We all need a real champion
By TMX Archives on 3rd Sep 09
This week JD looks at people's champions, who when they go out to play, the paying public follow. It's also goodbye Mr Kurt.
TONI Cairoli, as our front page shouts, is the 2009 World MX1 champ, or 500cc world champ as it was in old money before those in charge started fiddling with the classes for whatever political ends you choose to believe in.
I'm happy for Cairoli as champ although I'm well aware that possibly not everyone feels that way. There are those who reckon that the Italian is far too aggressive and that he has no need to make as much contact with his rivals as he does at times when it comes to overtaking. And the stewards have had ‘words' with him (among others) this season regarding just that point. Mainly it is the fans of the riders, who come off second best in these encounters, who do all the complaining of course! As ever, they are strangely quiet when the boot is on the other foot. Which isn't often with Cairoli!
Personally, I feel that motocross has an awful lot to be thankful for that Cairoli is currently doing what he does so well. In these times of dwindling crowds the Italian ace is one of very few riders who are a genuine guaranteed spectator draw. In a nutshell, tell me that Toni Cairoli is on the racecard and I will bust a gut to make sure I'm there.
In reality there are precious few riders currently around who have that special kind of magnetism. His hard-charging, relentless riding reflects his sheer energy and willpower, not to mention raw talent, forcing the bike around any given track as fast as is humanly possible.
Most individual riders have their fans but how many competitors really have that universal appeal, the kind with the personality to quite literally add thousands to a paying gate? Currently, I'm going with Cairoli, Stewart and Villopoto. A short sharp list for sure and I don't expect everyone to agree with it. But if it comes to getting up early Sunday, driving a couple of hundred miles and handing over a shedload of money for the privilege of standing in a field watching motorcycles racing off-road, these guys do it for me.
Others come close: Billy MacKenzie is actually of that ilk. He is brave, fast and spectacular but one who too often falls just short of delivering the end result. But he's always exciting to watch. And I like Shaun Simpson for his sheer speed. And Brad Anderson for his blood and guts never-say-die attitude. And for the future? Teenager Ken Roczen is certainly in that category.
Sport needs these individual characters; you might love to hate some of them but the world would be much the poorer without them. Who'd want motorcycle sport to be like womens tennis with an endless production line of faceless, expressionless, personality-less eastern bloc ‘ovas and ‘evas? In our case we just can't afford to carry those just turning-up to collect their start money any more.
Sport needs its individuals. Golf has Tiger Woods, a man who can command a million dollars a day appearance money. MotoGP has Valentino Rossi and athletics has just struck pure gold with the arrival of the phenomenon that is Usain Bolt. Bolt can fill any previously almost-empty athletics stadium on his own. His impact on the sport is unparalleled and if you believe the press (as if!) every kid in Jamaica is now busy running flat-out down the beach instead of hitting a cricket ball as they did previously. Such is the power of personality. Embrace it – don't knock it – and salute Cairoli the King!
Talking of MotoGP how many of you have noticed Japanese ace Hiroshi Aoyama leading the doomed 250cc class on guess what – a Honda two-stroke. The 250 GP class is doomed because two-strokes have been dealt the death knell (where have we heard this before?) and it is no secret that Honda leads the way when it comes to killing-off the two-stroke.
So, it comes as some surprise to see a factory Honda two-stroke leading the field in a World Championship. And much as the TV commentators would have you believe that no development work has been done on this bike I really don't think it would be running with the factory Aprilias (whatever they are badged) if it hadn't been for a serious trip through the development shop. Sadly, I don't expect anything will ultimately come of this other than a belated ‘Last (two-stroke) Hurrah' for Honda which is somewhat surprising to say the least, having led the charge to kill them off. Oh, the 250GP class has been replaced by a new GP600 class in which all bikes will run 600cc four-cylinder motors – supplied by Guess Who!
Sad to see Kurt Nicoll leave KTM (page 2) and no doubt we will all have our pet theories as to the reasons for his leaving.
Kurt has been in America for several years now heading-up Team Orange but I have to say, when he was in Europe I always found Kurt very approachable, helpful and a pleasure to work with. I'd say it was KTM's loss.