Interesting comments regarding riding style - Edwards

**steveyb** · 12th February 2014, 10:09

It is no wonder he now feels left behind, 'cos he is.
His style has been pants for a MotoGP bike for years. His all sat up, straight arms, head out in the wind style has not worked well on a MotoGP bike since the end of the 990cc era and even then.
It was OK on an old heavy Superbike, but not on MotoGP bike.
You have to fold your body into the bike and get on the ground with these things now, just witness Marquez and Bradl.
Will be very hard for him to adapt I think.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/200...the-pivot.html

**GD66** · 12th February 2014, 10:56

Why is he even there ? You can't tell me his results have any impact on bike sales in the US, and he produces about three acceptable results a season. On the one opportunity he had to win a GP, he blew it deluxe. Was a very good superbike racer, but a long time ago now. Always irks me when he gets a seat each year largely on the premise of being "a good guy"' but that seat would be much better filled by someone from the long queue of young potential stars.
And jeez he talks some crap.

**tail_end_charlie** · 12th February 2014, 15:54

Originally Posted by GD66

Why is he even there ? You can't tell me his results have any impact on bike sales in the US, and he produces about three acceptable results a season. On the one opportunity he had to win a GP, he blew it deluxe. Was a very good superbike racer, but a long time ago now. Always irks me when he gets a seat each year largely on the premise of being "a good guy"' but that seat would be much better filled by someone from the long queue of young potential stars.
And jeez he talks some crap.

My thoughts on that question:
First, he wants to be there. He loves riding bikes as fast as he can, and he's not so wrapped up in winning that he can't apprciate just being out there on the best (cough cough, ignore CRT) bikes in the world. Thats why he's doing it even though he's not winning.
Second, he has a lot of expierence and is a good 'development rider' for the teams. Seeing that NGM has been playing with a different chassie/engine combo every year, this is probably pretty critical to the advancement of the bike.
Third, he has a huge following of fans, both in the US and around the world. Granted, not as many as VR, JL, DP, MM, (CS?), but he is probably as popular as any one else on the grid, which makes him a big sale to the sponsers. And lets face it, that's really the most inportant people you have to satisfy, because without the sponsers, there would be practically nobody out there racing. CE has a personality unlike anyone else in the paddock, and he can easily get as much or more attention from the media than 2/3 of the rest of the riders. That is exactly what the sponsers want. And he was only out of the top 10 once while riding factory and satellite bikes (twice if you count his year with Aprilla).

So what you end up with is a team with an expeirenced 'old hand' that brings a lot of media attention as well as some serious skill in leading bike development paired with a 'young gun' that will go balls out on anything, but not quite know how exactly to optimize a bike.

**Shaun Harris** · 12th February 2014, 15:57

Originally Posted by tail_end_charlie

My thoughts on that question:
First, he wants to be there. He loves riding bikes as fast as he can, and he's not so wrapped up in winning that he can't apprciate just being out there on the best (cough cough, ignore CRT) bikes in the world. Thats why he's doing it even though he's not winning.
Second, he has a lot of expierence and is a good 'development rider' for the teams. Seeing that NGM has been playing with a different chassie/engine combo every year, this is probably pretty critical to the advancement of the bike.
Third, he has a huge following of fans, both in the US and around the world. Granted, not as many as VR, JL, DP, MM, (CS?), but he is probably as popular as any one else on the grid, which makes him a big sale to the sponsers. And lets face it, that's really the most inportant people you have to satisfy, because without the sponsers, there would be practically nobody out there racing. CE has a personality unlike anyone else in the paddock, and he can easily get as much or more attention from the media than 2/3 of the rest of the riders. That is exactly what the sponsers want. And he was only out of the top 10 once while riding factory and satellite bikes (twice if you count his year with Aprilla).

So what you end up with is a team with an expeirenced 'old hand' that brings a lot of media attention as well as some serious skill in leading bike development paired with a 'young gun' that will go balls out on anything, but not quite know how exactly to optimize a bike.

Very well said, and HE IS a bloody top bloke also

**steveyb** · 12th February 2014, 18:29

Originally Posted by Moto-Dynamix

Very well said, and HE IS a bloody top bloke also

Absolutely no question about that and about his popularity.

