Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

Shame really as it would have been good to see another top rider capable of race wins to add to the other 4.

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I can't work the bloke out. You can't be that good at a sport then quit. You speak to anyone who has been competing and they always want to carry on.

Kwacky wrote:I can't work the bloke out. You can't be that good at a sport then quit. You speak to anyone who has been competing and they always want to carry on.

Having kids affects everyone differently, he denies that was the reason, but I'd say it had a lot to do with it.

Pussy! He wants to come round to my house, he'd back on that track faster than Marquez!

Since I've had mine I've wanted to spend more time out of the house

I guess with my fly in fly out work and spending 3 weeks away from them I appreciate my time with them a lot more than I did. The big smiles and cuddles when I get back are the best thing ever. Nothing worse than been offshore and they are having dramas and you can't be there to help.

I'm joking. I love the little buggers. But surely a racer gets to spend more time with their kids than us ordinary folk?

I'm not joking, but then I have been on my own with 4 of them for 4 fecking days!

Monty yesterday

Kwacky wrote:I'm joking. I love the little buggers. But surely a racer gets to spend more time with their kids than us ordinary folk?

Oh I didn't think you or Monty were serious by any means and there are plenty of times I wanna throttle my pair. But all I meant was being away from them has made me more aware of enjoying my time with them. If they are making me pull my hair out, I use a bit of mindfulness and remember what it feels like when I'm offshore and missing them.

As for Stoner, I couldn't imagine dragging a baby/young child around the GP circuit, or flying back between races for fleeting visits. I know there have been racers before that manage it but I'm not sure how. Not pretending that this is his sole reason, just reckon it's likely to have been a factor.

Regardless of his reasons I think it's a real shame he's not racing. He may be lacking a personality but as a racer he's pretty special. I would have loved to have seen him on a bike last season.

Kwacky wrote:Regardless of his reasons I think it's a real shame he's not racing. He may be lacking a personality but as a racer he's pretty special. I would have loved to have seen him on a bike last season.

Totally agree with you there. I was never a major fan of his, but supported him being patriotic of an Australasian rider. But the year I went to Phillip Island and saw him ringing the neck of the Ducati, it was obvious he was riding the full 10/10's, and a step up over the other riders. After that I had a lot more respect for him.

The antithesis of James Hunt perhaps?? They both came and proved they could be the best, and then walked away from it all....I can respect that.

As has already been said....having kids makes a huge difference. He had absolutely nothing left to prove. Don't forget either that he retired at the end of the season that took Simoncelli's life in such an unexpected fashion.

I've just finished his auto bio. He didn't like the way the sport was going. He wasn't keen on the CRT introduction, felt it devalued the premier class. Also his whole life from about 3-4 (he was riding at 2) being world champ was his goal. He did that twice, and he and his family sacrificed a lot to get him there. He likes the quiet country life and has bought the property he learnt to ride on. And quiet literally has "gone fishing"

I get his bLogs on FB, and I agree, he has been doing it since before he could walk, a great talent, who seems to have a great deal of other things going on in his life as well as the bikes, they have just become less of a priority. All of which he seems to be bloody good at.
He seems to have a personality from what I am reading, maybe it is now able to get out following the reduced pressures of not being at the top of moto gp.

Always liked Casey. Would have loved to see him and Marquez race as team mates in the factory repsol team.