‘Bradley needs to make his move’
The curly-haired wonder has to keep his eyes on the world stage
Ilike Bradley Ray. He’s impressed me this year. But is it already too late for him though? It depends what his aspirations are. Does he want to be BSB champion? WSB champion? MotoGP champion? If he wants to make it in MotoGP, he needs to make that move as soon as possible. Where he goes next is key. He’s too tall for Moto2, I think. He’d have to go straight to MotoGP if he went that way! It’s hard for young British racers. The timing has to be right and there are only a few select teams you want to be in at World Superbike level as there’s only a handful with bikes good enough. If you’re not on the Kawasaki or Ducati, would you want to be in WSB at the minute?
I guess the racing is closer this year, but the other teams still have a way to go if they are going to catch up.
Bradley has to go somewhere, but he’s young so he can always come back if he needs to. He’s been brilliant for British Superbikes. He’s proper quirky and I love that. His team boss Stuart Hicken is steering him along, and it’s working. I liked working with Stuart, he is fair, straight and gets the best out of his riders. He got the best out of me in 2004 that’s for sure (I won three TTs that year).
But the youngster has to tread his path carefully and make the right choices because there’s he might only one chance. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with BSB. You can earn good money there! I’d sooner be on a competitive BSB bike than getting smoked in WSB. People have done it before from BSB: check out Cal Crutchlow! He was winning BSB races and then he won WSS and went to MotoGP. Sam Lowes is another. It’s possible but he has to move up as soon as the opportunity arrives.
‘HE’S PROPER QUIRKY AND I LOVE THAT’