Do You Believe in True Friendship Between Riders?

rossiofsky · May 19, 2011

What do you think of the friendship between riders? Will or can they remain friends if and when they become rivals?

So far, i haven't seen true friendships between racers, but i haven't been following this sport from last decades, so maybe there are examples from last decades.

I think the friendship between Rossi, Simoncelli and also between Lorenzo, Stoner and Dovisioso, and other team mates will go on as long as their interests dont collide.

What do you think about this?

Do you have any examples from the past riders who were friends and competing in front?

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bigbang · May 19, 2011

rossiofsky said:
What do you think of the friendship between riders? Will or can they remain friends if and when they become rivals?

So far, i haven't seen true friendships between racers, but i haven't been following this sport from last decades, so maybe there are examples from last decades.

I think the friendship between Rossi, Simoncelli and also between Lorenzo, Stoner and Dovisioso, and other team mates will go on as long as their interests dont collide.

What do you think about this?

Do you have any examples from the past riders who were competing in front?

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Please ignore this thread if you dont like the subject, otherwise just remain commenting about the subject.

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I think it's very hard to be real friends when competing at the highest level in any form motorsport. A lot of respect yes but real friends difficult. But I have notices that sometimes riders become friends after they have finished their careers.

beefsupreme · May 19, 2011

In MotoGP, I see "friendliness", but I don't really see friends. They may be too cranky from watching their weights.

The only place I've seen it is in SBK, where in '02 you had Bayliss and Edwards racing each other really hard, but very complimentary about each other, and also there was Spies and Haga in '09.

MdubSTYLIE · May 19, 2011

I think Colin and Ben are sincerely friends. I wouldnt doubt a lot of them are better friends than we know.

povol · May 19, 2011

Dont forget Spies and Mladin, they were very close.

For some reason, in what is considered the elite of motor sports [Moto Gp and F1] you dont see many relationships that would be considered true friendship. Friendly maybe, but not true friendship.On the other hand, in racing series like NASCAR, there are numerous relationships where combatants are true friends. They vacation together, hunt and fish together, have foundations together, show up for kids birthday parties, or at the hospital if someone is ill.Then they go out and wreck each other on Sunday

Nascar promotes family, and like most families, there are feuds, but when the chips are down, they take care of their own. Is it a cultural thing, probably, but it goes to prove that you dont have to hate your rivals to hype yourself up to compete. In todays world of facebook and twitter, im not sure if a lot of people really know what a true friend is.

rossiofsky · May 19, 2011

bigbang said:
I think it's very hard to be real friends when competing at the highest level in any form motorsport. A lot of respect yes but real friends difficult. But I have notices that sometimes riders become friends after they have finished their careers.

Yes, i have seen or reed a few who later have forgiven eachother, like Rainy and Schwants.

Beef Supreme said:
In MotoGP, I see "friendliness", but I don't really see friends. They may be too cranky from watching their weights.

The only place I've seen it is in SBK, where in '02 you had Bayliss and Edwards racing each other really hard, but very complimentary about each other, and also there was Spies and Haga in '09.

I dont know if one year is always enough to bring that negative thoughts up in rivals, team mates. Did Bayliss and Edwards ever collided or had an incident?

MdubSTYLIE said:
I think Colin and Ben are sincerely friends. I wouldnt doubt a lot of them are better friends than we know.

What you mentioned about Edwards and Spies were one of the nice examples, even if they were not fighting for victories.

povol said:
Dont forget Spies and Mladin, they were very close.

This example is one of those which i knew will be mentioned as one of the oscar winnings.

beefsupreme · May 19, 2011

rossiofsky said:
I dont know if one year is always enough to bring that negative thoughts up in rivals, team mates. Did Bayliss and Edwards ever collided or had an incident?

Bit of a chicken-and-egg question: did they remain friends because they never collided, or did they never collide because they were friends?

rossiofsky · May 19, 2011

Beef Supreme said:
Bit of a chicken-and-egg question: did they remain friends because they never collided, or did they never collide because they were friends?

indeed

I dont know but mostly their ego's will grow up after a few little incidents or negative comments.

Arrabbiata1 · May 19, 2011

rossiofsky said:
Yes, i have seen or reed a few who later have forgiven eachother, like Rainy and Schwants.

This immediately sprung to mind when I noticed this thread. Initially they wouldn't even engage in eye contact in the paddock and post race if they found themselves in a bar or restaurant then either entourage would be at opposite cprners of the building. They gradually began to inure to each others presence, and I think by '93 they were on fairly amicable terms - the ice between them had thawed - largely out of mutual respect despite the fact that they were such fierce rivals on track. When the accident happened Schwantz was in total denial and disbelief and full expected Rainey to ride out in practice at the next race at Laguna. His World Championship was a hollow and pyrrhic victory and he later said that the absence of Wayne as a competitor and by then friend influenced his decision to retire because he found racing meaningless after 1993.

Edwards and Bayliss always got along well, and Nicky Hayden has to be one of the most well liked World Champions in the history of the sport. Rob McElnea and Niall Mackenzie's cut throat BSB exchanges were exported straight out of GP, but again have stayed close friends after the racing stopped, while even Foggy and Scott Russell have been know to share a drink at the bar.

I think with the exception of Foggy and Koscinski the WSB paddock has always been far more convivial with riders fraternising post race, whereas the GP paddock has in recent years maintained more distance between riders - perhaps because the stakes are higher in every respect.

