Sting gone out of MotoGP '09?

[gatch]

He'll smoke Edwards's ass.

Motorcycling racing has taken a turn for the worse..

[Crasherfromwayback]

Motorcycling racing has taken a turn for the worse..

It'll be done in the best possible taste...

[gatch]

It'll be done in the best possible taste...

Reckon they'll be friends afterward ?

[gav]

Do you think he'd be riding like that if he'd gone through 125 and 250 GP's? Course not. Very talented Superbike banger but a Superbike banger nonetheless. Won't be running with the Aliens and his style won't suit a Moto GP bike.

Anyway we'll just have to wait till next week when Edwards will stuff him to the tonsils and every other rider within sight will be trying to do exactly the same to the noob.

WTF? You do know he's already raced a MotoGP bike and certainly didnt look out of place. Guess it depends how tired those Tech3 engines are now for the last race of the year. No doubt Spies has a nice fresh new motor slotted in. Top 5 for Spies is certainly not out of the question.

[XRVrider]

WTF? You do know he's already raced a MotoGP bike and certainly didnt look out of place. Guess it depends how tired those Tech3 engines are now for the last race of the year. No doubt Spies has a nice fresh new motor slotted in. Top 5 for Spies is certainly not out of the question.

Yep not out of the question, but its racing, dudes in front could take each other out etc... So if he gets better than 6th in an uneventful race then well done, I reckon he might just not have the experience at that top level, as it is higher than SB, but good luck to Spies but 6th max for mine. I think this race is more about Rossi and Stoner, and who wins that battle, Rossi will be gunning to beat Stoner after recent results.

[Crasherfromwayback]

WTF? You do know he's already raced a MotoGP bike and certainly didnt look out of place. Guess it depends how tired those Tech3 engines are now for the last race of the year. No doubt Spies has a nice fresh new motor slotted in. Top 5 for Spies is certainly not out of the question.

I'd say he wouldn't have a fucking clue. Never mind Spies raced the well out classed Suzuki and still did really well. He also seems to forget (or just wasn't around then) that Eddie Lawson, Wayne Gardner, Revvin Kevin, Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan to name a few came from Superbikes I guess.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Reckon they'll be friends afterward ?

Nope. I don't think Spies gives a fuck about making friends at the track. And that's the way to go. I made very few...couldn't give a toss about that...not what you're there for.

[Racey Rider]

Did Superbikes race at Valencia? does he know the track?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Did Superbikes race at Valencia? does he know the track?

Yep...third round. Mind you...he set 11 pole posistion for the season on tracks he'd never seen...so doubt it'd matter that much if he hadn't been there. Obviously a very quick learner.

[slowpoke]

Nope. I don't think Spies gives a fuck about making friends at the track. And that's the way to go. I made very few...couldn't give a toss about that...not what you're there for.

So what were you there for?

Unless you are racing for National or International Championships there's no money it, so it's just for the sheer enjoyment isn't it? I'm not saying you go along to be all lovey dovey but I don't see why ya can't try your heart out on the track and share a laugh with like minded folks off it.

Most of it's only club racing for chrissakes. Even at Nationals level it's only a tin cup you are racing for, there are no sheep stations or pink slips involved. If you can't shake the hand, or share a beer with sthe blokes you've battling with, be it on the track or on the sports field, there's something not quite right I reckon. Isn't that the essence of sport?

[Crasherfromwayback]

So what were you there for?

Unless you are racing for National or International Championships there's no money it, so it's just for the sheer enjoyment isn't it? I'm not saying you go along to be all lovey dovey but I don't see why ya can't try your heart out on the track and share a laugh with like minded folks off it.

Most of it's only club racing for chrissakes. Even at Nationals level it's only a tin cup you are racing for, there are no sheep stations or pink slips involved. If you can't shake the hand, or share a beer with sthe blokes you've battling with, be it on the track or on the sports field, there's something not quite right I reckon. Isn't that the essence of sport?

Don't think I ever said I wouldn't shake hands and have a beer with competitors mate! I raced at National level and was there to win races. I was fairly agressive in my riding and a lot of people don't/didn't like that. I couldn't give a fuck...as I said...I didn't go there to make friends. I wanted to win races.

I came from a moto-x backround...and the dirt crew are far friendlier and more down to earth that the road race set. When I first went road racing...I was amazed at how many people wandered around like they were Eddie Lawson or something. Far too cool for their own good...and that was more often than not the peanuts at the back of the pack.

