Ant West 07

I haven't heard anything either. During the last few rounds the MotoGP.com commentators (Nick Harris, etc.) mentioned a few times that Aprilla had offered him two shiny 2007 works bikes, but there was a catch... the price tag was at least $US 2 million. I can't see him raising that sort of cash, so it's hard to say what level of machinery he'll be on next year.

The kit Aprillias are all pretty much the same (although Locatelli was said to be getting a little more help), so if he stays where he is now, I imagine it'll be more of the same for Westie next year: praying for rain, and sounding like Marvin the Paranoid Andriod in the post-race interviews (and Douglas Adams fans here? ).

Pons is running a 250 team next year, right? Obviously one rider will be Spanish (Barbera?), maybe West could grab the other seat, if he doesn't stay with Kiefer.

Wonder what he was thinking when he saw Aoyama walk off with two wins and a few podiums this year?

What is the big deal about this guy? I rarely catch a 250gp and when I do his name is brougt up all the time but why? I just looked at his site to find that my mem was correct with hearing his name in the 500gp's. Fill me in to why some people are so fond of this guy...

I have a vague idea about who he is. Here are the facts I know:

1. Australians love him.
2. He can be wickedly fast.
3. Wet weather specialist
4. He is what people call a very talented rider without a team around him.

Thats what I gather from people and how they talk about him.
What exactly is his deal?
Richo, Katt, anyone??
Want to elaborate for us all and give us a history lesson?

Yeah, Captain Snow pretty much nailed it. The MotoGP.com guys really seem to love him, which is why he gets mentioned all the time on their broadcasts--even though he's usually touring around in about P10 (and Guintoli on the exact same bike is finishing better than him).

But when the rain comes he catapults up to the front (he's the anti-Pedrosa), so there's clearly talent there. He walked away from KTM last year saying the bike was dangerous. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but Aoyama sure made it work this year.

He always sounds so depressed and negative in his post-race interviews, I imagine he must be really hard to work with. He had a fairly decent ride for one year in the 250s with Honda, but the results didn't really come. So now he's just like 75% of guys out there... a rider with talent, but without the machinery to match.

I'm no fan of West. He seems to be the excuse-making type. But you could probably say he's the most talented wet weather specailist in the world.
As for the KTM, well, I'm not too sure as I don't follow 250, but last year the KTM 250 wasn't a good bike to be on. KTM overstretched their recourses a bit, and trying to win the 125 championship with Kallio took priority over the new 250 project. Now, I don't know for sure but I'd wager that this year's KTM 250 is a much better bike... But that dosen't change the fact that Aoyama is better than West

I'm 99% certain I've read West is confirmed to stay with Kiefer for 2007. I personally like the guy but I don't have the personal experiences with him like some of the others on here. Always comes off as a pretty genuine and nice guy to me but again, I've never met him. Really wish he didn't walk away from the KTM project, he would have had a competitive bike and factory team this season and in the future. Faster than Gibbers and Roberts in the wet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I dont know that he is staying at kiefer.. if you read the story on motogp.com it sounds pretty doubtful...
I got the impression that Kiefer want him to continue and the ride is his if he wants it, but that West would only sign if nothing better came up.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>However, ive heard hes pretty well set to head home to Australia, so whatever his plans are for 2007, then theyll become known fairly soon..
Do you mean just coming back for the off-season, or for good? Your post had him "almost guarenteed to remain in the 250s".

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ant is very misunderstood. People that say that he bad mouths all his rides and is never positive need to pull their heads in. In several of Ants press releases and motogp.com live coverage interviews (towards the end of the year) Ant came across as extremely positive and happy with his situation....
If West is misunderstood it's largely his own fault. There's no media spin. The MotoGP after race interviews and his own press releases are about as unfiltered as it gets.

I went and had a look at his press quotes on antwest14.com. Maybe it's because they're translated from German, or transcribed by someone who's first language is not English, but there's nothing "extremely positive and happy" there that I could find. The theme is more: "It's always a struggle, it's always hard, it could've been better if I had a decent bike. Look at Melandri, that could've been me." At the end he always thanks his team, and says that they'll keep trying--which is something, but by then it's too late. The negative stuff outweighs the positive.

It's the same with the MotoGP.com after race sound grabs. West might be better off not talking when Mark Bracks (spelling?) sticks a microphone under his nose; it's not doing him any favours. It's the same as the press quotes. Dramas, hardships, cheap shots at Shuhei Aoyama, then a little bit about his team and not giving up.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ant is a good person and is very easy going and laid back. The frustrations in his life lead to him, sometimes, coming across as fairly down and depressed.
Away from the track, and with his friends, etc. I'm sure he is. But we don't get to see that side. I hear Biaggi is the life of any party, too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I hope he has a good year in 2007, so he can stick it to all the factories that have ignored him for so long.
I hope he has a good year too, but if his motivation is just to give the factories that ignored him (would that be (Shell Advance) Honda too?) the finger, then guess what... they'll keep ignoring him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ant didnt walk away from KTM either, he was pushed.. They had a large disagreement over the safety of the bike, and Ants pointing out of these faults led to him and KTM 'parting ways'...
I imagine the conversations went something like this:

West: The bike is dangerous. KTM: No, no. Just needs some more testing, ride through that. West: No, the bike is dangerous. The project needs a total rethink. KTM: More tests, yes... that's it. West: NO. KTM: No? What? Get out.

Pushed, walks away. It's all a matter of perspective then. KTM might say they lost confidence in him. I'm not saying he did the wrong thing in getting off it (took a lot of courage standing up to KTM in that situation, I'm sure) but no doubt it must've stung this year to see Aoyama winning races, taking podiums and spending a lot of time up the front on what could've been his bike.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (antfan @ Nov 16 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Anyway, people that bag Ant outright simply have no idea of the person he is and the troubles he endures.. So unless you know, keep it shut..
I don't think anyone bagged West outright on this thread. One guy wondered what all the fuss was about, a couple of others expressed their dislike of him (they are entitled to their opinion, you know), but there were plenty of comments praising his obvious talent.

I made a few comments about his public persona that you seem to have taken issue with. I don't have to live in the Kiefer BOS garage for a season before I'm entitled to say anything.

You're obviously quite a big fan of West, and there's nothing wrong with that, but not everyone sees things in quite the same way.