W.S.B = OLD men. WTF ? Where are the kids?

Question

Bayliss = 38

Corser = 36

Biaggi = 36

Kagayama = 33

Laconi = 32

Old mans sport ? Maybe?

I know with some riders they are like a good wine, they get better with age.

Doohan got better.

Ru$$ell got better.

Foggy got better.

Hislop got better.

Is it not time for a MotoGP style shake up on the cards ?

Look at the " kids " in the field this year, Bradley Smith is STILL only about 4 years old !!! LOL

Will olde school win this year ?

Answer 1

Racing was excellent in WSBK last year, so perhaps better with age ;)

At the minute, MotoGP riders seem to be the opposite (Capi, Barros, and dare I say Rossi (!) Maybe its because as Colin Edwards once said - Riding a superbike is like sitting on a sofa compared to a MotoGP bike (although this was a few seasons back) so maybe the "sofa" suits the old bones better and sets you up for retirement lol.

On a serious note though, all the kids want to be in MotoGP and there seems to be a better "schooling" system to work your way up from 125's - they'll have them signed up from nursery school soon. My 5 year old girl wants a yellow motorbike with 46 on it so look out for her in a few years lol!!!

Answer 2

I'm sticking with my Baylis Haga theory. I have no Idea what age has to do with it.

But as a comparison.. (without to much detail) I now drive 10 mph slower than I used to. when this gets down to (sammy Hagars I cant drive 55) I am taking the bus.  Strike that Im taking the Hearse.

Answer 3

There is some truth to what you're saying. I couldn't care less though. The racing in WSB in 2007 was awesome. Much more interesting than MotoGP.

I just hope Haga gets the title he deserves. The guy pushes hard. Quite often too hard. He pulled off some amazing wins last season.

I care about the competition. WSB competition is great these days. I don't care how old or young they are. They're all amazing riders.

Answer 4

I think you do get better with age. Not necessarily faster as such. Just wiser. But its a sad fact that the older the body, the longer it will take to heal. So I think the older riders have to take less risks out of necessity. (If they want to keep racing)

Bayliss could be the exception. He seems to have the mindset of a younger man. He's shown that he doesn't mind binning it and loosing the odd body part in the process.

This season I think he'll either win it or end up retiring early due to injury (although I hope the latter is not the case).

So yeh, this year will be old school. If its not Bayliss it'll be Haga, and he's no racing spiring chicken at 33.

Answer 5

Hey Wiggy

Whilst I do like to see a young gun strutting his stuff  (in more ways than one!) I too think that you can not knock experience over enthusiasm.

None of these guys would have made it there if they didn't have the balls and the heart to begin with, and to keep pushing as hard as they do, well played fella's!