It’s been a while since the Yorkshireman joined us and what a pleasure it was to sit up at HAPPA and enjoy a brew and a catch-up with Howie. Many of you have been asking for us to have him on again so we do our best to cover British Superbikes, MotoGP and WorldSBK (with one glaring omission thanks, Nico Bulega!). It’s been a while since we did a general racing chat and we thoroughly enjoyed it so we hope you do to!
Enjoy!
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Finally after I don’t know it’s been about 14 months I think and it it’s been a while you certainly hav done the video Once how we have you no no and yeah I didn’t make it I didn’t make the cut last last season did I for one reason or
Another I mean it stuck us it took us a while to get this one organized a three starts with the weather and everything else but here we are we’re at haa just outside of Burnley um horse and pony charity Place we’ve got a little restaurant up here that how’s invited us
Up to and looking out over the valley across East Lancashire so we’re not looking towards Yorkshire which obviously is upset Howe but you know you can’t have it always can you yeah I’ve turned me back on Yorkshire I feel like such a traitor part of the cheser set now mate
How are you well yeah true I’m I’m good thank you yeah welome back to the show it’s good to see you yeah I think this now makes me the I think I was drawing with someone about the amount of times been I think this now puts me in the
Lead by one this must be number five I can’t I think someone did some calculations and I think yeah I think this is number four or number five this puts me in the lead Now by one um which is congratulations well it’s just ridiculous isn’t it really why the hell
Someone had want this lunatic on the show so many times but so no but thanks for no I mean we could have picked a better day possibly to come up here I was expecting to that I’m sure da will show you the view afterwards it’s normally really
Beautiful and You Can See For Miles and we’ve got fog and rain today you can see your hand in front of your face and that’s it isn’t it so but no no thanks for thanks for having me on again it’s it’s a pleasure like I say we’ve yeah um so how are
You all right all right I’m not dead which we’ve kind of which was almost been expecting that a couple of times which was T yeah it was it nearly happened last year you’ve been in hospital a few bits and uh you’ve been in and out and had a few issues and
Falling off ramps and doing all sorts you’re doing all sorts of D stuff mate what’s going on well yeah I mean the falling off the ramp at work and things like that that’s just that’s just me and and and I I can cope with that um but
Yeah know I with working and stuff and I’ve put it down to to to stress the stresses of work and such but it I basically I I got um I got pneumonia back end of of last year um and stupidly being me I just tried to fight my way
Through it and just more Arin and and put myself in quite a bad way to the point where I ended up being rushed to hospital and they diagnosed it and give me some tablets and kind of just never got right just three or four weeks after you know I should have been
Better I just felt like crap um and started looking really gray in the face and people were just putting it down to overwork too tired new child that doesn’t sleep fin you know the best thing that’s ever happened to me me misses and him best child ever but just
He’s too busy to sleep he won’t sleep yeah so just I just with everyone just thought I was running to the ground and and like you need to just keep chilling I’m like I can’t I’ve got to work I’ve got to work and anyway I woke up one
Morning dter and more Delirious than ever um like hallucinating and all sorts of things and the um got into work and the landlord came in to do something and he just looked at me went M I’m ringing an ambulance you were not well what is wrong with you like Anyway ambulance got
To got took to hospital to spent all day on all sorts of drips from at 9 in the morning this till 11: at night before it actually got seen properly that’s the state of the NHS but that’s for another podcast for completely different thing the the the
People that work within the NHS the not doctors and nurses I don’t know how they do it I do not know how they do it because the [ __ ] show above them is a disgrace but anyway so they basically diagnosed that i’ when i’ contract when
I’ got this pneumonia I’d also got um a water infection at the same time now they’re quite bad these water infections but the symptom are very similar to pneumonia the coldness the Shivering the shaking the weirdness so i’ actually had this water infection for going on five
Six weeks by this point so when they diagnosed it and did all the tests on me the doctors been like you’re lucky lad if you would to come in the next day or so your organs were about to start shutting down you were I was in quite a
Bad way but then the tablets that they give you because to to cure a water infection is quite easy within three days I was brand new and I felt like such a fraud I was like are you quite sure I was that serious and they were no
No no untreated it’ll kill you like all right so so yeah took a a bit of time to sit down and and and reflect on things um which and and I think I’d spoke to you said we wanted to do a podcast and just talk about the you know the a
Little bit I only want to touch on it for a minute or two before we get into the usual thing because I don’t want this is not a always is me people feel Sor it yeah the the mental health aspect of of racing um you know we’ve just lost Anthony gber
Who struggled you know with his addiction but that’s all through mental health and a lot of other Riders I think Taylor McKenzie spoke on his thing the other day about how Brave was he to just say I can’t do this anymore and it’s taken me a last Road in anger in 2016 and
Believe thereafter every year even though I didn’t get a ride or whatever I was going to be racing again and it’s took me till now 2024 to go you know what I’m done and can I be happy with being done and it’s and it’s tortured me you know
There’s there’s Michael and there’s hey and you’ve known me long enough there there’s two personas and I’m which is why I’m very much a Mite person who either love me or hate me there’s no in between but a lot of people know Michael and then the racing fraternity know hey
And it’s the the jumping around like a lunatic the and it’s I’m not craving attention I just want to be liked because it’s just how I am because I do anything for anybody and I’m so scared of not that I turn I turn it to to level
10 and it just needs to back down and now I’ve become a works works really stressful and really hard but it’s a new business so it will be I’ve got me me family to think about with Finley and Emily and I just I just managed to kind
Of sit back a little bit I just think right what do I need do do I need racing do I need my business partner even touched it he said you’ve you’ve lived off adrenaline your whole life I says and now you’re going sitting there working on a Chinese piece of [ __ ] it
Says where are you go where do you get your buzz and it and it’s controlling that where do I get that buzz from and I’ve got to find it in a different way and but I’ve finally come to the point where I can accept that I’ll never race
