Why the Aussies and why not us?

[mynameis]

Not sure if this has been discussed here before or not, but we see so many auzzies in the international arena of racing bikes. Guys like Casey Stoner, Troy Bayliss and Troy Corser just to name a few.

Now I am not entirely well versed with racing history but there are no Kiwis in MotoGP and WSB at present, I am not sure of the past. I want to see some Kiwis on the podium and riding around with our flag celebrating. I don't know maybe Shaun Harris or Andrew Stroud or any other racers with such calibre and potential.

I do realise motor racing is a very small market here but I am sure the top guys here are capable of racing in MotoGP, WSB given exposure to the right type of development and resources and fine tuning they'd be on their way representing Kiwiland.

But why don't they get given a break/chance? Has anyone from NZ made an attempt to get up there, rub shoulders amongst the best in the world?

[White trash]

Could they really rub shoulders with MotoGP and WSB riders?

Our best are going to Aussie and while far from disgracing themselves, are hardly setting the world on fire. Where as those Kangaroo rooting sons of bitches come over here, and win our titles haveing never seen the tracks before.

But then, have you ever hard of a little short bastad caled Aaron Slight? How about Simon Crafar? Or Shaun Harris and Bruce Anstey? Dennis Ireland? Graeme Crosby..........the list is long and ditinguished.

[terbang]

19 mill Aussies Vs 4 mill Kiwis.. The Aussies are no more talented, there are just more of them and they have more money. Thats all it boils down to. Money.

[Pwalo]

Larger population, money and sponsorship. They're bloody good as well.

[bistard]

19 mill Aussies Vs 4 mill Kiwis.. The Aussies are no more talented, there are just more of them and they have more money. Thats all it boils down to. Money.

Yes,I agree,but the other major difference is the Aussies have better systems in place for youngsters coming through,you have a look at there Superbike class,they will have half dozen 17 or 18 year olds on near factory bikes,at the pointy end of the field
Currently we have Pete Jones down south with 150s doing a great job.but Aussie has 150 class,plus Morowaki 80cc class,250 production still
I think we (as road racers) need to get more youngsters involved,somehow
get them over from motocross early,there is no doubt we have the talent,Ben Townley,Josh Coppins etc
So the question is how & where are our next Aaron Slights & Simon Crafers coming from

[Big Dave]

The Aussies are no more talented,

ooops sorry.

If you play the 20mil v 4mil card then there should be 1 kiwi champ for every 4 or 5 aussies.
I've asked the same question of blokes like Steve Bernard and they can't answer it - other than 'the system'.
You blokes are doing much better off road. Don't know why that is either.

Maybe because your best tend to go to Rugby and not much else. Aus more diverse. Dunno.

[placidfemme]

Personally I feel the best way to get more kiwi's into the MotoGP scene and WSB etc is to have a track here large enough and up to standard that could be added to the WSB or MotoGP list... if they came to NZ and did high profile races with the likes of Rossi, Stoner, Hayden etc it will generate much higher public awareness and interest, therefore more sponsors for our local guys, more oppertunities etc...

Otherwise the best shot is to win in NZ, go over to Aussie and win there and build your way up...

[onearmedbandit]

ooops sorry.

If you play the 20mil v 4mil card then there should be 1 kiwi champ for every 4 or 5 aussies.
.

It's more to do with the size of the population in relation to sponsership money and advertising I think you'll find.

[SwanTiger]

Alright Alvin, I'll enter Moto GP / WSB and get a podium finish for you.

Can you lend me a few million first?

[onearmedbandit]

At least we've got a sense of humour. Actually no, the Aussies are much better at comedy then us. The ability to take the piss out of themselves, and not others, is the difference there.

[k14]

Its all to do with the $$$'s. Who has the best motogp and wsb rides are the guys that have the big money behind them. Some of them now don't need the big money to continue their career but they needed alot of money staked on them so the big teams with the good bikes capable of winning championships notice them.

Have a look at scott dixon, arguablly NZ's top current motorsport athlete. He had 4 or 5 wealthy businessmen get behind him at a young age and put together the approx $1million to buy him a seat in the champ car series. They bought shares in his company, when he eventually won the IRL only then was he able to pay them back (with interest of course) and buy them out.

Now that is what needs to happen for a kiwi kid to get out there on the world stage in wsbk or motogp and become the next aaron slight. We need 4 or 5 very rich and very enthuisatic kiwi businessmen to pick the right racer and go the whole hogg. You're not going to appeal to someone who is just in it for the financial benefits, its a very very high risk investment with nothing in the spectacular realms of a return on that investment even if it comes off perfectly to plan.

I think the place it needs to start is the grassroots. The nationals series needs to have a way way higher profile to start with and in the last 2 or 3 years I have seen it heading towards that way. We need to take a leaf out of the book of the equivalent 4 wheel series. The v8's, the toyota racing series etc have raised the profile of cage racing in NZ dramatically. Virtually every sunday I can sit down and watch anywhere between 1-3 hours of this on the box. With bike racing all there was was a couple of 30 min shows showing the superbikes and supersport. Not to mention the massive crowds they draw to the events, thousands of people at most of the rounds. I'd say bike racing is 3 or 4 years behind the cages, look at what happened earlier this year, a1gp to NZ. So there's something to think about. NZL doing very well at that series too, raising the profile of car racing in NZ and the same now needs to be done for bike racing.

Thats my 2c anyway.

[MisterD]

Do the Aussies have anyone at the top of the dirt-bike world? Josh Coppins and Ben Townley are doing the business in that area - perhaps our best riders just go that route?

[Storm]

Chad Reed in AMA Supercross, Various guys in enduro

[Big Dave]

It's more to do with the size of the population in relation to sponsership money and advertising I think you'll find.

Hmm - but then the $ are spread around a 4 X bigger pool of riders?

[Big Dave]

But then, have you ever hard of a little short bastad caled Aaron Slight? How about Simon Crafar? Or Shaun Harris and Bruce Anstey? Dennis Ireland? Graeme Crosby..........the list is long and ditinguished.

greats all - but lamentably short on world championships?

You'd think that conditions here and all the twisty roads would turn out a squadron of good steerers.

Kev Curtain - he's from newcastle, had a few after work beers in his muffler shop in toronto. The nearest decent set of corners in on the Putty rd - 75km away. Where's he learn to steer like he does i asked him.

'Dunno - just do.'