Is Shakey the British version of Mat Mladin? Too good for the national series but too old to go back to internationals.
He never did excel in WSB though did he?No, although in the right team I think he could have been a contender. There was some good racing yesterday though, Tarran Mackenzie taking a popular win after roasting his nuts last time out.
Joined Oct 2012
3K Posts | 725+
Crab Key
Nahh. Shakey wishes he was Mladin.
Mladin was Aust 250 proddy champ when that series was ridiculously competitive, won Aust. Superbikes the following year, then got ...... by Ago. at Cagiva.
Got away from his family by going to the US and spent years trolling the supposed "talent" over there until Spies turned up.
Shakey....not so much...
Old post I know. I agree that Mat is a way better racer than Shakey, just saying they're best known for domination of a national series but not doing much on the world stage, Mat at Cagiva, Shakey at Aprilia.
Has anyone seen that series on youtube with Mat in it? Where it's going on about his career? I found it really interesting especially the segments where he says corner speed is overrated, the clutch is a far better way of controlling wheelies and slides than the rear brake, that traction control hasn't made the bike easier to ride and that it's just another component that needs to be tuned correctly and my personal favourite when he rips into other riders for their hangers on and significant others sitting in the pits "you wouldn't bring your wife or girlfriend to work in any other job, why does it happen in this one"
So much more as well, especially the mental side of the game.
Has anyone seen that series on youtube with Mat in it? Where it's going on about his career? I found it really interesting especially the segments where he says corner speed is overrated, the clutch is a far better way of controlling wheelies and slides than the rear brake, that traction control hasn't made the bike easier to ride and that it's just another component that needs to be tuned correctly and my personal favourite when he rips into other riders for their hangers on and significant others sitting in the pits "you wouldn't bring your wife or girlfriend to work in any other job, why does it happen in this one"
So much more as well, especially the mental side of the game.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Well I used to watch AMA a lot in his dominant era and I always liked him then, I always remembered this quote from an interview, "I'm just a motorcycle racer, just like you are a journalist or my crew are mechanics. It's my job. I happen to be lucky in that I'm okay at my job and I enjoy doing it. That's why I'm working harder so I can win more races and make more money every year so I can take care of my family in the future"
No delusions of grandeur like you often see in racing paddocks, just a solid, deadly serious professional who has no interest in being mates with people at the track, he just wants to destroy them.
It says a lot that from his first AMA title in 99 until his retirement in 09 the only two men to wrestle the title away from him ended up as world champions.
No delusions of grandeur like you often see in racing paddocks, just a solid, deadly serious professional who has no interest in being mates with people at the track, he just wants to destroy them.
It says a lot that from his first AMA title in 99 until his retirement in 09 the only two men to wrestle the title away from him ended up as world champions.