Again in any competitive manner which then takes me to track days and things like that I’m not interested really yeah if I can’t do it oh I could I’m not going to do I don’t want to it was it was very much the same way when I
Retired from rugby when I came before I started racing that I tried doing what I could do before I brought me leg inby rby and I couldn’t do it and I walked away I never had a massive love for rugby it was just always a means to an
End and I Wasing good at it I don’t care what Larry Carter says the swag but I but I really was and it was almost too easy and then when you when you’re that good and you shout your mouth off people kind of they go at you and they bully
You and that takes you and that’s but that’s where this this thing with me comes that you kind of want to be lighted of people cuz that many people hate you but they don’t know you so yeah it’s been it’s been a strange couple of months um
I’m not I’m not saying never because obviously if you ever made the call or I’ve got something to say for for a podcast I’m sure you’d have me on but this could be be one of the last I think I don’t think there’s any relevance to me doing them anymore because I’m not
Sure if I’ll have anything to do with BSB this year within the commentary and the pilling laps I certainly haven’t been asked and I would have to really think about it long and hard um I did try helping a team last year but my me my mental state by the
Time at Cadwell I was shot to pieces and I couldn’t I couldn’t even give him advice I kind of even had to step back that I can’t give this kid advice when I don’t know what I’m thinking myself because it’s that’s wrong um so I kind
Of backed away from that so if it when I do come back to BSB it will be in a capacity probably as a as a team owner um to to run someone and but it’s this is a couple of years away the earliest um so yeah we we’ll see where it goes
The the next six six months or so I’ll be concentrating on the business and family life but and motorcycles will still consume my life and I’ll watch every practice session I’ll listen to every podcast I’ll watch every test and motor GP World superb and BSB but yeah
It’s I just don’t think I I feel relevant if I’m at BSB and I’m working now I’m just basically going to be a a punter for for for a little while so we we we’ll see how it goes but you know if the the you’ve come a knock in I’ve come
A knock in mate there’s always room for you on the podcast the doors always open especially when you’re only 10 minutes down the road yeah um the top end of Burnley but are you are you comfortable now as Michael how are you comfortable in your your world now I think rather
Than ho I think so I think so I mean we still there we know that I mean for for instance after saying all that tonight I’m I’m I’m going with this is the first one we’ve ever done in a morning which is very strange is true yeah qu night
Normally chat straight to the stra um so tonight is is quiz night and go and I can guarantee that I I know this is almost like therapy my mes hasn’t heard a lot of the stuff I’ve just said there because I’ve kicked it in um so tonight I I feel like
The Lord’s been lifted off my chest already so I I guarantee hey will be out tonight but I’m allowed to be in the PB that’s that’s fine cuz I’m not you’re allowed to be I’m not craving attention in there I’m just a I am just that idiot
Um so yeah this was see have you only wanted a couple of minutes of this before we get into what we but this was just like not a not a farewell but just really a massive thank you to you for always having me on a massive thank you
To to any fans that have ever been fans and watch me racing and know and kind of know that there is something behind the the the lunatic so yeah it’s that’s what I wanted to do before before we get into that sorry for being so serious not at
All no the story need to telling mate because everybody knows you everybody thinks you’re great you do the commentary with Duncan our great Scottish mate he’s um a big supporter of yours he loves having you up in the in the comm’s boob as well you’ve still got that Insight you’ve still got that
Knowledge and it’s nice to have that especially on the podcast that we don’t get to do this too often where it’s just it’s it’s just a chat in a cafe it’s not an interview it’s two mates chatting especially when we get onto BSB and
Stuff like that I know a lot of the the listeners and the and now the viewers now you’re actually on the video as well um have missed your input there most people you know see it time when’s how we back on when’s how back on well now
Here you are welcome back it’s your fault for moving to run we could have done this a lot more often but you well I was going to say I could you could have come over and I could have taken you somewhere nice in cheser um somewhere right really near Alton Park
You must go and it’s only a few minutes away when you’re over there place called The Fish pool in just been there a couple of times lovely beautiful place but no there I mean as far as a cafe play goes is not much better than than
This it’s no no I’ve been up here a couple of times with Jennifer is the 5 minutes it’s out the back of Burnley it’s 10 minutes from the village it’s a beautiful part of the world and uh when you can see a little bit further anyway so there’s always going to be ambient
Noise in the background which is great which just adds to the podcast have you been further along to the pack off for something to eat no so at the top of this road instead of turning right on too carry on straight on as if you’re going towards ining bridge and there’s a
Place called the p on your right side few miles down I’ll do that on me biking adventure mega yeah oh there’s the shooters arms up there that’ss shss that’s a brilliant view of Pendle Hill and looking back back over bar for and go but now we got back on two wheels you
See with with a new channel coming in the spring being back on two wheels I’ll be premature with that and say good luck with that I’ve seen a couple of things and nice to see you branching out it’s been a I’ve suppose I’ve been part of
The journey Haven it 100% when did we first do our first chat 2014 yeah something like that was it yeah you stood on your front doorstep you just been to the gym outside anyone that knows TL at all a place called we minerals um and I was just walking up
And down there and all I could hear in the back was a turbine they met water pumps and they have a big melting thing just walking up and down there yeah that’s 10 years ago man speaking at 150 bloody miles hour it’s nuts is it
Journey for both of us I mean it’s I’ve been racing now or in in bik racing for for 20 years it’s 20 years this year um CU I started in 04 um 05 was my first year in super well super stock cup as it was then cuz there
Was two super stocks it was like the they were both was in CC but it was the main super stock and superstock cup um yeah and then then Super B call 60 seven um it’s been yeah I think I think I’ve done me I think I’ve done the
R i I would I would like to come back now after to try after to try and help last year and and kind of struggling and because I’ve only ever kind of Ru me own teams I’ve rod for for for two other people God bless them God bless because
I was hard work I and and but I know I was I was so pent up with with what had gone wrong with my own teams was almost taking it out on them but they’ve got teams and M mine only went wrong due to to funding issues and and other things usually the
