Cant see how, the series has only run for 1 season. He should try and get a moto2 championship then look to move up. A championship will get the top teams looking at him rather than a career killing ..... team.
Cant see how, the series has only run for 1 season. He should try and get a moto2 championship then look to move up. A championship will get the top teams looking at him rather than a career killing ..... team.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
You guys are either really dumb, naive, or doesn't understand the blood, sweat, and tears it takes for a rider just to get a taste of MotoGP at all cost........ their dream. Any rider with any kind of sense would take any seat in the premier class, if given the opportunity. Quit spewin' about oooh how he should wait another year to develop and hone his skills, oohhh how he should win a championship first in the lower rankings.................... There are 17 riders or whatever on the grid. And about a couple of millions of 'racers' dreaming of becoming a MotoGP star........ hmmmm, let me think, should I take the ride? ....... people you guys are.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Im glad this thead was opened. I had the same thot watching M2 at Mugello. Smith is the real deal. Dorna is fastracking Marquez, and it shows. I know this is 'suppose' to be a "spec" series, but i detected a bit extra "spec" on Marc's bike. Smith is good enuf. No need for a M2 title. Look what it did for Elias. Its all about where u land in MotoGP. So if he can land on a Yamaha, he'll be fine. Anything other than Suz or worse, Duc. U can bet ur ... Marquez has a Repsol seat waiting for him.
Smith has yet to perform at the level required to gain a 'fastracked' spot in the top class. Although neither did Cal, must be a British thing........it seems as though he is adapting ok, if he completes a few more races that is......Lets face it though these days more than ever before without a factory seat, you are just making up the numbers.
Please see my response in the moto2 section, this subject is interesting to me. I agree with you about the moto2 title, it isn't fundamental to win the title (I don't think Elias lack of success this year is remotely connected), the ride he is offered in motogp is the single most important factor. I think he could do ok in that respect, Dorna is keen to 'help' Brits that show enough potential.
Yes of course, it is the rules after all
He hasn't won a moto2 race yet. Throwing him up to motogp is just not fair on the kid.
Give him some time. He is just getting a handle on the 600's.
Give him some time. He is just getting a handle on the 600's.
Didnt Rossi wait until he'd won the championship before he moved up to the next class? And he hasn't done too bad for himself...... Until he tried to tackle the duke
Keep em coming folks,theres some good pro`s and cons surfacing.One I will agree with is get him on a Tech 3 Yam and if not then a Honda.
I think he ought to stay a bit longer, he needs more experience and definately needs to get a few wins in his pocket, if not a championship. It's only recently that he's looked confident fighting it out in a group, he has to be comfortable with that, week in & week out.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
It is a Britsih thing Talp...Britain is the home of motorsport and the fan base for it in the UK ( be it on two wheels or four wheels ) is huge. It make great business sense for Dorna to do all they can to get a Brit on the grid and on a reasonable bit of kit.
I think the hesitancy us Brits get about motogp rides is that we hype up our guys, expect the world of them, then they achieve less than we have been driven on to expect. I agree that the opportunity to ride in the top class is a rare one, but I do wonder whether another year of race craft and experience would do Brad the power of good.
Brad has really impressed me this season and he does look like he could become a very accomplished rider.
two Brits on the Tech 3 Yamaha's wouldn't be bad either tho
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
True, I just naturally assumed he'll win a few this year. But you are right. And like Wilski says, they get built up and then there is no way they can achieve the high expectation. I think Cal benefited from being "prematurely" promoted in that his level of expectation wasn't through the moon. On second thought, you are right, it wouldn't be far to the kid. Let him win a few races, come top 3 in the championship, then promote him.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Smug MF. Stoner didn't win a 250 title did he? And look at him now. Killing everybody.
He may not deserve a "fastrack" at the moment, as you say, be he deserve a good look.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
Slowly slowly catchy monkey....Brad has always gone about his business in a quiet and efficient manner. He really is starting to show the benefit that a few years racing in the lower class can bring. British hopefuls recently have come from a superbike background and we all know that this does not always make a good gp rider. Brad is different.
" Fastrack " ??? probably not in my opinion, but I think he will do it on merit over the next season or so.
I think the keys to success in MotoGP is an ability to be precise in your set up skills, natural speed and to be taken under the wing of the manufacturer.
Look at Spies entry into MotoGP. There was no doubt that it was not Tech 3 that hired Spies it was Yamaha and due to the rules he had to do a year on a satellite bike. As mentioned Marquez will be Honda's boy so if Smith wants a good ride he needs to be in Yamaha's pocket. A Tech 3 seat alone is not enough as will be realised by Cal in due course as I doubt regardless of results we will ever see him sitting atop a factory ride.
To get the factory support you need to be able to demonstrate natural speed over and above that of your competitors. Additionally, if you can't give the feedback to assist in achieving a perfect set up then you are no good to anyone in MotoGP.
In my view lower class championships come in a distant 4th in importance to the above.
Another thing that Smith should think about is timing. There is no point coming into motoGP if there is not going to be a factory seat open up for 2 or more years. He needs to time it to one year before Spies or Lorenzo are either leaving or being dropped by Yamaha. Or worst case Rossi or Nicky are leaving Ducati.
Look at Spies entry into MotoGP. There was no doubt that it was not Tech 3 that hired Spies it was Yamaha and due to the rules he had to do a year on a satellite bike. As mentioned Marquez will be Honda's boy so if Smith wants a good ride he needs to be in Yamaha's pocket. A Tech 3 seat alone is not enough as will be realised by Cal in due course as I doubt regardless of results we will ever see him sitting atop a factory ride.
To get the factory support you need to be able to demonstrate natural speed over and above that of your competitors. Additionally, if you can't give the feedback to assist in achieving a perfect set up then you are no good to anyone in MotoGP.
In my view lower class championships come in a distant 4th in importance to the above.
Another thing that Smith should think about is timing. There is no point coming into motoGP if there is not going to be a factory seat open up for 2 or more years. He needs to time it to one year before Spies or Lorenzo are either leaving or being dropped by Yamaha. Or worst case Rossi or Nicky are leaving Ducati.
