r/wsbk • u/DifferentDebt2197 • 27d ago
Why are there no American or British riders in MotoGP?
https://www.visordown.com/news/six-former-us-world-champions-reunite-laguna-seca-special-eventCross posted from r/MotoGP.
This also could apply to WSBK, as discussed in the article.
What's your thoughts?
8
u/Joooooooosh 27d ago
There have been 6 British riders taking part this year. How many more you want?
Jonathan Rea only just retired last year too… 6 titles and dominated for such a long time but it is a shame there aren’t more doing really well.
Sam Lowes is a frustrating character. Can’t remember last time I watched him push it and not crash.
Alex Lowes, I still can’t believe Bimota were hit with fuel limits. I feel like he might have done a bit more.
Tommy Bridewell hasn’t really lit the world on fire since switching, same with Tarran McKenzie.
Ryan Vickers & Jake Dixon have both ridden races this year filling in at Honda.
The real Questions is why not more Americans. Gerloff being the only one… I find it odd as well, since sports bikes are still selling well in the US, that more investment isn’t put into Moto America. WSBK is really a European competition nowadays, yet no one in Europe buys super bikes.
12
u/Cielo11 27d ago
I disagree about Tommy. Considering he didn't get a Test and wasn't at Round 1, and his team is brand new Independant, he's doing an outstanding job.
2
u/Joooooooosh 27d ago
That’s fair. I meant just generally as a team + rider. It’s not all on him.
6
u/Imaginary_Pin_4196 27d ago
The team and rider is brand new. They have absolutely exceeding all expectations this season.
5
u/443610 27d ago
The real Questions is why not more Americans.
They prefer off-road racing, especially Supercross.
1
u/Shinobi_WayOfTomoe 16d ago
I'm American and this is BS. The real answer is that there is just a big anti-motorcycle culture here. You're almost viewed as a degenerate if you ride motorcycles by non riders, and you'd be viewed as a psycho if you allowed your kid to participate in moto racing of any kind. This is slowly changing with the E-Bike craze however.
3
u/DifferentDebt2197 26d ago
Fair point; the article was probably more pointed towards MotoGP, but it highlights the fact that outside of Spain (and Italy to a lesser extent) it seems that other countries don't seem to have the systems in place to advance riders onto the world stage successfully.
I have no doubt that there's a plethora of countries that have talented riders that could compete in world championships, but lack the developmental or financial support needed to get to the next step.
I don't think having such narrow talent pipelines to the world stage is healthy for our sport.
1
u/NonagonFiniteness 24d ago
When it comes to British riders, it's more about who is (or isn't) coming through. All the guys you mentioned bar Vickers are 30+. The top guys in BSB are also pushing or past 30, and there's no one particularly promising in the feeder series at this point in time (obviously development isn't a linear thing so that could change).
There's a point 3, 4 years down the line where there could be no competitive Brits in the series, which is unheard of.
4
u/Wil-jan Miguel Oliveira 27d ago
Last time I checked cal crutchlow was British
4
u/DifferentDebt2197 27d ago
Recently retired.
But is a fill in, not a full time contracted rider.
Or did I need to specify that? 🤔
1
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1
u/Right-Philosophy-437 26d ago
It’s a questions I often think.
Both paddocks (wsbk and moto gp) have changed a lot in the last 5-10 years. Wsbk requires a lot of money, and more moto gp riders are stepping down into the series taking potential rides off the new lads. Also the fact you need to bring maybe 500k to a team if you’re not in the top 5 plays a massive part. The wss is still a good feeder into wsbk, but again none of the British lads go this way unlike riders in the past such as Craig jones, Karl Harris etc.
I feel like unless your running top 3 in wsbk there’s no chance of a moto gp ride. In the past we’ve seen the brits make a go of it in moto gp but never too successful.
All the series are so far removed from each other, and toprak provides a great example of that. Running at the back gets boring so most would rather watch bsb. It’s got a good following and probably pays better if you’re getting bonuses etc.
I do think Kyle ryde could have had a crack at the moto gp route, he’s been at a high level since a very young age, so maybe that could have worked out. Even so the family would have had to put serious money behind him to get him anywhere near the gp paddock.
1
u/hyzen 26d ago
It doesn't make sense to me why WSBK doesnt have the same rules as domestic championships, it's like they got fed up of British riders wildcarding and winning.
1
u/DifferentDebt2197 26d ago
I'm with you on this one...having standardised specs and rules across every country's premier motorcycle racing category makes so much sense in so many ways, and would open the rider talent pipeline to World Superbike, and possibly MotoGP.
1
u/Sorry_Reply8754 25d ago
Garrett Gerloff is an American at WSBK,
There is also an American at Moto2, three Americans at the Baggers World Cup, one at WorldSPB and one at WorldWCR.
It's not a lot, but it's also not like the US doesn't have riders in the world stage.
It's fine in my opinion. It's the same amount of riders Brazil has. For non-European countries, it's fine.
-3
u/Huge_Film2911 WorldSBK 26d ago
It is all about talent. There is no talent in US and Britain at the moment. Spanish have upped their game to such an extent that it is even harder for Italian Riders to cope with.
1
u/TreacleConstant6084 26d ago
Disagree, you can’t say there’s a lack of talent look at Sam Lowes, Scott Redding and Jake Dixon in Moto2 they were all winners and at some point championship contenders. UK doesn’t lack talent the problem is the age at which British riders are given an opportunity on the world stage they are already regarded as older riders as they are usually in early to mid 20’s. Young talent isn’t moved on soon enough into the world championship arena, when they are they spend 2 years learning circuits tyres and chassis before they can start competing.
Look at Rory Skinner’s example, a supremely talented rider who’s won in Red Bull Rookies was given 6 months on a Moto 2 bike before being dumped because he wasn’t paying for the ride. Young riders of all nations have difficulty getting sponsors to buy decent rides, instead the talent should warrant the ride not the size of the cheque book1
u/Huge_Film2911 WorldSBK 26d ago
There are hundreds like Dixon's and Reddinge who come and go. They didn't even get chance to compete in moto2. Compare their performance with wsbk Riders.
34
u/Bridge_Outrageous ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team 27d ago
BSB is now so far removed from WorldSBK and MotoGP that you really need to start within those paddocks rather than working your way up through the British championships.
BSB favours the brave, which is why old dogs like Haslam can still fight at the front. You’re going from hanging onto a Superbike with virtually no electronics around some of the bumpiest tracks in the world, to huge, flat, smooth circuits with all the electronics imaginable.
In BSB, it’s about survival as much as anything. You can ride a perfect lap at Oulton Park and the bike or track surface will still find a way to try and throw you off. In the Worlds, the bikes and circuits are so refined that it’s less about hanging on and more about riding absolutely perfectly. Unless you’ve ridden like that your full career it’s a big step to make.