Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Joined Jul 2015
812 Posts | 336+
Hurricane, WV
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Maybe Yamaha wanted to gauge your worth Pol. If they give you Rossi's bike and you beat Bradley, how do we know it not the bike? This way, equal equipment guarantees Yamaha a good idea how you stack up. And the verdict is, you're not as good as Smith.
I have an idea, tell Yamaha you will work for free. And then whatever they were going to pay you, have them put it into the equipment. Then tweet it, so we know that you are riding for free.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Just another rider who can't adapt. The racing world is flush with good riders, the truly special ones are the ones who adapt to their circumstances. Sounds like he wants Yamaha to change the best bike in the paddock to suit his style, which if you remember, he was wanting exactly that from day one.
Didn't Smith(smartly) get it out in his contract that he gets whatever Pol gets? I see his frustrations but whinging that Smith has the same bike as him makes him come off like a ..... Vinaeles also finished 6th this year his rookie year after only 1 year in moto2 and I would bet most of my savings that a satellite Yamaha was a better more sorted bike than the 2015 Suzuki.
Joined Nov 2015
242 Posts | 144+
Australia
Joined Oct 2012
3K Posts | 725+
Crab Key
I agree with the sentiment, but if Yamaha doesn't want to give him upgrades, money isn't likely to help.
As Burning B said, putting your head down and getting results is the way to get their attention (and parts)
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
He's had 2 years, Yamaha know what we already know in that he's going to do the same as people like Bradl..just not develop.
Lorenzo, Stoner, Simoncelli. Just 3 riders who mode big improvements in their second season, Pol will never get a factory Yam, he will never win a race and I'll bet he may never get another podium.
Rins, Vinales, Zarco...just some of the sharks circling.
Lorenzo, Stoner, Simoncelli. Just 3 riders who mode big improvements in their second season, Pol will never get a factory Yam, he will never win a race and I'll bet he may never get another podium.
Rins, Vinales, Zarco...just some of the sharks circling.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
#22...I very much agree with your assessment....but all the three you mention (JLo, Stoner, Sic) didnt come from Moto2 they all came from 250 racing....
I said a while it a go, every rider except Marquez to come from Moto2 has not been successful...the most successful after Marques is Smith...and the least successful in terms of podiums is Pol.....
My point is Moto2 is not a good class for preparing riders for MotoGP.....and I think even Honda agree hence why they brought Miller straight up from Moto3.....
Yes, Vinales was in Moto2 and he is going great on the Suzuki....but he did the smart thing and did a year....learned it was a waste of time and left the class.....I hope Dani Kent does the same....
As for Pol, he should go back down to Moto2 in 2017 or join Bradl on the Aprilia....Pol can complain all he likes but with no results...his words are just hot spanish air.....
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Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
Ideally Smith will get offered a factory ride on the Suzuki or KTM for 2017.....One of the two seats there will be vacant, if not both, and Smith could do well for them....
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Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
I must admit, I have never been a huge fan of Smith. However, he has grown on me and impressed me both on and off the circuit. He's made no excuses, admitted he was messing up in 2014 then came back with a stellar demonstration of grit and perseverance last year.
I'd pick him over the whinging "I won a Moto2 Title" Pol.
I'd pick him over the whinging "I won a Moto2 Title" Pol.
Pol actually went backwards last year whereas Smith's results and consistency have improved each season and the next best non-factory rider last season was Cal Crutchlow who finished more than 50 points behind Smith.
I never used to like Smith myself but the lad has grown on me with his honesty and professionalism. He seems to want to work for it as opposed to throwing his team under a bus like some others out there.
I never used to like Smith myself but the lad has grown on me with his honesty and professionalism. He seems to want to work for it as opposed to throwing his team under a bus like some others out there.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
Lets be honest....Smith didnt deserve the ride on the Tech 3 team when he was given it in 2013....however he has more than earned it....
Completely agree I was as skeptical as anyone when he got the ride but I'm happy to be proved wrong.
Joined Nov 2015
130 Posts | 67+
Seattle
I agree with the previous sentiments that Smith didn't deserve his Tech 3 ride when he got it, but now he has mostly proven me and others who share that opinion quite wrong.
Pol does sound a little ridiculous with his comments, I have to say. I think the difference between a whiner and someone with valid complaints (in MotoGP) comes down to whether they are a winner or not. When Stoner complained, I listened because he could ride the hell out of his bike more often than not. Pol was fun to watch on the lower class bikes, but not so much in MotoGP.
(on a sidenote) To be honest, the whole public display of brotherly love between Pol and Aleix always creeped me out. Once the motogp.com camera was going around the paddock during a break between the moto3 and moto2 races, and it stopped on the Espargaro brothers. I can't remember who was sitting in whose lap, but one of them was sitting in the other's lap, and they were hugging and making kissy faces at the camera. But for some reason, that always made me have a revulsion for Pol, but just feel bad for Aleix. So I still like to see Aleix race, but I'm always annoyed when Pol gets any camera time whatsoever. Don't ask me why.
Pol does sound a little ridiculous with his comments, I have to say. I think the difference between a whiner and someone with valid complaints (in MotoGP) comes down to whether they are a winner or not. When Stoner complained, I listened because he could ride the hell out of his bike more often than not. Pol was fun to watch on the lower class bikes, but not so much in MotoGP.
(on a sidenote) To be honest, the whole public display of brotherly love between Pol and Aleix always creeped me out. Once the motogp.com camera was going around the paddock during a break between the moto3 and moto2 races, and it stopped on the Espargaro brothers. I can't remember who was sitting in whose lap, but one of them was sitting in the other's lap, and they were hugging and making kissy faces at the camera. But for some reason, that always made me have a revulsion for Pol, but just feel bad for Aleix. So I still like to see Aleix race, but I'm always annoyed when Pol gets any camera time whatsoever. Don't ask me why.
Joined Jan 2011
3K Posts | 152+
The North!
Exactly why didn't Smith deserve the Tech3 ride?
From what I remember It was Herve himself that asked him to do time on a piece of .... minstral chassis that had fcuk all chance of winning in Moto2 and wasn't developed/changed the entire time he rode it. His Dad told me in the paddock Jerez 2011 "the bike wants to kill him". Yet he put it on the podium on at least one occasion from memory.
Yet no-one else has or ever will IMO
I thought he deserved his seat because he did what was asked of him previously to getting it,
But I wasn't so sure about last season however the kid did good.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
This is exactly what Willski told me, which opened my eyes. I had erroneously had the opinion that Bradley didn't deserve it either, but I was basing it only on 'results'. After I was told this I looked deeper into it and I realized I hadn't made an assessment based on what the lad had at his disposal.
I don't think Pol should be whining either given the fact he has twice got to enjoy being signed to a contract before the guy leading him in results. Pol got signed early on allowing him to concentrate on his program. Meanwhile Bradley had to do his best while thinking about his future, which was still up in the air.
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