Bradley Smith... real deal?

He confuses me. He is fast yet inconsistent yet smart and controlled
at times.

So do we think he is an evolving supertalent, as many In Spain think?
Shouldn't he be there in 125 there right now then? Will he do better
on bigger bikes?

 

Well, I think for us Brits, we dare not hope. Each time we think we've
got the next big thing since Barry Sheene, we're let down. Although this
time, it's encouraging that the Spanish rate him too.

For me though, it seems that he needs to improve his fighting spirit. He
doesn't get stuck in at the start which can leave him with too much to
make up when he decides to get going.

When Pedrosa was in 125/250 he was usually fast but rarely fought for his
wins. Now he's going to end up 4th. Going down!

 

I admit that as a young teen, I was a passionate first hand witness to
the Sheene vs Roberts battles, never losing hope and conviction Sheene
was the cooler guy despite Roberts' ability to beat him (superior
Yamaha machinist and Carruthers, unfair and all :-D)... and ever since
the nature of British riders and their results have puzzled me. Is
there a Sheene jinx? I mean, there have been immensely talented guys
performing amazing feats that subsequently seem to loose their edge
and passion when they cross over. What happened to Haslam... oh and
others...

It is his consistency that worries me - and it may be related to what
you say. If he is not one of the fastest in practice he seems to
indeed settle, or go bonkers and crash out repeatedly. That is why his
performances confuse me. His raw talent is clear. His ability to
approach races with the required ultra-cool methodology isn't yet
(Sheene learned it later in his career and then came the Silverstone
crash into Middleburgh(?)).

Pedrosa should not be the benchmark. I think he is like Criville,
starting as a talent and having fun but ultimately hating where he is
at and the pressure of it all. He is not having fun. It is just what
he does quite competently, but without the ultimate passion for it.

 

He's not the only one (in all classes) to be inconsistent. And I think
the apparent inconsistency is made more obvious by Julian Simon's
dominance.

But then I think something has happened this year. The level of quality
at the top of almost every championship has now reached a pitch where
there's a whole group of riders just off the top who in previous years
would have been solid winners. Look back on history and we expected
championships to be won by people who had 3 wins, 3 podiums, a 7th or so
and 3 DNFs. Now we expect our winners to get 10 wins, 5 podium and 1
DNF. Anything less than that and we call them inconsistent.

There was an interview with Corser where he said "we're not doing so
badly. Our race times would have won last year" And yet BMW and Corser
look like they're struggling and irrelevant because he's only really
managed to get 7th through 15th places.

I think Bradley has the raw ability. And even though he's got Randy
Mamola in his camp, I think he needs a manager who can bring out the
best in him and teach him how to race. I really don't know how far he
can go.

 

A very sensible view.

That said, I hope that MotoGP also recruits riders that simply look
spectacular in the supporting categories (let us not forget Stoner did
lose the 250 to Pedrosa, and see how sweetly that tables have turned
in MotoGP). I look forward to more of Smith, he can definitely do
amazing things on a bike when he is *on*.

 

I'm a bit younger and didn't grow up on a diet of Sheene et al, but it
seems that every emerging talent is dumped on as being the next Sheene.
Quite frankly I'm sick of hearing the label.

[Smith]

Sunday for me again showed his lack of fight. Why didn't he try up the
inside of Simon on the last corner? Maybe he was too far back, the
camera angle didn't help, but from the shadows it looked like he could
have tried. Maybe they'd have both run wide, but with the lead they had
it wouldn't have mattered.

He needs to fire Puig.

Did you read the interview in El País with Pedrosa and Rossi? Certainly
showed him in a different light and his mindset was something that he
touched upon in the interview.

Like Fogarty? He always said he never really liked racing, just enjoyed
winning.

I'd like to see what Scott Redding could do on a top factory bike. He
is supposed to be the real deal according to those that know such
things. I'd say the same about Marquez and Folger as well.