Josh Hayes to Ride Edward's Tech Trois bike a Valencia!
- Thread starter Keshav
- Start date
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Just to be clear - I have always been BIG fan of Josh Hayes. I just hope expectations are not too unrealistic.
Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
Am I the only one who thinks Aaron Slight and Ben Bostrom on the L&M Ducati circa 2001 would be the greatest Superbike team of all time? Boz was god that season and Slight wanted nothing more than to beat Honda. That's the stuff dreams are made of, boys and girls.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
Ahhhh Mr Lindberg I presume......
I thought this would entice you to post hahahahaha. You should consider changing your surname. Think Austin Bostrom sounds pretty good.
Boz and Slight was one hell of a team back in the day
Don't get me wrong, I am a fan, but he is far removed from his L&M days. He doesn't have that same kind of heart anymore. Sorry.
Joined Jul 2006
11K Posts | 291+
Texas
Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
No, but you did spell it the American way.
Not sure, but there's an article in the October issue of Motorcycle Racer that does its best to defend that series and its riders. Just sayin'.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
For a while yet..not sure what the tv coverage is like worldwide. We get live AMA motocross and superbike on a Saturday night.
From what you read, the riders and teams in general think the coverage of their series is pretty poor. If Thats the case, it is gonna be a while before they get more props.
I watch as much AMA as I can. Question for any more knowledgable members of the series than me.
Why is it that very few American riders move up or across to WSS or WSBK ? I am not saying that none make the grade, but why so few recently ?
Is it lack of talent ?
Is it because its mainly a European based series and commercially its better to have European riders ?
Is it poor coverage which does not really highlight the potential skills. So European teams look closer to home ?
Do get me wrong, when an American does make the grade, they certainly do it well
Their series and therefore racing community is relatively self contained, especially compared to the European base of most other significant race teams and series. The riders winning titles in the top AMA series aren't particularly young, and would have to take a massive pay cut and uproot their life just to give world championships a shot and see if they can make a career of it. Basically only the most talented and commited riders get to us over here
Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
Your second two points are at the heart of it. Little coverage means there's no shop window to display talent in the way that BSB can. And not having the commercial backing of European riders makes it that much more difficult to land rides when you need commercial backing to pay for the seat or be the demographic the sponsor is looking to market. Very rarely do American riders have either of those traits.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
That was another question I was going to ask...went to a charity night last year and Jamie whitham was compere. Someone asked a question about salaries in bike racing. He said 75% of riders in BSB ride for nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Due to the lack of decent tv coverage worldwide and the possible insular nature of the series, how much coin is an American rider gonna get in WSS ? Not a lot.
Is Hayes good enough to secure a top WSBK in his debut season ? Will one if the top two or three teams take a risk in him. If not, the he gets a satellite ride. Is a AMA title winning racer gonna earn more riding in WSBK then ? No.
Due to the lack of decent tv coverage worldwide and the possible insular nature of the series, how much coin is an American rider gonna get in WSS ? Not a lot.
Is Hayes good enough to secure a top WSBK in his debut season ? Will one if the top two or three teams take a risk in him. If not, the he gets a satellite ride. Is a AMA title winning racer gonna earn more riding in WSBK then ? No.
