Geoff May and a factory ride

[hdpromos]

I had a lot stronger language in mind for fourandsix but I had to restrain myself. It is very obvious that this guy doesn't know "raw talent" when it's right in front of him! Nobody said Geoff May beat the factory guys. What he did was prove that he is the best of the rest and he did it on very inferior equipment. If this guy  doesn't think much of the talent in that class that is not factory, than he backs up what I call him! Geoff May has been praised by his fellow competitors (factory, satellite and privateer). And as for you Mr. fourandsix, you are none of the above and you can take that to the bank, you fool! ::)

HD

[Super Dave]

nice perspective.

If I had the same financial backing I would provide a program for many privateers so they can have mroe support.

Well, first...

Would just money help someone?

I'll answer.  No.

Do you know what to spend money on...really?

Reality is that the Jordan team had options on who could have supported their program at the ground level.  Building bikes, telling a rider what was expected of them, what they should be doing, etc.

Their "experience" led them to a decision...

Could the Jordan team have selected a second option that would have given the rider they chose a better opportunity for learning?  I mean, let's be honest...how much experience did Tez have in the arena that he was in?  Almost none.  There are people in this industry that might have given him much better guidance.  Maybe someone with twenty years of experience running teams, riders, etc.

Back to Geoff...

Seems like a good guy.

Someone correct me, but I know that he has some very direct support from Suzuki.  Who's payin' for your mechanics?  He's got one.

I think Robert Jensen was in this quandry a couple of years ago.  He finished as high as second in an individual AMA Superstock event.  Additionally, his overall finishes were very good for the season.

No offers.

Well, it cost him like $70k to do the series, tearing his motors down on the road between races.  All for what...well, he wasn't makin' his $70k back.  

So, he started racing for Yamaha and Suzuki money.  Made a decent financial living the past couple of years.  Not an easy living.  When he and I talked in July at MAM, he hadn't been home since April.  

The question has to be:  what are you trying to accomplish?  Yeah, if you're a Hayden, Janisch, or a DiSalvo...maybe you're young enough that you can get an opportunity...if you're hungry enough and willing to work with your team, and on your own.  There certainly aren't any guaruntees.

If you're a few years older...well, why not race for contingency money.

I hear people complaining about "those guys" taking "our contingency money".  Right.

Who's money?  Hey, Suzuki, Honda, MZ, Yamaha, and who ever is putting the money up.  It's there for the taking for the guy that finishes first or how ever far down it pays.  

Haven't I said that there's no affirmitive action in racing?

I made the same point to Robbie Jensen at MAM...I should just kick his butt off and take the money.  Intially, he took it as some kind of insult, but then he realized the wisdom in what I was saying...it's my responsibility to go faster than him...he's at the top of his game.  Up to me to set up my bike, get myself in order in one way or another to win.

Geoff's a good guy.  Fast guy.  So, what's next?

Does anyone in their right mihgt think that he thinks that he's "fast enough"?  Doubt it.

Anyone think that Rossi thinks to himself that he's "fast enough"?  Doubt it.

So goes the cycle.

Motivation goes a long way too.  

When you've got blinders on looking at yourself for so long...you know what you're doing...but what more can you do?  Do you go find someone else to help you think differently?  Do you look for different opportunities?  Are you really motivated to go faster...or are you going "fast enough"?

Would you know what "faster" even looked like?

I'm sure there are maybe a very tiny hand full of people that even recognize the small nuances that really set the really talented guys apart from the regular Joes.

Even then, some of those talented guys are covered with bumps and all that need to be cleaned off.

[Super Dave]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but  Aron Yates did not come form a rich family ; he started off just like Geoff.

I raced AMA when Yates was starting out in the AMA.  Yates put his private CBR600F2 on the front row of the AMA Supersport grid at Mid-Ohio in 1993.  Yeah, I heard that there were grumblings that it was gonna get torn down...  

Regardless of the legality, Yates rode really, really well.  You could see it.  He was hungry and motivated.  

It would be nice if MJ did add Geoff to his team. I can see it now JP and GM in superbike, Tez on supersport, and stock.  That would be a pipe dream but a good thought.

Really?

Maybe the offer has been made but Geoff declined.  Again, will money always help?  Or is it the technical help that is best?

Does Honda have more money or Yamaha?  Was Rossi more motivated to win than anyone else?  Was his wisdom more logical that he took his whole crew along with him to Yamaha?  

Who races Rossi in MotoGP?  

I'll answer...everyone.  

More importantly, Rossi only races himself.  I believe that he has the focus to work on HIS set up and HIS bike.  Seems like most guys are racing against Rossi rather than really focusing on the things that they can really change.  

Certainly were a lot of Honda's our there.  Yeah, they aren't all the same, yes, but Rossi won on them last year.  

