that talent spotting (and development) is more a socialist process than elitist one. Shaun, I my opinion you would be the first "top level" road racer in NZ to take the time study our young ones with a view to assisting them. A what outstanding input you've given since. You'll never know how much your suppport meant to young 13 year old Shaun, with the major physical disability, who lived at "No 37" He'll not likely be a champion but he's a great rider, and now is a man. Helped by you. And just recently, you took the time to help 13 yo Renee. Realistically she can't even ride a bike yet! But she WANTS to. Part of the motivation is YOU. Thanks Shaun.
Get the picture everyone? Build the wide foundation of a pyramid and in time the peak will be very high and very sharp.

[lostinflyz]

Slightly off-subject but relevant: One of the mind numbing facts of "natural talent" that i am aware of is Max Biaggi. Never ridden or been a part of motorcycling until he hopped on a mates bike at a trackday when he was 18. ...... 3 years later he was a European champ , 2 years after that a world champion........ WOW ! (Even though he does seem a bit weird)

while this is true whats the feller done for the last say 5-6 years. So much potential/talent but not much else really.

looking through most racers (pro's generally) there are guys with talent (heaps of it) and then guys with the right attitude to understanding more than just riding (i.e. bikes and people)but maybe not quite so talented. These two groups of people usually end up at the same level. These guys ebb and flow alot so can be hot or cold depending how things are around them. good bike, track or team and they fast as, something off and they just can never quite make it happen.

Then there are the guys who have talent and the right attitude (and probably intelligence) to understanding the entire racing system. These guys hardly ever lose, and tend to be very consistent performers with very few weak points to their racing.

[Mishy]

I reckon some guys (or girls) just have it - and mostly you just don't need to look too hard to see it. Sketchy is a good example, and he looked good from the first time he went bucket racing ( yes, i remember that Glen !) and you will find a whole heap of other kids that showed promise early, and results better than you would expect on the machinery they were on - they just look good doing it. Dom Jones, Sam Smith, Nick Cole,Jay Lawrence, Avalon Biddle, and a host of others all came from Buckets or Classics, and they all punched above thier weight early on, and you just can't help but notice that
:woohoo:

[Shaun]

And further to my belief that talent spotting (and development) is more a socialist process than elitist one. Shaun, I my opinion you would be the first "top level" road racer in NZ to take the time study our young ones with a view to assisting them. A what outstanding input you've given since. You'll never know how much your suppport meant to young 13 year old Shaun, with the major physical disability, who lived at "No 37" He'll not likely be a champion but he's a great rider, and now is a man. Helped by you. And just recently, you took the time to help 13 yo Renee. Realistically she can't even ride a bike yet! But she WANTS to. Part of the motivation is YOU. Thanks Shaun.
Get the picture everyone? Build the wide foundation of a pyramid and in time the peak will be very high and very sharp.


Thanks Pete. I got a signed photo from Renee saying thanks for your help, that realy impressed me.

[slowpoke]

Thanks Pete. I got a signed photo from Renee saying thanks for your help, that realy impressed me.

Smart kid that who's getting some good guidance, a lot of more experienced racers could learn something from her already.

[Sparky Bills]

How do you spot a talented rider??

EASY!
Just look at the pic on my profile hehe :2thumbsup :dodge:

[FROSTY]

Get the picture everyone? Build the wide foundation of a pyramid and in time the peak will be very high and very sharp.
Oyster we must be preaching from the same bible.I call it feeding the funnel. Pity is NZ rugby union have forgotten that principle

[Two Smoker]

Yea so's young two smoker

Qualified just behind Craig Sherrifs and infront of Jay Lawrence :niceone:

There is alot of natural talent out there. But there alot of other factors that come into it to make a successful complete racer. Some people with natural talent will never make it because they dont have the drive, or they get scared from a big crash, or get sick of being financially crippled.

Ive sacraficed alot, and now have a large mortgage just from racing. Will it stop me? Hell no! Why? Because I know I can be at the top.