Mat Mladin

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phleg @ Sep 4 2007, 03:48 PM) [snapback]88897[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Everyone.

Mladin and Co wildcarded at Laguna in 03, they got their ..... whupped, big style, Mladin had to pull out of race 2 because of exhaustion.

The level of competition is MUCH higher, and to think anything less is ludicrous.


Sorry, but "everyone" is not much of an answer. That two riders from the States with incredibly busy racing schedules and constant testing, didn't do well at one race on unfamiliar bikes, isn't exactly conclusive evidence of the series being at "a higher level". I think this is one of those times we'd have to agree to disagree.
Cheers,
KD

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Keshav @ Sep 5 2007, 01:44 AM) [snapback]88930[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Sorry, but "everyone" is not much of an answer. That two riders from the States with incredibly busy racing schedules and constant testing, didn't do well at one race on unfamiliar bikes, isn't exactly conclusive evidence of the series being at "a higher level". I think this is one of those times we'd have to agree to disagree.
Cheers,
KD


Let me get this straight. Are you just hypothetically suggesting that a national series could in theory be better than a world championship, are you just trying to get a reaction or do you actually believe that AMA superbike is higher than the world championship?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Sep 5 2007, 04:22 AM) [snapback]88973[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Let me get this straight. Are you just hypothetically suggesting that a national series could in theory be better than a world championship, are you just trying to get a reaction or do you actually believe that AMA superbike is higher than the world championship?


Not suggesting that the AMA racing is better. Not at all. Simply saying that just because a promoter creates a series and registers it with the name World Championship - doesn't actually mean that the racers are the best. WSBK is not on the same level as Moto GP. The WSBK machines themselves aren't vastly different from what's being raced in AMA. There are racers who don't earn diddly From the Moto GP teams but make it up from all the print ad and TV spots - and so there's motivation to move from other racing circuits. But the best racers do command the biggest paychecks and if Spies and Mladin are making the bucks why should they take pay-cuts to in order to jump on some low-shelf privateer team, in a field already crowded with hungry superstars? In any case, how does one jump to the conclusion that the best superbike rider from Britain, or Japan is just automatically a step-up from the best superbike riders from the USA? That would seem to be your implication. That's rather a large assumption. Logically, the best riders head to where the best paycheck is. And I haven't seen any figures that would lead me to conclude, that WSBK is that place.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Keshav @ Sep 6 2007, 04:32 AM) [snapback]89192[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
But the best racers do command the biggest paychecks and if Spies and Mladin are making the bucks why should they take pay-cuts to in order to jump on some low-shelf privateer team, in a field already crowded with hungry superstars? In any case, how does one jump to the conclusion that the best superbike rider from Britain, or Japan is just automatically a step-up from the best superbike riders from the USA? That would seem to be your implication. That's rather a large assumption.



Believe it or not some riders don't race just for the money, and actually want to test themselfes on the highest possible level (not national superbikes). I am not assuming that Britain or Japans best are necessarily better than Americas best riders, but an accumulation of the best from all over the world is clearly better than the best from just one country. It would be naive to believe that America creates such a high quality of rider that champions from elswhere like Toseland, Bayliss, Haga and kiyonari wouldn't create a more testing racing evirnonment than Zemke, Yates and Duhamel.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Sep 5 2007, 01:22 AM) [snapback]88973[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Let me get this straight. Are you just hypothetically suggesting that a national series could in theory be better than a world championship, are you just trying to get a reaction or do you actually believe that AMA superbike is higher than the world championship?

I have to reply to this. I think that WSBk is the best superbike competition much better than AMA with some serious under achivers like Zemke comes to mind. If your a real racer it does not have anything to do with money but only being the best. I am a local club racer with aspirations to someday make it to AMA and have no problem making 0 bucks as long as I can race for aliving. Its that dream that keeps racers going. I know Spies wants to join MotoGP to be the best. Its about the glory and chasing the dream. AMA is not that glorious compared the the world championships.
Edit: If motocycling racing was just about money we would have one ...... sport. If you wanna be the best then you are not in it for the money.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Noodlerizer @ Sep 6 2007, 09:29 AM) [snapback]89222[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I have to reply to this. I think that WSBk is the best superbike competition much better than AMA with some serious under achivers like Zemke comes to mind. If your a real racer it does not have anything to do with money but only being the best. I am a local club racer with aspirations to someday make it to AMA and have no problem making 0 bucks as long as I can race for aliving. Its that dream that keeps racers going. I know Spies wants to join MotoGP to be the best. Its about the glory and chasing the dream. AMA is not that glorious compared the the world championships.
Edit: If motocycling racing was just about money we would have one ...... sport. If you wanna be the best then you are not in it for the money.


I'm glad we agree

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Noodlerizer @ Sep 6 2007, 04:29 AM) [snapback]89222[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I have to reply to this. I think that WSBk is the best superbike competition much better than AMA with some serious under achivers like Zemke comes to mind. If your a real racer it does not have anything to do with money but only being the best. I am a local club racer with aspirations to someday make it to AMA and have no problem making 0 bucks as long as I can race for aliving. Its that dream that keeps racers going. I know Spies wants to join MotoGP to be the best. Its about the glory and chasing the dream. AMA is not that glorious compared the the world championships.
Edit: If motocycling racing was just about money we would have one ...... sport. If you wanna be the best then you are not in it for the money.


As a retired F2 racer, I can tell you that when one is racing at the club level, filled with youthful enthusiasm, it's all about the glory and the competition, but as bills and injuries pile up, racers mature, have families etc; the room full of cheaply cast trophies and cheesy plaques become less meaningful and one requires a more substantial reward. Unless you're funded by your billionaire daddy, that means money. There's nothing sadder than brilliant racer with a living room full of trophies and zip in the bank. Understand, I'm not trying to sound jaded. It's not all about the money. But you have to figure, why does a Moto GP champ, on the tail of winning a world championship, all of a sudden jump to a team with a less successful bike for the coming season? It's for the M-O-N-E-Y. Why is Hopper leaving Suzuki (despite all his public commitment to stay with Suzuki rain or shine) right when the Suzukis have become ...-kicking, competitive GP bikes? It's 'cause he digs the company of them dead presidents.