Number one problem the usual number one problem um so yeah no it’s so I I know that the best way to do it is not to go in and you know if motorcycle Stars becomes the success we pray for to go and sponsor another team because I’d
Rather be a lot more Hands-On I thinking in the same respect Steve from raceways he couldn’t just kind of he said he could have put a manager in um but he wants to be he wants to be there hands on I think that that’s what that’s how would have to be so yeah
We’ll uh yeah we’ll see how it goes now enough about me we break the news first if that ever happens yeah yeah exclusive we have an exclusive I’m quite I think there’d just be a picture in the MCN if Stuart igler would oh God he’s
B yes that could well be the case bless him well M we’ve got um a bit of a BSB season ahead of us haven’t we most of the the seats are confirmed now but it was uh it was hell of a season was it 23 was the most intense I can remember
We’ve not had much chance to talk about it directly I know we’ve had a few messages and bits and pieces but we’ve not really had chance to talk about it in depth so 2023 was was pretty intense and I know it went down to kind of the
The last two but even then as in Glenn and Glenn and Tommy but that could have gone the wrong way um and Kyle could have nicked it or um Jason could have could have nicked it but it did kind of now you look back you just think Glenn
Tommy Glenn Tommy because finished with the the AL point do you know of all of those who I thought would give him a run for the money but it all fell apart of Donington le le Leon that was he was the Dark Horse for me up until that engine failure the the
Mechanical that was that was the problem there was too many mechanical at Donington he was the one that was pushing them the most and he for me he was the dark ORS Kyle did a great job at Donington BRS isn’t his favorite track and you kind of
Think well he’s not quite going to have the legs for it for the final round but Leon I thought did but then donton put the kind of put on there was one or two earlier on in the season that that kind of a AED towards his his championship falling
Apart but I spot to Leon probably after Donnington because he was still within a fair mathematical sh but the first I think the first two RAC had to go really well in his favor at Brand and Sports on the on the for I hope he doesn’t mind me say this but he
Was like he said he said if I’ve got a sniff he says if I’ve got a sniff he says I’ll ride through him he says I’ll put him in says I don’t care I don’t care call me on spor and I’m not bothered I’ll put them on the grass I
Don’t care well fair enough but but everyone knows how hard how hardly on rides anyway so if he shows you a wheel you know just give him a yard he needs he needs to be there do he yeah yeah I think the only person that wouldn’t give any him a yard or anyone
Else for that matter is is Jason because we know Jason rides he’s he’s Ling his line and you know that’s and I think taking that line that’s why Jason gets taken out a lot because he he he has no giving him he will not other riders that
Will give that half a yard if they see it Jason stays where he is so sometimes he’s a victim of his own um style victim yeah victim of his own Stars I’m going to say he has to run that faster line with the Yamaha doesn’t he sweeping turns um
Using using the positive aspect of the Cross plane crank of the R1 it needs to be railed around the corners it’s not like Lenny on the brakes like smash the brakes turn it fire it out it’s proper rail around the corner smooth ARS so that yeah I mean there was
Controversy wasn’t the the last year um with with what happened at Donnington which kind of put the rest of the season peeled into insignificance because it was like oh it starts now no one no one not not Glenn or anybody else that’s that’s watched BSB for all those years
Thought that Glenn would come away from Donington with zero points no with zero points Glenn was the major one that thought he wouldn’t come up it’s one of his strongholds is good around donon he could have he could have wobbled round and scored two points won the championship
Well he could have he could have finished 15th in One race at Donington and that would have made the difference and that would have made the difference wouldn’t it it was so yeah you know I’m looking I’m trying to look back as we’re thinking from the from the season
Because there were some some big moments at at Alton park for for other Riders and stuff I think jumping forward again I think the Kawasaki May if Jason can get it up up will suit Jason and it’s I agree I think it’s a bit of a spent
Force in World Super bites I think it’s still got just enough legs to to have a do it at British super bites with regulations and what the way that Stewart and Scott have set it all up I think and Jason could pedal an inline four before he got on that yamar he
Could he could always race a Honda well and in superstock and super B he gave Danny a run for his money in superstock didn’t he it was Danny and um Jace I can’t what year it was 14 and it was 15 yeah MSS and and the Honda that was
Pre-ra control for the for the Hondas so I mean Danny says he never used it on the Kawasaki and I believe him that he didn’t he didn’t cuz I’ve spoke to him and some his mechanic at the time of then but I think there might have just
Been a tick might be a little bit here and there just a but I think the over over the course of the season I think the right man won it I’m pleased for Tommy for winning the championship I think Glenn was was sometimes a victim of circumstance with the bike sometimes
He was a victim of his own style KN Hill for a start this yeah this is a difficult one because because they’re both good friends so I don’t want this to to to be taken the wrong way nothing negative no um that I think I’m happy that Tommy won it this
Year very happy for for for all the reasons that that he did it CU you know I’m one of the people that was there when what happened happened in 2007 you know I’ve been around it that long so I’m glad he’s got it but I think Glenn’s got more
Championships in him if that makes S Glenn what my feeling is Glenn didn’t need to win it this year cuz I think Glenn’s going to go on to win two or three I don’t know if Tommy will win another we’ll see I mean the Honda the
New Honda might come out and he might be gone in a blaze of glory and I hope he does but I just think that in five years time we might see Tommy still on won championship and Glenn’s took two do you know what I mean I think Glen yeah
Glenn’s still got time I know he’s of an age but 33 yeah but he’s still you know Tommy Tommy’s couple years behind Tommy and Tommy’s what 35 yeah Ian Tommy’s Tommy’s one of them that’s been there forever so I put him I always put Tommy
Older but I just I don’t know I’ve got a feeling that Glenn’s Glenn’s time will come I think it was I think he’ll come back stronger from from last year um wherever wherever he ends up we’ll talk about that later yeah um as if we’re going to talk about that
First yeah yeah exactly all right right they’ve said it now come on up listen to them backing on so yeah I mean so you’ve got we we’ve got a few changes we’ve we’ve got Danny Kent over coming into the mix this season Mam’s racing by Mar
Yeah without any shadow of a doubt you know get every time he’s even a dark hor you now no it gets said all the time doesn’t it you know he’s a world champion and a motor 3 world champion at that so he’s never going to be slow he
