Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Joined Mar 2015
2K Posts | 337+
Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Being british I do understand our humour, yours struck me as pure vitriol with all sense of proportion removed.
Personally I like Cal and his dislike of officialdom, pity there aren't more in the sporting world.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Therein lies my point Theo.
That whooshing sound you hear right now is the sound of the larger point flying over your head.
Not all of us are enamored with Cuntslow or even find him to be particularly likeable for that matter. The things that come out of his mouth are not even remotely humorous for us and are the words of an egomaniac who still hasn't figured out his overinflated sense of self-worth doesn't correspond with the vast majority of his work on track. Talented rider? Yes, but a top tier rider? Laughable.
There's a certain myopia around here regarding Cuntslow (BECAUSE HE'S BRITISH!) as well as within the media, given their need to try and explain his comments as being token "British humor". Here's the thing, a lot of what spills out of his mouth cannot be taken in the same manner of being honest along the lines of say Casey Stoner who was polarizing for similar surface reasons. The difference between the two lies in that much of what Casey said could in fact be validated by fact, whereas Cuntslow just runs his mouth without anything around to back him up. That's where the Crashy Crutchlow topic got it's origins no matter how much in poor taste it might have been. He's not been amusing for a number of us ever.
Let's not forget how he handled his entire Ducati stint. He quit on Ducati when things didn't go the way he wanted...sort of like another primadonna .... who was given a golden parachute out of Ducati when he couldn't put his money where his mouth was. I wouldn't have expected him to be happy with the technical issues he was faced with, but publicly saying he was committed to Ducati for 2015, then bailing a week or so later is exactly what it is: a quitter.
Joined Mar 2015
2K Posts | 337+
Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Ok I'll grant you that not everything he says is right (or even a smidgeon) but aren't most of them prima donas and for the right reason, ie belief in their own ability, which in most cases can be called arrogance, (yes they need that or they wouldn't be there). But if he is as you say surely thy would drop him like a ton of bricks for being disrespectful.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Therein lies the rub. If he had the talent to match his big mouth - he would be bareable.
RE: disrespectful - there generally is not a respect clause in a rider's contract. There have been other riders who were at odds with the factory they were riding for - but the ones that come to mind - were guys who achieved real results.
I understand about why Britons - cheer for him and the ginger kid - regardless of their poor showing. Americans hoped in vain that Nicky would have a good year after 2006 - despite knowing at heart - that he just did not have the fire. New Yorkers cheer for the Knicks and the Mets. Just a fact of life that those not from the UK are not willing to put aside his faults - as we're not invested. Personally - I don't hate him; I'm more or less indifferent. If it's any consolation, no-one here over the age of 40 doesn't adore Mike The Bike and Sheene. Not to mention Ron Haslam, Rob Mcelnea, Mick Grant, the Dunlop family, Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Phil Read, Foggy and so on.
Joined Mar 2015
2K Posts | 337+
Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Sheene was my hero, I was a bit young to see half of the rest you mention but yes they were different, nowadays I don't have a favourite but I'd like to see someone from the old mold win a championship. But i don't hold out any hope. Also sadly my last favourite rider never to win anything in motogp was Colin Edwards, such a shame he binned it at Assen, I think he might have done more with that as a 1st win.
Anyway I'm going to shout for Johann Zarco this year and next, I think he's ok. lol
Joined Nov 2015
872 Posts | 420+
Stratosphere
Another Brit worth remembering is Niall Mackenzie. Niall went from digging holes for the council to being Freddie Spencer’s team mate in five years. In his GP career he scored seven podiums and 28 top-fives. And after 10 years in Grand Prix he returned to the UK and won three consecutive BSB titles.
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Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
Mike 'the bike' Hailwood and .... Mann (AMA) were two riders that I admired. Hailwood's record was mind blowing, really. And I think he was one of, if not the, first knee pointers. I can't say knee dragger, because the tires would not allow a bike over that far. (See below)
Sheene was a hoot and I had aspirations of being just like him or James Hunt. Par-tay!
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Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
...then you needed to be at Tramps circa 1976.
John 'moon eyes' Cooper was the first knee dragger.
Anthony Gobert was the first knuckle dragger.
Meanwhile in Monaco -
Joined Oct 2015
329 Posts | 196+
UK
:giggle::giggle::giggle:
I bet the Wsbk paddock was an interesting place with him and John Koscinski at the same time. Looney tunes, the pair of them.
