KRJR's Quiet MotoGP Departure

When the end comes, for many riders, passion, competitive force or just plain ego prevent them from making a graceful exit from the sport. Too many become comfortable with a few fast laps, waving to the fans and a distant hope that past glory will return, but know deep down it won't.

After spending more than ten years racing a 250, 500 and MotoGP bike, Kenny Roberts junior had won a world title and raced against the best riders in the world. Junior was always more cerebral than passionate about racing and in the end he looked at the current determining factors in modern MotoGP racing, saw the trend moving more towards smaller 250 riders and a 250 riding-style, and determined he didn't have real chance at winning. Then he gathered up his gear and went home seven races into the 2007 season.

"It ended weirdly, certainly," Roberts said of his MotoGP career. "The problem is that you need to be fifty kilos now to ride a MotoGP bike. They went to 800s and that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin."

After splitting with Suzuki in 2005, Roberts Junior raced at the front on the KR211V Honda-powered MotoGP bike in 2006, but the switch to the 800s, advanced traction control and the new tire rules in '07 made life difficult for one of the last "normal-sized" American riders in MotoGP.

And then there's the electronics. "I've been complaining since traction control was introduced," Robert Junior says. "When it became obvious that it was (being used) in 2002-03-04, it's like, people need to come to a race to see riders do something that they can't do on a bike. So if they see it go around a corner with both wheels in line, it looks pretty easy."

After two podiums in 2006--with one near race win--and five top-five finishes, Roberts would not race at Laguna Seca USGP in 2007.

Former world champion Nick Hayden will not reveal how much he currently weighs, but it's a safe bet that he's around twenty pounds lighter now than he was in 2002 when he won the AMA Superbike championship. Roberts says that he weighed around 150-160 pounds in his final years in MotoGP.

"If you're over 140 pounds now, you don't have a chance," Roberts Junior contends. "I think Valentino will be one of the last tall, lanky European riders in MotoGP."

The 2007 season was the last for the Kenny Roberts team in MotoGP.

Roberts had eight Grand Prix wins and the 2000 championship backing him up when he started the 2007 season. He suffered through seven races and decided to go home and give younger brother Kurtis a chance on the KR212V. Junior has always had a certain detached relationship with motorcycles and says that he didn't miss racing after he walked away.

"I didn't because I wasn't competitive. I had no chance to be competitive. When Honda's 800 didn't deliver the power that we thought it would .. for me I was pushing as hard as I could for fifteenth. I said to put Kurtis on the bike and if he's as fast or faster and is having fun, he needs something to do, go for it."

Managed well throughout his career, Roberts Junior enjoys a financially comfortable retirement. After years of hotels and flights and contracts and stress, he doesn't have to do anything or be anywhere and is currently enjoying being a dad to his daughter as he and his wife await their second child.

ENDS

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Jun 23 2009, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>When the end comes, for many riders, passion, competitive force or just plain ego prevent them from making a graceful exit from the sport. Too many become comfortable with a few fast laps, waving to the fans and a distant hope that past glory will return, but know deep down it won't.

After spending more than ten years racing a 250, 500 and MotoGP bike, Kenny Roberts junior had won a world title and raced against the best riders in the world. Junior was always more cerebral than passionate about racing and in the end he looked at the current determining factors in modern MotoGP racing, saw the trend moving more towards smaller 250 riders and a 250 riding-style, and determined he didn't have real chance at winning. Then he gathered up his gear and went home seven races into the 2007 season.

"It ended weirdly, certainly," Roberts said of his MotoGP career. "The problem is that you need to be fifty kilos now to ride a MotoGP bike. They went to 800s and that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin."

After splitting with Suzuki in 2005, Roberts Junior raced at the front on the KR211V Honda-powered MotoGP bike in 2006, but the switch to the 800s, advanced traction control and the new tire rules in '07 made life difficult for one of the last "normal-sized" American riders in MotoGP.

And then there's the electronics. "I've been complaining since traction control was introduced," Robert Junior says. "When it became obvious that it was (being used) in 2002-03-04, it's like, people need to come to a race to see riders do something that they can't do on a bike. So if they see it go around a corner with both wheels in line, it looks pretty easy."

After two podiums in 2006--with one near race win--and five top-five finishes, Roberts would not race at Laguna Seca USGP in 2007.

Former world champion Nick Hayden will not reveal how much he currently weighs, but it's a safe bet that he's around twenty pounds lighter now than he was in 2002 when he won the AMA Superbike championship. Roberts says that he weighed around 150-160 pounds in his final years in MotoGP.

"If you're over 140 pounds now, you don't have a chance," Roberts Junior contends. "I think Valentino will be one of the last tall, lanky European riders in MotoGP."

The 2007 season was the last for the Kenny Roberts team in MotoGP.

Roberts had eight Grand Prix wins and the 2000 championship backing him up when he started the 2007 season. He suffered through seven races and decided to go home and give younger brother Kurtis a chance on the KR212V. Junior has always had a certain detached relationship with motorcycles and says that he didn't miss racing after he walked away.

"I didn't because I wasn't competitive. I had no chance to be competitive. When Honda's 800 didn't deliver the power that we thought it would .. for me I was pushing as hard as I could for fifteenth. I said to put Kurtis on the bike and if he's as fast or faster and is having fun, he needs something to do, go for it."