Was the budget just wasn’t there with the Honda for him last last year as it turned out but miss the last three rounds yeah but some of the results that he got were um were Mega for for for a very very he was up in the top is he on
The podium he was certainly up in the top five yeah if not on pole for one of the races I can’t remember off top of my head but he certainly pedal it around there and I think the the Yamaha will suit him yeah that corner speed and the
Agility of it and how he rides the bike with the the sweeping lines that Jason used and Taz mate and and with the um with the data of the last five years that span’s got and the help from G yrt and raceways mate that’s a strong strong package yeah yes yes
Um yeah yeah I think so as well you know it was on last year it was on the year before Honda you know they come direct from from was it Glen yeah yeah what but they’re always just a built by car they unless you’re rolling it out out their
Garage into yours it could be anything but but it was essentially the year before Honda so I don’t know much dat to come with that I’m sure AA helped him out quite a bit because I was surprised that he didn’t time I thought that’s where Danny would be going this year
Obviously the the pull of the Yamaha and and what’s it was was too strong and he’s gone that way so yeah he’s he’s won you’re not going to write right of Kyle or the OMG now they’re the the official official team how much extra stuff they get from
What they’ve had previously help um you know I think the Yamaha seem to be the very open you can have that swinging arm if it becomes available to buy you can have that engine but it seems to be the way it goes and listening to the podcast
With spanner and and the other Tech Guys from that’s what they were basically saying yeah you know they all the data is there for the world to see as well the Yamaha guys to see um so I I don’t know whether becoming the official Yamaha team is more of a Kudos thing
These days it might be a little bit cheaper I don’t know because I don’t know the internet and they’ve got to run the the Yamaha blue haven’t they and they run the Y official Yamaha support and they have the support of Yamaha race in UK yeah um with the social media
Coverage and um stand but they had some of that over the last couple of years with Yamaha UK know so the relationship is there but now to be the flagship team as the for one of a better word for the factory Yamaha team um officially supported by Yamaha UK I
Think it gets the qos definitely yeah I think Kyle has got still got some work to do for 2024 he finished third in the championship it’s his best season yet yeah but now he’s now he sees what he has to do to put a BSB champ
Together do you do you find that as well cuz I do CU I’ve always rated Kyle and in any podcast I’ve ever said it he’s one of the best Riders I’ve ever seen b on in his natural talent that things that kid can do on a motorcycle if you
Know what you’re looking at sometimes it just you’re like hell ask him how he does it oh I ain’t got a clue has he got a soding clue if you told him to go if if Tommy if Tommy Hill told him to go out on a steel Tire it make him faster
He’d have a go he’d have a go never a g he’s uh yeah I I I really really rate C but but yeah he finished third in the championship and somehow expected more I always I have an expectation of Ky that you think he’s had a do you know what
He’s had an all right season but he could have done better he finished third For Crying Out best ever Championship season yeah you know so again he’s another one Kyle’s time will come he only a b you know could why they go back to what you said about um Glenn having a
Couple of championships it’s going to be really hard or you’ll get pushed CU you look at speaking of you the um the the stable mate there Ryan vicet for me he was one of the most improved Riders last year but yes he got his pod he took his first win but it was
In pit Lane so he was it was a little bit yeah for him yeah especially after the the season had before in the BMW it would have been a bit um the kids always had Talent there absolutely no doubt about it it just having the right
Package because it was so many times you saw it that he had the outright speed but it when you’re looking on TSL you so many times it went purple purple yellow triangle and it like trying to override it in places that he didn’t that he had
To sorry to make up that time but now he’s got a bike that suits his style a couple of little edges to be rounded off with Roger and regge behind him and um and his support from Attis and people like that he’s got everything all these
Ducks are in a row now and I think this 2024 season’s a big big opportunity for Ryan Vickers to be able to mount a full Championship if the Ki I mean I was when he got when he was given the ride with with with OMG the the trolls come out in in droves
In on Facebook so I was I was defending him up to the hill and saying listen I am telling you on a Yamaha that boy he fully Des he doesn’t deserve the right over crush his brains that BMW is a it’s a very hard B to ride and when we get to
The world super B things or get through to it L I think there’s quite a few significant changes not to the eye but the way that b but it was it was horrible for him and you could see him every time he crash is coming in more
And more deflated and people on the outside that just see that that watch it racing on a weekend they don’t know what’s going on they don’t see the mentality the kid won the superstock 600 by country mile three weeks yeah so the second that OMG give him his chance
It’s like oh a Yamaha that’s fast that you have to run a lot of corner speed that’s reliable with a team that will nurture him yeah you know it was it was it was only difficult no it was only ever going to go one way I really felt
That that that’s why I defended him to the ill exactly the same thing he’s a nice kid and now and now everyone saying he’s deserving of his ride so there you go so yeah if you’re right if regen what they can keep the the pressure off him and
Make him feel like he like you say it’s his year to to kind of come to the for and perform but I get you know it’s now he knows he can as well yeah if they can just keep the pressure off him and make him keep him riding you know happy Rider
Fast rider thing I think that’ll be where he where he excels so there’s is he a championship Contender do you think yeah yeah three so there’s him Kyle and danis there’s three yam at it there’s uh Tommy Bridewell on the Honda I’m very I want to watch the um oh
Sorry look at the test results today because World superb is start down at JZ yeah um without Bradley Ray and Taz poor Brits um I want to see what this new Honda’s going to be like and it translates slightly cuz I know they’re very different machines but the 24 Honda
From all the Spiel is supposed to be the bike that’s going to really really fight for a championship both more at British than worlds I think it’ll have a next year it could be a big thing but in in British I think it could be the bite it
Could be the bite to be on Tommy might have made a very wise decision um andyn will be back yeah good old Andy I love that boy for Tommy it’s like out the frying pan Into the Fire isn’t it yeah he’s got this the sort of The Quiet assassin yeah’s he’s
