patnicholls
4th January 2007, 21:09
Let's have a shamelessly patriotic thread...
How do you reckon the guys from your country are going to do on the world stage this year?
-------------
For me, Britain has a fairly large crop of talent on the grid this season so far in comparison with recent years. I won't included any 'honourary Brits' as they're known, which includes Yukio, Troy B, Chris V, and anyone else who's ever raced in a British Championship as that would mean about half the grid :p :
MotoGP
Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor)
-Surely going to be a year of trying hard but little reward for Jezza on the Ilmor, which looked quite neat until the big boys brought out all their 800c bikes and it now looks like back-of-the-grid fodder. That said, he's well versed in racing odd bikes to their limits (TSR Honda 250, Aprilia 500-twin, Proton V3, Buell AMA Supersport bike) so you know he'll give his best. It is likely to meet with little success though and points will be a struggle.
250
Eugene Laverty (LCR Honda)
-Surely a golden chance to impress for the young Irish rider who was right at the top of the British Supersport championship in '06 until and then after he got injured. He's fast and this is a BIG chance for him to get noticed with a team who know what they're doing. Would certainly hope he'd be in the top eight or ten at least.
Dan Linfoot (Winona Aprilia)
Kev Coghlan (Winona Aprilia)
-Dan Linfoot ran a Winona Honda last year to gain experience both of the circuits and riding a 250 altogether. With a change to the preferred Aprilia and greater experience for rider and team, hopefully things can improve from last year and get the guys nearer the pace. Kev Coghlan comes from a competitive season in the Spanish CEV 125 series which is the place to be for a young rider. It may be a struggle to get regular top 10s but I'd really love this team to do well and get in the points as often as possible, as they're a British-orientated team which has to be good news for guys coming up from the UK.
125
Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda)
-Second year in the class for last season's Rookie of the year and the prospects are good. He got more and more on the pace last season and was a regular good points runner by the end. With some good winter testing, fitness work (last season he did look a bit like he'd just emerged from the womb :D ) and now two competitive new team-mates (Esteve Rabat and Stefan Bradl) in the top Honda team in 125s, there's pressure to perform but he looks like he should be up to the task. I'd certainly hope he'd score some top 5s throughout the year.
Danny Webb (Molenaar Honda)
-Another graduate from the Spanish CEV 125 championship, formerly part of the Repsol Academy set-up. Again a young talent but the Molenaar squad have been largely at the back of the pack in recent years so I'm expecting it to be slim pickings for Danny I'm afraid. Would be impressed to see him get into the points.
WSB
James Toseland (Ten Kate Honda)
-JT had probably his best season last year despite finishing second, as the field was that much stronger than 2004. He certainly answered most of the critics who'd said he was a one-hit wonder and was comfortably the top Honda rider. I'm hoping he'll continue winning races in 2007 and take the fight to Troy, Max and the rest.
Dean Ellison (Pedercini Ducati)
-A very odd choice considering a truly dire 2006 in BSB with a team who didn't seem to have the resources to compete and virtually no results. He's had his moments over the years in BSB but never any podiums, and the Pedercini team are loveable but unlikely to be upsetting the factory big boys. Expect a struggle but any results will be very welcome.
A quick mention should also go to two exiles from the scene, James Ellison (AMA Superbike - Corona Honda) and Chaz Davies (AMA Supersport and FExtreme - Celtic Yamaha). James is likely to find things hard going I suspect but Chaz should impress a fair few people with a well clued-up team.
plus Neil Hodgson remains unemployed for now, and Craig Jones is rumoured to be racing WSS with Ekerold Honda who were the top team in British Supersport for the past two years.
So yeah, we've got a few Brits out there! Then there's the BSB lot! :)
How do you reckon the guys from your country are going to do on the world stage this year?
-------------
For me, Britain has a fairly large crop of talent on the grid this season so far in comparison with recent years. I won't included any 'honourary Brits' as they're known, which includes Yukio, Troy B, Chris V, and anyone else who's ever raced in a British Championship as that would mean about half the grid :p :
MotoGP
Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor)
-Surely going to be a year of trying hard but little reward for Jezza on the Ilmor, which looked quite neat until the big boys brought out all their 800c bikes and it now looks like back-of-the-grid fodder. That said, he's well versed in racing odd bikes to their limits (TSR Honda 250, Aprilia 500-twin, Proton V3, Buell AMA Supersport bike) so you know he'll give his best. It is likely to meet with little success though and points will be a struggle.
250
Eugene Laverty (LCR Honda)
-Surely a golden chance to impress for the young Irish rider who was right at the top of the British Supersport championship in '06 until and then after he got injured. He's fast and this is a BIG chance for him to get noticed with a team who know what they're doing. Would certainly hope he'd be in the top eight or ten at least.
Dan Linfoot (Winona Aprilia)
Kev Coghlan (Winona Aprilia)
-Dan Linfoot ran a Winona Honda last year to gain experience both of the circuits and riding a 250 altogether. With a change to the preferred Aprilia and greater experience for rider and team, hopefully things can improve from last year and get the guys nearer the pace. Kev Coghlan comes from a competitive season in the Spanish CEV 125 series which is the place to be for a young rider. It may be a struggle to get regular top 10s but I'd really love this team to do well and get in the points as often as possible, as they're a British-orientated team which has to be good news for guys coming up from the UK.
125
Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda)
-Second year in the class for last season's Rookie of the year and the prospects are good. He got more and more on the pace last season and was a regular good points runner by the end. With some good winter testing, fitness work (last season he did look a bit like he'd just emerged from the womb :D ) and now two competitive new team-mates (Esteve Rabat and Stefan Bradl) in the top Honda team in 125s, there's pressure to perform but he looks like he should be up to the task. I'd certainly hope he'd score some top 5s throughout the year.
Danny Webb (Molenaar Honda)
-Another graduate from the Spanish CEV 125 championship, formerly part of the Repsol Academy set-up. Again a young talent but the Molenaar squad have been largely at the back of the pack in recent years so I'm expecting it to be slim pickings for Danny I'm afraid. Would be impressed to see him get into the points.
WSB
James Toseland (Ten Kate Honda)
-JT had probably his best season last year despite finishing second, as the field was that much stronger than 2004. He certainly answered most of the critics who'd said he was a one-hit wonder and was comfortably the top Honda rider. I'm hoping he'll continue winning races in 2007 and take the fight to Troy, Max and the rest.
Dean Ellison (Pedercini Ducati)
-A very odd choice considering a truly dire 2006 in BSB with a team who didn't seem to have the resources to compete and virtually no results. He's had his moments over the years in BSB but never any podiums, and the Pedercini team are loveable but unlikely to be upsetting the factory big boys. Expect a struggle but any results will be very welcome.
A quick mention should also go to two exiles from the scene, James Ellison (AMA Superbike - Corona Honda) and Chaz Davies (AMA Supersport and FExtreme - Celtic Yamaha). James is likely to find things hard going I suspect but Chaz should impress a fair few people with a well clued-up team.
plus Neil Hodgson remains unemployed for now, and Craig Jones is rumoured to be racing WSS with Ekerold Honda who were the top team in British Supersport for the past two years.
So yeah, we've got a few Brits out there! Then there's the BSB lot! :)