Managed well throughout his career, Roberts Junior enjoys a financially comfortable retirement. After years of hotels and flights and contracts and stress, he doesn't have to do anything or be anywhere and is currently enjoying being a dad to his daughter as he and his wife await their second child.

ENDS

I really enjoyed watching KRJR.

I reckon it was the 06 Portugal .... up that did it for him.

There is one or two folks starting on the KRJR path out of GPs....some try to put off their retirement by jumping over the WSBK, but I think that is just postoning the unavoidable reality that their time has passed....

I think riders should choose to leave and retire rather than be retired....Bayliss is the best example of how it should be done!

krjr left because the team was using honda engines and they were crap when the rules changed.

the drop to 800 and the blistering pace of rider aid development has gutted the grands prix.

Great read. End of an era.

Size and weight of the riders shrinking confirmed by a former World Champ. It's why I've said all along that if Spies decides to make a go in MotoGP he will not be as successful because of his size and that's a damn shame because I think he for one is a World class rider that should have a chance in the big show.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L8Braker @ Jun 23 2009, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Size and weight of the riders shrinking confirmed by a former World Champ. It's why I've said all along that if Spies decides to make a go in MotoGP he will not be as successful because of his size and that's a damn shame because I think he for one is a World class rider that should have a chance in the big show.
This issue of size/weight really does need to be addressed so talent is not over looked due to size.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 23 2009, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This issue of size/weight really does need to be addressed so talent is not over looked due to size.

Agreed...but i dont think it will ever happen

He still should have finshed the year out, IMO...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cankles @ Jun 24 2009, 04:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He still should have finshed the year out, IMO...
Why? Its not as though he came back in '08... he was done, it was over and he left before he hurt himself our anyone else. Good on him.

He was 160 at least. He was chunky in his last days at Suzuki and Johnny was kicking his ... bigtime on the exact same equipment. Try and race a thoroughbred horse at 160 and see what happens. This is a new very specialized era. Everything has to be maximized...or minimized...it is all extreme. The era of staying in a top level sport until you are 40 is over forever. It was afterall just a marketing phase. Youth has always dominated high level sport. Think 14 year olds compared to 18 in the Olympics...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cankles @ Jun 23 2009, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He still should have finshed the year out, IMO...


In principle I would tend to agree as I do not like seeing people 'quit' mid-term on a contract or piece of work.

But, the game of racing motorcycles is not like a normal job and once you lose desire, heart or concentration even by the slightest bit, the game can become deadly for you or others. IMO, it is one of those rare games where as soon as you start to lose it, you have to go.

He certainly wasn't one of my favourite riders (nothing personal in that), but he was a relative quiet achiever and the article does make interesting reading.





Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 23 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This issue of size/weight really does need to be addressed so talent is not over looked due to size.


Look at David Jeffries, he was a prime example of it - big fella - fast as .... - over looked as ....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 23 2009, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This issue of size/weight really does need to be addressed so talent is not over looked due to size.
You would never make it in GP, eh Rog.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ Jun 23 2009, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Look at David Jeffries, he was a prime example of it - big fella - fast as .... - over looked as ....
brilliant example i once had the pleasure of seeing DJ race supermoto. he was fast as .... on that too

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Jun 23 2009, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He was 160 at least. He was chunky in his last days at Suzuki
I wouldn't call him "chunky" unless it was in reference to the rest of the grid. I saw him down in Miller and I thought he was fit. But I bet he wouldn't be in race trim. I think we don't realize just how hard it is to maintain weight and fitness in GP. But I would argue that its a very difficult part of the regiment. Sure he can probably get down to weight, but for example, look at Toesland. He has emaciated his body, and I'm sure it can't all be healthy. Its one thing far a 5 foot 2 guy to maintain weight, but its another world for a 5 foot 6+ to do it. Does anybody here have any idea what its like to stay within race trim for 125/250 guys. Well I can tell you from reading their bios that its perhaps one of the most difficult balancing acts to accomplish. And most of the riders report that its like the horse jockeys having to struggle through hunger and purging.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Jun 23 2009, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>IMO, it is one of those rare games where as soon as you start to lose it, you have to go.
Absolutely. At least the unselfish thing to do.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ Jun 23 2009, 03:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Look at David Jeffries, he was a prime example of it - big fella - fast as .... - over looked as ....
....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Jun 23 2009, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>In principle I would tend to agree as I do not like seeing people 'quit' mid-term on a contract or piece of work.

But, the game of racing motorcycles is not like a normal job and once you lose desire, heart or concentration even by the slightest bit, the game can become deadly for you or others. IMO, it is one of those rare games where as soon as you start to lose it, you have to go.

He certainly wasn't one of my favourite riders (nothing personal in that), but he was a relative quiet achiever and the article does make interesting reading.





Garry

I guess as a (mostly) retired MMA fighter, I can see the point you are making. It's the same situation.

I definately agree with your last sentence here.

KRJR Walked away at the right time, He realized i wasn't working out for him. Things were changing at rapid pace and not for his benefit. He was smart to leave. The new bikes dont really work for the old schoolguys, look at sete he is just wasting his time and health by being out there. Barros is another one who knew the 800's wouldnt work for him.