He’s had the excuse my French the gobby version and now he’s on to the quiet version I so it’s a whole different ball game for Tommy this year AR they but he’s carrying the number one plate it’s like the targets on his back it’s like
This is my number one Play come and take it if you want it he could be thinking it could be being sabotaged this season con if FY irn comes across to his side of the go is’s like try this just try this I’ve just done this on that try
This be like sharing information all yeah well Glenn’s up his up his tail so again we’ve got so many riders that every with the [ __ ] we’ve not even got you know Jason if he finds his form Danny bookan Danny’s going to have a whole new lease of life I think on the
Dow racing bike on on the Dow racing Kawasaki because he had a the season completely to forget last year with CTIC for all sorts of reasons some of it was was bik some of it was Danny some of it was a mixture of both and it it was such
A tough season for him and too many cracks on the head for the big ess6 boy and he said on the podcast you know he’s like I I really questioned what I was doing especially when you got a misses and a young family it it changes your
Dynamic completely but and the same with with Glenn with Tommy hasn’t got the family yet but obviously he’s got Stacy and the family he’s got his sheep he’s got his sheep went he’s got his sheet yeah it’s not a mental image you want is it is well certainly not with Tommy no
No no so I what one thing I wanted to ask you I know that there’s potentially a couple of rule changes I don’t know how don’t think they’ve been confirmed yet there was talk last year of doing away with the X um the pelli sort of qualifying Tire
If you like the softest of them all I heard stories of that being taken away but since then maybe not so much now maybe bringing it back as a wild as a joker something like that at certain rounds because at knill it doesn’t matter you know you know you can run it
At knill quite oh yeah yeah yeah quite well it’s such a short lap but this only What I Hear talking to to various people people and trying to understand what’s going on for 24 um but if if they do take away the x that then plays into Kawasaki’s hands a
Little bit more to bring them closer to the front of the field because the kawazaki will work better with the harder front yeah um Leon always preferred the the zero and the one didn’t he yeah in terms of um when he was riding the ZX10 but for Jason and
For Max you’ve got the the the the sophomore Rider in his second season with Max who was superb last year I thought as a as a rookie and took Rookie of the Year as well after because Charlie had a bit of a difficult end to the season didn’t he yeah and I’m pretty
Sure Charlie took rookie of the year yeah Charlie was one of the victims of that thron success that we see quite often that and and it’s happened to to many and don’t don’t get me wrong Charlie is another one that that’s in there with an outside chance
Um and will get there and certainly will get there in the future but I’ve seen it quite a few times over the years that Riders will have this success at thron for whatever reason and then the rest of the season crumbles because they think they can beat anybody anywhere then and
It’s just it’s just it’s an anomaly it’s a strange track thron do you not go Almost Pretty from thron was it not to straight to Cadwell after that yeah so you got the yin and yang of the tracks yeah so and then he he spaned himself didn’t he on the Friday
The test did he not bang his head no that was Max that was Max that was Max no but Charlie did have a big in at at Cadwell he did didn’t he and I think did he have another big one somewhere else but yeah his season did kind of he had a
Couple yeah knill I think he crashed out of all three races yeah but he’s he’s with the same team again this year yeah he’s got the consistency he’s got Jacko alongside him yeah uh yeah Jacko bloody you see another one you’ve got 10 Riders this is atast this is I’m excited for
The season with within a realistic show and certainly halfway through the season it could be too close to call it he could be saying it’s anyone’s guess and then the cream tends to rise after in towards the second half and you’ll see a a slight Gap emerge but I don’t think
You will I don’t but I don’t think I know who I don’t you couldn’t I couldn’t say right after six rounds the top six will look like this I really I really couldn’t call it no because you look at the first two rounds last year and and
And I got I got call about this last year by brains when I went over to Huddersfield International Airport with whip we didn’t discuss the BMWs and from right from round one brains was like are you going to talk about us or are you not when they won at um at silverston
With with Brookie he just looks at me across the paddock and went so sorry we’ll talk about but again rule changes something else that that is is is being spoken about the changing the regulations with the BMWs for to give them some sort of advantage that this not an advantage but trying to
Bring them up as a leveler because those high lift cams have been difficult yeah with um motch yeah because they’re still having to run the BOS Sy BOS won’t release the software to make them to make them work which has so I don’t know if that I don’t know for sure I’m not
Seeing regulation I don’t know this is just conversation that there are plans in place or potentially plans in place to run standard cams on the BMS Yeah so basically Le CH the cams yeah yeah because obviously within the rules at the minute you you ride what’s there
Exactly and again that makes sense if if Bosch aren’t prepared to release the software and they can’t make the two together the mot and the Bosch and it and it’s proving hard work might be wrong I’ve been wrong before yeah I mean I don’t know what what software Pete
Runs at the TT as in I don’t if he runs the MCH or it’s on on his super bike over at the TT um so it be be informed of me to say but he always seems to ride the bike easier at the TT I mean it is
His he so much more at one with it is he especially across the mountain on the short circuit stuff yeah he’s that’s where he makes up most of his time and and now he’s putting that into place on the the earlier scratchy part as well up to Ramsey he’s becoming pretty much
Unstoppable but if that’s the case you have two BMWs there that will be a challenge there will be challenges I don’t know I don’t know about his BSB challenge for a championship he’ll certainly be pushing for the top five but Brookie is there to push for the British super championship for the hicky
As you’ve said it in my eyes that I don’t think hickey would beg Grudge helping Josh to a title CU I is that kind of Rider icky knows where his success is going to come he he will he should and could win a few races at BSB and if
He would be my perfect teammate Pete cuz I know for a fact he’d have your back there are certain places that hickey ISS at because of his his his um his physical stature but he’s always going to have that um deficiency in some places where
He’s a stone and a bit being polite P he’s a stone so heavier than a lot of the The Lads he’s racing against yeah so there’s always going to be that that kind of drawback for him but there’s some places where that BMW will fly with