Focus on the task at hand. - Chuck Yeager

[fourandsix]

I had a lot stronger language in mind for fourandsix but I had to restrain myself. It is very obvious that this guy doesn't know "raw talent" when it's right in front of him! Nobody said Geoff May beat the factory guys. What he did was prove that he is the best of the rest and he did it on very inferior equipment. If this guy  doesn't think much of the talent in that class that is not factory, than he backs up what I call him! Geoff May has been praised by his fellow competitors (factory, satellite and privateer). And as for you Mr. fourandsix, you are none of the above and you can take that to the bank, you fool! ::)

HD

I guess then you can lump me in with the rest of the idiots that don't know raw talent, that would be all the factory and sattelite teams! If that the case i take that as a compliment thanks Henry!
Please don't hold back you can reach me anytime by phone at (847) 763-9900 i am sitting here waiting on your call so you can educate me on how to spot raw talent.

[hdpromos]

Not so fast fourandsix. You don't rate being "lumped with the factory or sat. teams". You're "senseless opinion" has nothing to do with whether Geoff gets an offer or a ride with any of them! And the only compliment you'll get from me, is what a "first class idiot you are sitting there by the phone waiting for me to call you"! It's impossible to educate an idiot! So I guess it's time for you to "take off your skirt?

HD

[xseal]

I know Jim, a little, and he is a knowledgeable/fair guy.  

Back to understanding the system: Does this mean that the Hayden's/DiSalvo's were in large part able to get started b/c their well-to-do fathers subsidized the factory's initial investment in their talent?  IE, they were fast, got some good results as privateers, then their dad when to the factory and said "how much $$ will it take to give my kid a ride?"  If so, that makes the system more understandable, if not necessarily fair. Does this explain value of the family connections (Gobert, Hayden, Bostrom, DuHamel)?

If so, then it seems like the key is what Kevin is saying, figuring out how to demonstrate value to non-motorcycle sponsors, like Home Depot in NASCAR, and build a team based on that.  The problem may be in the demographics of our audience, from an advertiser's perspective.

[motomadness]

One thing no one has really stated is that, what is the desire for a late 20's, 30 something, 40 something, plus when it comes to racing.  Do any of the people in these age group really want to try to build a race career from scratch to a professional level that gets AMA attention.  I would say most have such delusions of grandeur, but at the same time would settle for having the reputation of Larry Denning, Robert Jensen, or Shawn Conrad.  Whenever these guys show up to our races, all of the local guys and gals treat them like the Mladins, Bostroms and Haydens.  

If we can really get our club-base minds around that, they WE can make OUR championship more likeable to outside sponsors.  But it can't be about the one or two guys that are tearing it up.  It's got to be about the entertainment value of all the races on the card.  This is bring sponsors within reach of the Janischs and the Youngs, so when they make the leaps that they truly have the potential to make, they've got more significant backing.

On the subject of Geoff May.  I think he is a talented privateer that doesn't get enough respect.  At VIR, he was running in like 3rd position and Freddie Spencer didn't say a word.  It was almost like he assumed Geoff was a lapper on the first 2-3 laps of the race and didn't deserve comment.  Brian Drebber definitely saved the day on that one, but it was still too little in my opinion.

I'd say let's make the club level racing, America's premiere entertainment.  It's more local and offers more entertainment outlets for Joe and Jill racer and their fans.  The question is can the dollars to spent in so many ways?  Probably not, so we've got to think regionally and act regionally.  Create strict boundaries and blitz the companies.  Most regions have 10 rounds, that would likely offer a lot of opportunities for attractive marketing programs.

[4and6Shawn]

Not so fast fourandsix. You don't rate being "lumped with the factory or sat. teams". You're "senseless opinion" has nothing to do with whether Geoff gets an offer or a ride with any of them! And the only compliment you'll get from me, is what a "first class idiot you are sitting there by the phone waiting for me to call you"! It's impossible to educate an idiot! So I guess it's time for you to "take off your skirt?
I'm impressed Henry your wide breadth of knowledge and vocabulary and how you express yourself impresses me. You can call me all the names you want pal but i'm still right and your wrong.I see the factories are all beating down the doors . It's a shame that if you have that much respect and admiration for geoff you keep attaching his name to a smuck like yourself. I'm sure all the sponsors will be impressed and line up to help him so they won't get names called at them by you.Your pathetic!

HD

i'll be at daytona in March come over and educate me ,Since your the guru our sport has been waiting for.

[Dawn]

Obviously there are some strong feelings between Jim and Henry....

Take it off line guys.

Thanks!

Dawn   :)

[4and6Shawn]

Obviously there are some strong feelings between Jim, Shawn and Henry....

Take it off line guys.

Thanks!

Dawn   :)

I apoligize Dawn , i attempted to do that , and Shawn was not involved just happened to be on his computer.

[Dawn]

I apoligize Dawn , i attempted to do that , and Shawn was not involved just happened to be on his computer.

Thank you Jim.

I have corrected my post.

Dawn   :)

[G 97]

Speaking of privateers and factory teams in the AMA.  Who was the last true privateer to win an AMA National ? (not considering 750 SS)