Yeah. I really struggle to see the hidden Talent in Sykes tbh, he won the championship when he had absolutely everything thrown at him, then he didn’t just loose out to Jonny, it was a pretty sizeable gap. Also he seems totally focussed on one lap pace and just goes backwards in all the races. they are all good, but I can’t put Sykes in the same league as a young and hungry Redding who had a massive point to prove.
Can't understand why most have a downer on Sykes. You could say most who win in WSB have superior equipment. You very rarely win if you're on uncompetitive machine.
Imagine the target on his back: he’ll have an Irwin either side and a bickers up his arse before he knows what’s happening! Hope Iddon does well this year. Shame last year, some bad luck cost him title imho.
Interestingly I was watching 'The Late Brake Show' who yesterday released an interview with Shakey Bryne, and he said as far as he's concerned, he's as fit as he's ever been, and the BSB guys are lapping no faster than he did in 2018, so if he could get the all clear he would be there. I think he'd need time, but would love to see him come back. I know he was mad keen to come back a year ago and didn't get the good news, but I thought he'd given up on it but he really hasn't.
I can’t see it happening though (would love to). the injuries he has are huge and he’s been off a bike for ages which means getting back on it will likely mean a fair few shunts getting back up to speed. And he’s no spring chicken anymore, it’s hard enough coming back from a smack in your twenties. it is true though, laptimes have hardly changed despite Pirelli’s obsession with making tyres softer and softer to try and eek out a tenth here and there.
Yeah, he mentions in a few interviews that he has issues relating to nerve damage with his stomach and bladder etc which are just as much of a concern as the metalwork, but those interviews were also a while ago. One seat remaining.... Probably going to be Sykes, but is there anyone else in the frame for it? and young fast lads or lasses that are ready for it?
Well, no, doesn't seem so.... kinda 'Gentleman's handshake' type thing. It's a bit weird that there has been no team launch or anything. I guess they will need to get on with it as the first BSB test is in 4 weeks time isn't it? The only thing that makes me think Brookes is back is that he's posting content on social from Aus and he's only ever on Ducati's (apart from MX of course)
I heard on the grapevine that the pbm deal offered to him is vastly (and I mean vastly) less than last year. But then that’s not all that surprising is it. maybe both parties are hanging out for a better offer
This doesn't surprise me, tbh I've always doubted that he's exactly a millionaire so he probably can't just walk away, but also this season will depend on this engine change, if he doesn't get on with the spec of it, he'll have another dodgy year. I guess the best thing would have been for his base salary to be low but his win bonuses to be massive, to try and find a compromise, but we will see. Thinking about it, I've got no idea what a BSB rider earns, if Taz is on more than £50K basic and £75k with bonuses I'd be surprised, there just doesn't seem to be the money in it now.
I've just come back from andalusia and tazs mechanic was there with his son. He said taz is on 200k this year. The main reason he didn't go to esb was he had to take 250k to the team. He also said there are only 5 riders in bsb getting a wage from their team
Yep. In car racing it’s even less common to get paid. I would be surprised if there’s 5 drivers in f1 legitimately being paid by the team on a traditional works contract.
Interesting, 200k is a LOT more than I thought he would be on tbh.. I guess he's the british champion, it has to mean something!! it's still very little compared to someone like Tom Sykes, who even as a single World Champ would have probably still been earlier 10 times that.
Is that 200K from the team or as a team/sponsorship kind of deal, not that it matters I guess but my assumption is teams don't usually have that kind of cash. Obviously if you are a factory rider you'll get a good $$$ over a team rider, I can't imagine there's many BSB riders actually get a wage from the team in all honesty.
That's a lot of money for BSB,very suprised. Didn't think it would be anything like that.Not saying they don't deserve it but a suprising amount.