Him on board it and he will be racking up some wins this year I think yeah so yeah that that real Trail change will be interesting to see I was hoping personally again that that they were going to make quite a big step in the rule changes this this year um with
With the electronic side of things and and it was almost backed up and Justified from in my brain from the the chats you’ve had with The Tech Guys from from the cams um saying that you know there is a very very basic way of introducing traction control into a
Module that doesn’t have traction control you know and by the by the and perfectly within the parameters and within the rules they’re not you know they’re not cracking a cord or doing this it’s just how certain things work on a bike with an engine and such like
And you know the launch control is not there but you can almost make first gear at some tracks act like it because you’re only going to use it to set off so you know it was a bit and it may come in in in in in the coming coming year or
Two that do they introduce a bit more traction control you know open the new get a new a later spec a newer ECU from MCH that allows them to do a little bit more or do they take even more away and say look right this is it’s going
Against the spirit of the regulations it’s not against the rules against the spirit of you guys having traction and you guys have launched even though it’s not supposed to be there yeah I just I I just had a feel feeling that Stuart Stuart was going to
Do a little bit more and he hasn’t and Stuart knows a hell of a sight better than us because he knows how to make a championship fantastic and you know smart as his right man there’s going to be something yeah he changed the way the show then worked into this year and it
Finished with half a point and it was the best racing that we’ve seen in BB for such a long time so who am I to say what what shouldn’t shouldn’t happen but I just I just had this feeling with with the pathway thing coming on that we’ll
Get to but I think yeah like you say I think we’ve gone through that many riders now oh that’s a title Contender that’s a title Contender that bik could be a title Contender you know it’s there’s we we have to play someone at Taz this year yet uh for for this season
I think there’s a fair fair idea who who it’s going to be um we don’t according to internet forums and internet forums and Stu but it makes sense CU I don’t see him going anywhere else and that is one of the only spots left isn’t it so
It makes yes yeah and and there is there’s a good relationship there between his manager and Taz with him riding from him in the past you know John John Hopkins rode for him and and and said he loved it so I’m sure he has a very good relationship personal
Relationship with Phil Phil I don’t doubt it oh we’re talking about R by the way sorry yeah I was going to allude to that eventually all right yeah but no he an interesting one because it was such a baptism of fire for him in M yeah and
The contract side of it and the the wise and the W force and everything else it it’s a massive shame he didn’t get a second year because you need two years in M take we’ll see how good that American Racing team is now um what’s it called who’s gone
Back to him Joe Joe Roberts Joe Roberts because I don’t think the team that they were when Joe Roberts finished was doing really well when cam was there for whatever reason because we never know what’s going on behind the scenes it could have been older bikes it could
Have been this that we don’t know what kit they’re running John Hopkins is a rider manager for Ferrari Mega was that American Racing Team the right team pH to start Fisher motor I’m not so sure because they just seem to be something like in from that whole team Rory needed
A bit more support one of the M or two teams could have could may be like I say we don’t know they could have been on year old bikes and that cic chassis movement the way that the the year old bike never seems to run as well as also
He’s not the the um he’s not one of the DNA chosen ones either no D didn’t offer any help either in ter it’s twice they’ve crapped on him really a little bit isn’t it which is a shame um you know the the the chosen ones are Scott and Josh in M of three
Um Eddie OA who we had on a couple of weeks ago he’s the next one coming through to m 3 but that Gulf that we’ve got as as as a conversation piece You’ve Got Jake and then you’ve got 10 years back to Scott and Josh yeah Will Scott and
Josh make motor Riders remains to be seen I don’t know yeah and I think but part of the reason why Donna haven’t backed Rory to stay in in in moral to um um is because is because of the Scott and Josh um situation with with Michael L because he’s lost his
Title spons so as a vision track have gone and I I’m guessing I’m only guessing I Know I Know M Michael said he’s going to be all right so he’s not worried about the the for no he’s set up the British talent team now hasn’t he he’s got that
Seven out of two and the junior World Championship any money that c from Donna that could have gone to keep roor I think has gone that way to to to L’s team and more to him that that’s because he was there of his own accord through
Hopper it wasn’t on a a daer path they’ve kind of gone yeah our problem yeah yeah we we’re busy doing this massive shame yeah massive shame you know I don’t think it’s not the end’s he’s young enough to get there and certainly if his Pao keeps him s the
Super B where he’s only 22 isn’t he you look at what T what um Brad and Taz did they were BB Champions at 26 and still went into World Championship race you know he’s four years younger he could he could quite easily go to world super
Bikes in in in the next year or two I think in two year I think that that needs to be the path for him now the GP dream I think is is done because want when you’re out of it it’s difficult to get back in you kind of shown your cards you
Can only piss with the c you got that was the bike he was given that was a team he was given there’s all sorts going on behind the scenes and and wise and wherefores but now he has to look forward to the the 2024 season in bsp if
It is with Taz then great with the rule change if they come in that that we think might be part and parcel then he’s good a chance anybody David Todd’s a teammate on the Milwaukee bike superb that’s a good young fast team Steve Placer his team manager yeah you know a
Lot of experience with Buster there will keep him on the straight and narrow and help develop him as a super B Rider he’s only done two seasons has he yeah it could be the the lift and the challenge that Taz that as a team need as well
Yeah um cuz they have you know Danny Danny just had had had that season that everybody wants to forget so then your team the heads in the team drop and then you’ve got this young talent that you know you could make a real success of
That that it could be the lift that the team needs both sides isn’t it you got one of the young fastest Young Riders at the TT on the sister bike you’ve got a he’s not w a race in BSB yet Rory but he’s had a handful of podiums yeah and
And I think that’s going to be the target for him especially especially knill yes he knows that he’s born and at that place but for for the Youth now coming into to BB you got Max cook you got Charlie net you’ve got from What We Gather Rory coming back nothing yet
Confirmed as we know um the pathway bites coming through Louis Valle going to your old concern to Neil yeah to Neil that’s um that was a surprised to see them come back good young Rider do bad with CDH last year with um with Dean and