Arrabbiata1 · May 19, 2011

rossiofsky said:
Yes, i have seen or reed a few who later have forgiven eachother, like Rainy and Schwants.

This immediately sprung to mind when I noticed this thread. Initially they wouldn't even engage in eye contact in the paddock and post race if they found themselves in a bar or restaurant then either entourage would be at opposite corners of the building. They gradually began to inure to each others presence, and I think by '93 they were on fairly amicable terms - the ice between them had thawed - largely out of mutual respect despite the fact that they were such fierce rivals on track. When the accident happened Schwantz was in total denial and disbelief and full expected Rainey to ride out in practice at the next race at Laguna. His World Championship was a hollow and pyrrhic victory and he later said that the absence of Wayne as a competitor and by then friend was a major factor influencing his decision to retire because he found racing empty meaningless after 1993.

Edwards and Bayliss always got along well, and Nicky Hayden has to be one of the most well liked World Champions in the history of the sport. Rob McElnea and Niall Mackenzie's cut throat BSB exchanges were exported straight out of GP, but again have stayed close friends after the racing stopped, while even Foggy and Scott Russell have been know to share a drink at the bar.

I think with the exception of Foggy and Koscinski the WSB paddock has always been far more convivial with riders fraternising post race, whereas the GP paddock has in recent years maintained more distance between riders - perhaps because the stakes are higher in every respect.

rossiofsky · May 19, 2011

Arrabbiata1 said:
This immediately sprung to mind when I noticed this thread. Initially they wouldn't even engage in eye contact in the paddock and post race if they found themselves in a bar or restaurant then either entourage would be at opposite cprners of the building. They gradually began to inure to each others presence, and I think by '93 they were on fairly amicable terms - the ice between them had thawed - largely out of mutual respect despite the fact that they were such fierce rivals on track. When the accident happened Schwantz was in total denial and disbelief and full expected Rainey to ride out in practice at the next race at Laguna. His World Championship was a hollow and pyrrhic victory and he later said that the absence of Wayne as a competitor and by then friend influenced his decision to retire because he found racing meaningless after 1993.

Edwards and Bayliss always got along well, and Nicky Hayden has to be one of the most well liked World Champions in the history of the sport. Rob McElnea and Niall Mackenzie's cut throat BSB exchanges were exported straight out of GP, but again have stayed close friends after the racing stopped, while even Foggy and Scott Russell have been know to share a drink at the bar.

I think with the exception of Foggy and Koscinski the WSB paddock has always been far more convivial with riders fraternising post race, whereas the GP paddock has in recent years maintained more distance between riders - perhaps because the stakes are higher in every respect.

Except Rainy and Schwants i dont know some of those riders you named, but for me knowing about the rivalry between these two should be enough to picture the situation between the rest.

Usually i have seen Edwards like Hayden can get along pretty well and friendly with every one. Maybe that has helped him and the situation, just like last year with Spies.

Mental Anarchist · May 19, 2011

I think it is like most work environments where you develop strong acquaintances but rarely strong friendships. In WC racing where there are multiple nationalities then this helps to cement those strong acquaintances because people will naturally gravitate towards people from the same culture. The other component that builds on or stands beside these elements is respect. When your 'work' involves putting your life and the lives of others on the line there is a bond even in the absence of genuine friendship that can not be developed in another environment. I am sure that those who have served or do serve in the military can expand on that further.

Pigeon · May 19, 2011

Rivals might be the key word but

yes they have friendships and long term

Casey Stoner n Chaz Davies is one

jazkat · May 19, 2011

"WHEN THE GLOVES GO ON EVEN YOUR BEST FRIEND BECOMES A RIVAL IN RACING"

stormypete · May 19, 2011

What about Simoncelli and Pedders .... any chance ????

rossiofsky · May 22, 2011

jazkat said:
"WHEN THE GLOVES GO ON EVEN YOUR BEST FRIEND BECOMES A RIVAL IN RACING"

This is what i have seen so far from 99% of the racers. Some are friends or friendly to eachother but usually as soon as something happens between them, they show their negative feelings.

chopperman · May 22, 2011

You would have to think with all the time these peeps spend together that friendships form. On track i expect that goes out the window and pure focus takes over. In martial arts ive had fights with friends but when you face each other you just don't look at them as a friend or even human. There just a target.

rossiofsky · May 22, 2011

chopperman said:
You would have to think with all the time these peeps spend together that friendships form. On track i expect that goes out the window and pure focus takes over. In martial arts ive had fights with friends but when you face each other you just don't look at them as a friend or even human. There just a target.

Well said Rog,

It's natual and usual feeling, it's in all sports and sport persons.

JohnnyKnockdown · May 22, 2011

This thread is gay and pointless.

Jumkie · May 22, 2011

JohnnyKnockdown said:
This thread is gay and pointless.

When i first read it, i though Viper7 AKA Pointless & Unthoughtful Thead Originator (PUTO) had been at it again. But then i saw it was Rossiofsky. Basically same ..... However, a few great posts have saved the thread.

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Do You Believe in True Friendship Between Riders?

rossiofsky

bigbang

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MdubSTYLIE

povol

rossiofsky

beefsupreme

rossiofsky

Arrabbiata1

Arrabbiata1

rossiofsky

Mental Anarchist

Pigeon

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stormypete

rossiofsky

chopperman

rossiofsky

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