But, and it is a bit but (not a big butt), is it really such a good idea to be basing development decisions on results from a rider who rides the bike "incorrectly", for want of a better word?

It is a bit like asking Kevin Schwantz to develop a MotoGP bike. Great rider, but look at the style those guys had back then. They wouldn't last 5 mins in a modern GP race with that style.

Food for thought.

**Shaun Harris** · 12th February 2014, 19:52

Originally Posted by steveyb

Absolutely no question about that and about his popularity.

But, and it is a bit but (not a big butt), is it really such a good idea to be basing development decisions on results from a rider who rides the bike "incorrectly", for want of a better word?

It is a bit like asking Kevin Schwantz to develop a MotoGP bike. Great rider, but look at the style those guys had back then. They wouldn't last 5 mins in a modern GP race with that style.

Food for thought.

Yes food for thought, but ( small one) it is there money and they seem to think he is giving good feed back still! You do not need to be a winner to be a very good test development rider

**AllanB** · 12th February 2014, 21:20

There is more than one way around a corner. Maybe his bike needs to be adapted to suit his style not the other way around.

**steveyb** · 12th February 2014, 22:47

Ah, but you seem to miss the point that the best development riders are also able to run near the pointy end of a race in the championship they are developing for. Otherwise you are developing a bike for a speed that is not able to win races and at the speed that is needed, your bike may no longer work.
Colin has not run near the front for many years now.
The riders in MotoGP that are at the pointy end no longer ride the bikes the same way they did when he started.
I think that it is all well and good for him to be able to provide good feedback to the team, but if that feedback is to make the bike suit him, which is to say, slow in comparison to his competitors, then that feedback is ultimately useless.
Don't get me wrong, I like him as a bloke (except for that awful tobacco chewing) and his record is good, but I just think that his day is done. But, if the bill payers want him on board, then on board he will stay I guess.

**wharfy** · 14th February 2014, 15:08

Originally Posted by steveyb

if the bill payers want him on board, then on board he will stay I guess.

The customer is not always right, but they are always the customer...

**codgyoleracer** · 16th February 2014, 13:02

Originally Posted by steveyb

Absolutely no question about that and about his popularity.

But, and it is a bit but (not a big butt), is it really such a good idea to be basing development decisions on results from a rider who rides the bike "incorrectly", for want of a better word?

It is a bit like asking Kevin Schwantz to develop a MotoGP bike. Great rider, but look at the style those guys had back then. They wouldn't last 5 mins in a modern GP race with that style.

Food for thought.

Might make a tiny difference but buggerall, - I guarantee that yet " another new style " will arrive and that will then be the "pants". Feel, and god-given talent is the bottomline

**Crasherfromwayback** · 16th February 2014, 13:53

Originally Posted by codgyoleracer

Feel, and god-given talent is the bottomline

Boom. There you have it.

**Asher** · 16th February 2014, 15:49

While he is far behind the aliens he didnt do too bad last season. Was second fastest CRT rider behind Alexis in championship points and im pretty sure he was fastest CRT at more than 1 race.

Although i would imagine his sponsors must bring a bit of money into a team meaning he is a good development rider and helps to pay for those developments

**FROSTY:Me** · 27th February 2014, 12:25

Originally Posted by steveyb

Ah, but you seem to miss the point that the best development riders are also able to run near the pointy end of a race in the championship they are developing for. Otherwise you are developing a bike for a speed that is not able to win races and at the speed that is needed, your bike may no longer work.
Colin has not run near the front for many years now.
The riders in MotoGP that are at the pointy end no longer ride the bikes the same way they did when he started.
I think that it is all well and good for him to be able to provide good feedback to the team, but if that feedback is to make the bike suit him, which is to say, slow in comparison to his competitors, then that feedback is ultimately useless.
Don't get me wrong, I like him as a bloke (except for that awful tobacco chewing) and his record is good, but I just think that his day is done. But, if the bill payers want him on board, then on board he will stay I guess.

Stevey-there is ONE thing he is VERY good at. That is giving feedback to the "backroom boys"That is a lost art imo