Ben Spies. F%^K YEAH! and maybe some spoilers

[Speeddog]

Well, if they've got sponsorship from an ED medication company, it'd make sense.

[gm2]

It all starts innocuously by tagging adjectives to your names. Before you know it it's snowballed into bedazzled jackets and post win celebrations. BE AFRAID. 

[Spidey]

http://crash.net/motogp/news/167199/1/cal_crutchlow_praises_phenomenal_ben_spies.html

Cal Crutchlow:  “If you put everything into perspective and look at Ben he is superior to really everyone else who has come into MotoGP in recent years,” said Crutchlow, speaking exclusively to Crash.net.

Really?  "Superior?"  I'll wait til the end of this season to make the call, but George (despite the fact that he steals breast milk from babies) and Casey both make a pretty strong case.

[mitt]

http://crash.net/motogp/news/167199/1/cal_crutchlow_praises_phenomenal_ben_spies.html

Cal Crutchlow:  “If you put everything into perspective and look at Ben he is superior to really everyone else who has come into MotoGP in recent years,” said Crutchlow, speaking exclusively to Crash.net.

Really?  "Superior?"  I'll wait til the end of this season to make the call, but George (despite the fact that he steals breast milk from babies) and Casey both make a pretty strong case.

Yea I agree - there have been a lot of really good riders come into motogp in recent years, so the praise needs to be reserved until he actually does something and then repeats.  I think that the current aliens are still in a league of their own.

mitt

[zooom]

question is this...the "aliens" were in what place at the end of their rookie years?

[Jester]

question is this...the "aliens" were in what place at the end of their rookie years?

Pedrosa - 5th factory bike
Stoner - 8th satellite bike
Rossi - 2nd pseudo factory bike
Lorenzo - 4th factory bike

[gm2]

so, 'superior' to half of them?

there's also a lot to be said about the fact that all of those guys came from the GP support classes.

[Spidey]

there's also a lot to be said about the fact that all of those guys came from the GP support classes.

Absolutely.  The others knew the tracks and were familiar with the GP's required 250-esque riding style (doesn't apply to Casey's rookie year, but he was only on the 990 for 1 year.  Well, 1/2 year.  The other half, he was in the gravel).  To be sure, given all the new stuff The Ben had to deal with, everyone acknowledges that already showed everyone something in his rookie year.

But there's no way to make an apples-to-apples comparison, and he hasn't done anything so head and shoulders above the others that I'd go out on a limb and say he is "superior."  Then again, one of the reasons I like Cal so much is that he talks out of his ass.  He'll be good for sound bytes, that's for such.  They should call Tech 3 "Team Shittalkers."

[Cider]

Nothing against Cal, but my first impression was that he's setting expectations.  Namely that Ben is something special, so don't get upset when he doesn't accomplish the same thing on the same bike.

Bah, I'm a Laverty fan anyways

[gm2]

Bah, I'm a Laverty fan anyways

..however i do like Cal.  and his gf.

[derby]

...and his gf.

[Spidey]

and his gf.

[mitt]

so, 'superior' to half of them?

there's also a lot to be said about the fact that all of those guys came from the GP support classes.

Versus the Ben who came in on the best bike his first year after riding on the factory team of the same company the year before etc etc.  You can argue it either way.


mitt

[gm2]

Versus the Ben who came in on the best bike his first year after riding on the factory team of the same company the year before etc etc.  You can argue it either way.


mitt

nevermind the 'best bike' thing (can you say that about the tech 3 version?  who knows..) but i don't think you can underestimate the advantage those who came up through the support classes have.  125/250 is a completely different riding style and feeds directly into how to ride an 800, which is why i think Dorna wanted it in the first place.  those that came up riding superbikes frequently have a very hard time adjusting.  plus, the bridgestones are verrry different than the pirellis.

i'm not necessarily agreeing whole hog with Cal but i don't think you can call 1 season in wsbk = 1 title and then a pole and 2 podiums in your rookie GP year, on a satellite bike, anything short of amazing.  and the R1 was brand new!  how many poles or races have they won since?  2?

if you add in the fact that coming from the AMA (supposedly*) means you're coming from an inferior national series to the world stage, cal is even closer to right.



*i don't really think so, only because of mladin.

[gm2]

no, i did not make this.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59143308@N05/5530456464/#