[codgyoleracer]

Don't think I ever said I wouldn't shake hands and have a beer with competitors mate! I raced at National level and was there to win races. I was fairly agressive in my riding and a lot of people don't/didn't like that. I couldn't give a fuck...as I said...I didn't go there to make friends. I wanted to win races.

I came from a moto-x backround...and the dirt crew are far friendlier and more down to earth that the road race set. When I first went road racing...I was amazed at how many people wandered around like they were Eddie Lawson or something. Far too cool for their own good...and that was more often than not the peanuts at the back of the pack.

Always thought you had a dirty background, - dontya know that most of us roadies are in it for the shiney leather suits and bullshit stories afterwards....... :-), Puddle jumpers only seem to have conversations about which bone they havent broken yet :-)

[slowpoke]

Don't think I ever said I wouldn't shake hands and have a beer with competitors mate! I raced at National level and was there to win races. I was fairly agressive in my riding and a lot of people don't/didn't like that. I couldn't give a fuck...as I said...I didn't go there to make friends. I wanted to win races.

I came from a moto-x backround...and the dirt crew are far friendlier and more down to earth that the road race set. When I first went road racing...I was amazed at how many people wandered around like they were Eddie Lawson or something. Far too cool for their own good...and that was more often than not the peanuts at the back of the pack.

Sorry mate, wasn't meaning to have a go at ya (although though your paragraphs above almost contradict each other, lol). Each to their own, we've all got our own itch to scratch, eh?

I dunno, it's just been a succession of working shitty rosters at shitty mines across Oz, or offshore, to get to the point where I can actually afford to be one of those peanuts. It's far far too late in life to be aiming for world domination so I'm not gonna limit my enjoyment by making it conditional on results. Doesn't mean I'm not giving it 100% either, but at the end of a days racing I'm just happy to be there.

I look at Casey Stoner, Max Biaggi or Mat Mladin and for all their massive talent, incredible lifestyles etc they don't seem to be having a good time unless they are winning. They seem to lose sight of the fact that they are leading amazingly fortunate lives, and what they are doing is just a sport, not finding a cure for cancer. That's part of why I like Ben Spies and Troy Bayliss, they don't need to hate anybody to do well, and don't trip over their bottom lip if things don't go as planned. I like the way they've achieved what they have as much as what they've actually achieved. But that's just me, other people actually like Biaggi, go figure......

[Crasherfromwayback]

Always thought you had a dirty background, - dontya know that most of us roadies are in it for the shiney leather suits and bullshit stories afterwards....... :-), Puddle jumpers only seem to have conversations about which bone they havent broken yet :-)

I can (and do) bullshit with the best of them mate!

Sorry mate, wasn't meaning to have a go at ya (although though your paragraphs above almost contradict each other, lol). Each to their own, we've all got our own itch to scratch, eh?


I look at Casey Stoner, Max Biaggi or Mat Mladin and for all their massive talent, incredible lifestyles etc they don't seem to be having a good time unless they are winning. They seem to lose sight of the fact that they are leading amazingly fortunate lives, and what they are doing is just a sport, not finding a cure for cancer. That's part of why I like Ben Spies and Troy Bayliss, they don't need to hate anybody to do well, and don't trip over their bottom lip if things don't go as planned. I like the way they've achieved what they have as much as what they've actually achieved. But that's just me, other people actually like Biaggi, go figure......

Mate...as you know...we're all different. Guys like that...they beat themselves up REAL bad not winning. But they'd do that playing cards too. It's just not in them to take getting beat. Other hate it...but hide it better. But I honestly very seriously doubt ANY one at the very top level likes it. Two really mellow cats that are both friends of mine (Stefan Merriman and Bruce Ainstey) are both that cool and laid back as far as you see...and to a certain extent they are...but boy...they aren't good at coming second.

I've played all sorts of sports over the years...and I've enjoyed all of them. Made a lot of good friends over the years doing them too...but my point was and is...that's not why I played them/did them. I got a kick/thrill out of beating them and winning. Still do. I admire anyone than can walk away happy after a hiding. I'm pretty gracious in defeat...but I fucking hate it.

[Cleve]

Yep...third round. Mind you...he set 11 pole posistion for the season on tracks he'd never seen...so doubt it'd matter that much if he hadn't been there. Obviously a very quick learner.

Someone please re post the classic Yamaha tongue in cheek video clip where Ben Spies tells us how he learns tracks so quick by imagining them as an animal shape...