Colin yeah yeah I mean yeah so you go down to to the back end yeah I’m glad Louis gone with Neil um we we we’ll see how they get on but I’m just glad he’s got that second that second chance and it is on a Kawasaki so it’ll be somewhat
It’ll be somewhat familiar to him so yeah we’ll see we’ll see how we go so I was pleased to see that luked CDH Luke hedger um I know they’ve lost their title sponsor they’ve gone to um Franco pathway team haven’t they rapid Marvel racing but CDH is staying so that that’s
Good cuz they they’ve been quite a good little Feeder team to bring Riders of a good caliber from the from the from the back to the front JJ staying Jack Scott I can’t remember if he’s staying or if he’s moving on I can’t remember there’s
Talk of him moving on at the end of last year but I’m not sure if he’s staying now he is staying and I know I know why I know because I would have forgot hold sorry slight interlude CDH racing and uh yeah and JJ uh yes um because
Um am I allowed to say I probably get in trouble for saying this but I believe Young Jack Scott is now um going out with one of my friends daughter uh from from from around these parts um I’m sure I’ve got the right person I if if you’re not I’m really sorry you
Haven’t cuz I know exactly who you mean all right hear me uh ah no me Lauren oh no no I might have the wrong person entirely you might have she’s she’s the great she’s a great girl for CDH um I might have the wrong person entirely but
I but I just that’s how I knew Jack Scott was going to be there cuz she grig girls for them so it might be the I think we maybe let’s draw a line under that one no not not in a bad way no no
No no no no but we don’t know for sure I just know because my my I thought that’s what my friend was saying but Jack’s there cuz she can’t wait to get get to no or something or or whatever um but any Rod okay but we know that locally
Storm Stacy’s girlfriend lives the side of Burnley Lauren do yeah Storm’s up here quite regular he’s been up to our place and had a had breakfast with us and what have you yeah no I’m going to keep my door shut Storm’s welcome anytime into into my workshop he’s
A telling year for him as if we’re going to move on a very telling year for for first stor um flashes are Brilliance shown his Pace Fifth Season there yeah one or two coming up or sixth I can’t remember fifth it must be a not were there a odd mechanical last
Year an odd fall it just didn’t didn’t it didn’t seem to fit together as well as the season I believed he was going to have and for both of them for Joe on the stalker as well for Joe Francis on the stalker it just it became a difficult
For I mean are they staying with Kawasaki yes yes so they just they put a thing out the other day saying who would like to see a bit more green on our bikes so they might be getting a bit more support from because I know they’re selling the old bikes um they’re for
Sale so I didn’t know whether they were moving manufacturers but they’ve they’ve bought they bought new um bikes from another team in World Super bikes I believe Pini ones or something that’s pulled out is it pedini that pulling out one I’m not sure I’m not sure but I
Believe they bought World Super Bike other bikes one of something yeah wise chassis wise they’ve taken the step that they that they that they needed to do they deserve yeah yeah teammate coming in for storm but that’ll be announced in the not too distant future yeah so I’m
Not we’ll move on from that yeah because there’s nothing about that on social media or anything yeah again gr Brent Brent’s team um you know the success the success Brent’s had in the past speaks for itself so he’s always you know he’s won European championships British championships
Never managed to make that step to win the the British super B Championship but what Brent’s always been is one of the best feeder teams that anyone could imagine so it’s always it’s always difficult to say that I think they need to make this a really good season for storm
He needs to be pushing top six top eight on a regular basis he’s got to make that step because I think that that relationship is is due to run its course then where does he go that that I don’t know I think it could do with being you
Know I’m sure you know if storm moves it’ll be because Brent’s F in the right path two to a different team so I’m not saying that at the end of this year they’ve got to part ways but one I mean is that Brent’s done he’s he he’s served
His time with Brent Brent will be looking looking for the next one and he he’ll move Stacy to to to the right way he won’t leave him out in the call that you just know Brent Godwin too well so here’s a question do you think some team
Shy away from Storm because of his character probably probably just not sort of throw it in their question kind of thing because I wonder why with his undoubted talent he hasn’t been taken away from because I mean he needed nurturing and needed to mature ever right or wrong
Answer to it it’s just something that thought which is what I think he’s got from Brent I think no question there’s an absolute there’s the storm in The Paddock and then the storm five minutes before he goes dead somewh like for say Cadwell where you go and sit on the
Scooters and you see Riders change from the person in the padic to to the rider and it’s great to see it’s wonderful to see that a lot of the spectators that stand in the cafe might not notice it but as a a former Rider you can just see
The brain going and his his maturity in that aspect has come on in Leaps and Bounds which is what Brent saw what Brent could do etc etc and that’s what I’m saying that now perfect thing for him I just it was just a a thought I had
In my head of why he’ not gone anywhere else before now if he shows what he can do this season and performs you know does I don’t want leathering off Brent because I’m I’m B I’m B to fighted no God I don’t think me and Brent had ever be allowed out in around
Sheffield we both come back with black eyes it’ be it’d be hell of an ey but before getting big thicky yeah um I do it I just don’t see Brent being able to win win a title just yet if Brent’s bought X World Super B machines
And gets the if Brent had the big enough budget Brent could win a British super B Championship un undoubtedly without question you don’t win a Super Sport title you don’t win European championships without being that good but unfortunately there is a level that you get to in BSB and you need more
Money so you know Brent ain’t shy of a few quid but Brent also is from Yorkshire he’s but he’s also a businessman yeah EXA exactly not d That’s why I class Brent as one of the best feeder teams and he will bring Youth and talent through which he’s
Which he always has done so that last half a second is the most expensive half a second that’s exactly what I’m trying yeah what I’m trying to say it’s not questioning what Brent can do or what stor can do in any way so I don’t want
That taking the wrong way so fully agree so yeah so if if storm has the season that he could that he could have and should have then I don’t see any reason why people won’t start looking at him to to to move on you know and BR probably
Thought all this T you know I’ve got a 5year plan for this boy I know exactly what I’m going to do with him blah blah blah blah blah but then he go he gets Brent a race win this year Brent’s as happy as a pig in mud and enough you
