3477691365536951
Ska, did you know our first two AMA titles were won by Brits? Anyway, Curve's post was tongue cheek.
Anyway, I think Toseland was the best of your list above. He won the big boy class titles in Wsbk for two different manufactures among other highlights. Without getting too much into history, parity, and politics (of which there is much to say), I think he had real promise on his GP debut, i think he qualified 2nd right? Finished somewhere near the top 5 (similar to Cal on this, his third year aboard a satellite bike). I remember it mainly because I am a Toseland fan, the memory mainly revolved around his fierce but brief exchange with Rossi in that race (this during a time where Rossi was still at the egregiously long peak of sustained influence over the sport). Its what disappointed me the most about Cal's performance last race (and frankly a couple of other times he has been in a position to challenge Rossi). DISCLAIMER: I really didn't pay enough attention to Cal's race by race performance, looking for those moments that are noteworthy or impression forming while in Wsbk, much less WSS, so I'm at a disadvantage to really comment on his talent coming up. Obviously my opinion on him should be taken with a grain of salt (all my other opinions perhaps merit not much either, haha). As I said, I was rooting for him to be on the podium, but I think he 'folded or flustered' to Rossi (sorry, I know that may be a bit harshly described on my part). Clearly, this comes from a place of my personal bias, as I root for anybody to dish it to Rossi--as the man has taken no prisoners himself (one reason why for me I applauded Dovi for not conceding an inch and forcing the issue with Rossi, who as a result ran wide).
Anyway, Cal has been the most improved rider from his first season as far as I can tell (which is difficult to assess given the spectrum of parity in GP). His first season was rather unimpressive, by all rights considering the major disparity between the satellite Ducati, Karel Abraham should have been the "Rookie of the Year." The big revelation in Cal's second season was his improved speed, though as we know, crashed way too much and was beat by his teammate Dovi straight up (in a situation that UNLIKE factory teams, riders are not designed team orders). So this is his 3rd year, and by some element of luck and timing, he now has a great opportunity to showcase his talent (which given his teammate, the positive spotlight should be unbothered on Cal). One thing that is unquestionable about Cal is his dedication and willingness to ride through injury.
I will further thread the needle between treading lightly and being backhanded by the Oracle of this site on the sensitive (albeit perhaps only in my insecure head) subject of Cal Crutchlow; if there is something that worries me about him is possibly a mental handicap of believing his equipment is only as good behind the two factory Yamahas whereby he concede tarmac during a race to either. That is, he would be correct in assessing his M1 is technically not equal to the factory M1s (though I would argue exceedingly close) but he shouldn't concede an inch as Dovi exemplified. When Cal came up to GP, there is one description of him that is seared into my memory, after all, it was the Oracle who said this:
"Oh, watch out, Cal doesn't give a ....!" I took this to mean, he would take no quarter nor give any. I'm hoping this is the year I see this attitude displayed from Crutchlow (hopefully not against Nicky though...not that that they will ever be close to each other anyway.)
Final but brief note, I do take exception to you comparing Spies to Crutchlow's last year stats. One thing I learned from visiting your most beautiful and wonderful country, was the people's fondness of motorsport, particularly two-wheel racing. Honestly, and I said this when I was there, I felt a kindred spirit as if among family, a surreal feeling and motion of a place I finally belong; and of course I was among family, as I too am addicted to motorsport, particularly two-wheel racing. My point, if Cal had suffered the multiple mechanicals that Spies was made to endure and the unimaginable negative affect that must have made on his
'confidence' the entire season (and you'll be hard pressed to find a sane person or professional racer who would downplay 'confidence' in your machine); again if Crutchlow would have had to deal with this, I gravely would have feared for the safety and lives of his crew among Britons! Not to mention the British media. There would have been hell to pay with interest, and a few first-borns. Cast stones all you want at Spies' record last year, and hope the karma doesn't bite Crutchlow in the ..., as he has test fate quite a bit last year and he got away with a giant size .... mountain from landing on his head in the form of a Ducati seat. It seems rather fashionable lately to take shots at Spies, fact is earned his way into GP by significant titles (sorry, WSS isn't one) and performed superb his first GP year, and rightly was promoted to the factory, with a race win that should have been two. Its the last year that was the worst, and with good reason, this cannot be overstated. Nonetheless, the highjacking of his seat was well in play, and now he has been relegated to a Ducati. Where I would again point out, he did better in his debut in Qatar this weekend, than the great Rossi did after a year on the bike (designed for him).
