‘British riders don’t lack talent’
Once, very long ago, British riders dominated the premier grand prix class. That ended way back in 1981, with Sheene’s last win. Adam and the Ants were in the hit parade. Remember them?
In numbers, that was Britain’s 135th win (the total now 138). Spain (144 now) had zero; the USA (154 now) just three, and the current leaders Italy (238 now) lagged on 93. No wonder national excitement flares and statistics get fresh airings with Cal Crutchlow, the first British winner since Sheene and the first on an (almost) full-factory bike since Ron Haslam or Niall Mackenzie a whole generation ago. There are manifold reasons for the gulf between Britain and grand prix racing, and I don’t believe it is a lack of talent.
One was the switch to fourstrokes for national racing in the 1980s. This brought successes galore in World Superbikes, but while US riders managed to climb off the ‘diesels’ and onto two-stroke GP bikes, British riders didn’t. The most plangent example is Carl Fogarty. There was no question about the four-times WSB champ’s ability. He wanted to do GPs, but he just never got a decent chance. Since then, with rare exception, Britons have been content with what was already a second-string series, and is currently being made all the more so, as current owners Dorna deliberately devalue its status in order to emphasise the superiority of MotoGP. Cal did escape, and landed in the right place. “I had the determination, and took the chance when I needed to,” he says.
He was shocked by the hike in standards, compared with World Superbikes. He’d not thought much of Toni Elias, then struggling somewhat. “Then in my first test he came past me and in three laps I couldn’t see him. In my first year I wanted to go back to WSB for an easier life. Then I had a big argument with [team boss] Herve at Laguna, and my attitude changed.” Many of today’s young coming guys came through the Red Bull Rookies Cup, and more recently the Shell Asia Talent Cup. This year the British Talent Cup is getting going, and could make a difference.
But what of Bradley Ray, himself a successful Rookies Cup graduate and BSB charger on a GSX-R? Suzuki have proved reluctant to use him as a replacement rider, preferring old-timer Guintoli; and his chances of a seat in the expected satellite team are slender.
‘Ray’s chances of a satellite seat are slender’