RRW - The Rookie papers...what a disaster!

[Seesm]

I have to agree 100% with Berto... The AFM from what Ic an see has done shitf or promoting itself... The AFM wants as many racers in the club right? Promote the club.. Simple math IMO.

Jay is high yes I love that kid.. He is devote 2 -stroke boy so I love him for that too.

Alex I like Bobby and Safty First guys but the laps times DID NOT gte him his ride... His manager I suspect worked some folks and he is a great rider but i think the 600 championship, some great lap times and a great manager is what got him the ride.. It was not just "Wow thode are ok laps. let's sign him"

Btw Vanill "Wafer" as I call him Ice raced Honda MX in the late 80's as well... Claimed he was a former national champion till Racer x illustrated called him out on that. Decent guy we built a minibike for him two years ago... Loves to ride anything from what I could tell... I am not thinking (back to the AFM no promotion dealio) that the AFM woudl really spend alot promoting themselves.. what $1000 end of year ad and a few FREE press releases?

 

[Seesm]

DID you see that shit? 2 I mean 3 posts in a row... You think I could get a factory ride?

 

[Holeshot]

AHAHA! Robert Winkle? He tried to be a "pro" sitdown jetski racer until he was rumoured to have arranged his race rig to be stolen to get out of his contract.

Craig, Marashall actually seems to be a really cool guy...I was 100% wrong on him.

 

[Seesm]

I actually should have finished my thought on that whole deal... Serious he is all man in my book for just jumping on and speaking clear about what had gone on and such... Gruetter tore him a bit... Ouuchh.. I should have again finished my thoughts I got a bit carried away after all that reading... Sorry.

 

[2000yellow360]

Ah jeez Alex, you gave up way to easy and I thought you had more in ya

I think we all agree on one thing. Getting seat time is the most important thing for a young rider. Nothing is wrong with variety. We have an issue in the US in terms of exposure for young riders.

It would be nice if the AMA actually had a class more geared towards the younger, non factory backed riders. SB doesn't do it, supersport doesn't do it, F-Extreme is a little well, extreme for young riders (I am talking 12-15 year old young). We need something like a 125/250 (or 650) class for these young riders to get the exposure they need to move beyond the US boarders of racing.

John Ulrich does have connections with world level people who can help get riders into the FIM races, and he has done a lot for US racers. Kenny Roberts is starting to do that now (let's not count his kids ), and if Kevin Schwantz ends up as a team mananger for next year who knows what he could bring to the table in terms of US riders. If Freddie would stop thinking about himself ("When I raced, we did blah, blah, blah...") and maybe started to help grome some riders he could be a good resource as well. Hell, Keith Code is finally starting to help out in this area and he wasn't really ever a world champion, but he has a lot to offer in getting talented young riders moving beyond what a kid will get by doing some local club races where the press coverage is almost none.

The RebBull Rookie Cup isn't something new. yes it's something new for Americans, but it's been going on for a couple years now. One of the oringinal riders from it is actually riding in the 125 class. And the winners from this year have a chance to ride next year in the 125 class for some of the races. With that kind of exposure, you can only think that they could be noticed more so then racing at some cow pasture (or toxic waste dump) race tracks in the middle of no where USA.

At least the USGPRU is trying to do something for a national level amature race series to help riders get what is needed to become a possible pro-national or world champion. Can't knock-em for trying.

The reality of getting a profession ride is that you have to produce, race after race. If you aren't winning the Formula Extreme races, day in and day out, the odds someone will hire you for a professional ride is dim. Take a look at Rapp, Vincent, and a few others and you'll see that if you plan on being just a pavement racers, you'd better win. Riders who come up from other series have a different path to follow.

Let's face it: there are only about 20 decent paying jobs riding pavenment motorcycles in the US at this time. How many people are racing here, at least 10 - 20k, I suspect. Makes for a pretty tought job market.

I've represent more than a few of the professional riders, a few of the teams, and I think that I know a little about how this works. The teams select the fastest people they can, because those teams are graded on their performance.

Guys like JU look for talent. He also has people looking for talent. When he finds one fo them, he tries to advance their career. Has done just that for the last 20+ years. Racing is strickly merit. If you have the talent, and you are not a total moron, you stand a very good chance of getting a job, but you've got to have sufficient talent, and 99.9% of you don't (don't take that as a criticism, since I didn't either).

Art

 

[afmotorsports]

If you have the talent, and you are not a total moron, you stand a very good chance of getting a job, but you've got to have sufficient talent, and 99.9% of you don't (don't take that as a criticism, since I didn't either).

Ouch... yet so true.

I was just thinking of you the other day - some guy parked a brand new black Bugatti in front of my office in Los Gatos and I thought "hmmm, I wonder if Art is still driving those POS pasta cars, maybe he's ready for a Veyron..." :rofl:rofl Call me next time you're in the southbay and I'll buy you a beer (there's also a Lambo dealership a few door down).

 

[2000yellow360]

Ouch... yet so true.

I was just thinking of you the other day - some guy parked a brand new black Bugatti in front of my office in Los Gatos and I thought "hmmm, I wonder if Art is still driving those POS pasta cars, maybe he's ready for a Veyron..." :rofl:rofl Call me next time you're in the southbay and I'll buy you a beer (there's also a Lambo dealership a few door down).

Shit, I was there today. Driving a yellow 430, which replaced the 360. Alex, will see you at the first race of the season, just got Jeff a 1000.

Art