Know and enough he goes and that’s so that’s yeah so that’s my my theory on that Lee Hardy’s very quiet yes losing his rider unexpectedly yeah um Brad Perry going back to Super Sport super sport I can only presume that was kind of a monetary
Type thing cuz I know that I know that Bradley had to you and he openly said that you know he had to find sponsors to to what it so whether they there was a deadline or the the offer come in and it was like do I need this pressure of
Trying to find that for another year because he had a very he was quietly away I thought that better better better better better so I think he’s shown what he’s capable of maybe a year back in Super Sport just to raise his profile that little bit
More but it’s going to be such a hard season in Super Sport that’s talk about the Support classes too much but that super sport yeah yeah but we’ll put it this ring Champion with a number one on his bike and a big Target on his back on the all conquering ducatti Luke
Stapleford on the Triumph the factory Triumph Brad on the gearlink alongside M blank oh that’s really good isn’t it sorry sorry but like we said we didn’t really want to get into them too much but that’s super Sport’s going to be an incredible season if if Bradley for instance wins the championship or
Has some Mega results he’s probably more chance of getting a super bite ride with a with a better team for 25 than he would have with Stan with Le for 24 do you know what I mean it’s there’s going to be if you win that title this year in
Super Sport the Kos that will go with it for a young Rider like Bradley there’s got to be eyes wi against that there’s going to be eyes on you how he’s he’s in he’s here every now and again our occasional co-host and British superport champ is
He driving back from El Maria at this given the given moment that’s exactly what he’s doing yeah he’s been away just burning fossils down in Spain um it it the challenge wasn’t consistent for Ben last year he was in control of his own destiny from fairly early in the season
And he just concentrated on finishing the races doing what he did after that whoopsie at Donington when he was leading and crashed after that I think there was barely a whoopsy till the end of the season it was almost the perfect little bit over Championship little bit
Over was because it was he he did so well the way he applied the way he applied himself last year because he’s had a tough couple of years as as as young Ben he super B Dream didn’t go to plan that was thwarted with injury the world Super Sport thing less said about
That the better yeah well he broke his back at the start of the season but then and the bik wasn’t really what it was supposed to be and that was proven yeah I know Tom got on it later in the season um which obviously creates a bit of
Needle domestically Tom is off now to do World Super Sport with Triumph with Triumph yeah with um Simon and the ptram that that’s uh that’ll be an interesting relationship that’s a dynamic isn’t it yeah some I’m going to say yeah I again I’m not going into to it but
Anyone that knows will kind of know but yeah just just watch this going to be an entertaining one it’ll it’ll had to go really well a really but but Luke couldn’t put quite put the season together and he crashing out at Cadwell and places like that and and Tom
Overriding and the issues that he had with the the the gearlink bike there were things with the bike that were an issue at some point and there were things with him overriding it and there was a whole host of things but on its day it was incredible have the rules
Opened up and changed a little bit in Super Sport again for the for the likes of the 636 well I don’t know but you would suspect so to bring because look at the the domination of the the dcti yeah last year they had to do something
To bring the 636 into line and the the Triumph and I think is going to be an incredible season there at one point everyone was craving the r six W weren’t they and now is is the one team running it this this season see something D out
The stairs well they were weren’t they Jamie van cus was that M MVP racing whatever it was yeah madams McAdams have obviously they’ve moved to Triumph they’ve moved to Triumph yeah yeah so it’s but the the MVP was it was going to be Jamie vanus but he’s now doing the
Pathway with um tag with tag racing all right yeah he’s on the pathway bike so was a bit after being announced in Super Sport on the r six it suddenly changed to pathway with tag who was still running Shawn Winfield and Matt trul love on the stalkers yeah and Fraser
Rogers on the the super bike daddy new FR Rogers congratulations to you congratulations and you’re a good lady mate yeah get ready for for no sleep you know all about that oh it feel for six months you’re not bothered you’re like oh I don’t need this sleep I
Can cope I’ve got this beautiful little thing and then months Finley is 18 months is a a year and a half see anyone on my social medias they see him he’s just a very busy very busy little man never stops smiling from the second he wake he wakes up with a smile
He goes to bed with a smile but it’s that he’ll go to he won’t go to bed before 9:00 we’ve tried everything you know um we’re probably a little bit too soft with him but and then he’ll sleep well midnight he gets up at midnight
Gets in with his mom I go into the spare room uh and he can just hear this for next few hours and then about 5:00 Emily gets up and goes in the spare room and I get in bed with him I can cope with he snoring and yeah
Oh yeah he’s busy in his brain at night’s he’s wonderful but I just wish we could get seven hours out of him it be it’ll happen eventually yeah it will happen eventually and last I can remember on the pathway by we spoke about briefly about Franco bour had a
Good season last year on the Stocker and then being drafted into the factory Squad bit of a baptism of fire for him and and Tom Neeve Tom in his second season tough year left the team at the end of the season um headed on to Pastor new for 2024 I believe within the
Championship and Franco being the sort of that the next best thing coming through you you s of your Max’s and your Charlie and your franos that youth coming through it’s class yeah yeah um it I think Franco had his best result on the pathway by it last year didn’t he
Donington ridiculous condition course but you still got ride still got to ride it um which brings me to the to the pathway thing and the justification of it in my as we had a chat off before we started and so you already know my thoughts and it and I’m just
Not don’t get it I don’t know enough about it to have an opinion I’ll be perfectly honest I’m not mean get it or not or whether I just don’t like it and that’s me being really kind of old and a bit analist and and whatever that in in
Years Gone by when we had the super bik C that that I rode in for like 07 and 08 and 2010 the bik you you were in the Super Bike cup because you were deemed to have a slightly smaller budget and and and etc etc um and it give you the chance to
Win races and get a little bit of TV coverage little bit of prize money but at the end of the day the bikes were still a super bike um super bite Forks chassis super bik swing arm the bikes in 07 they end the the price of the engines in them was
Ridiculous cuz we were running tankar rods and pistons and they were they were the last of the proper super bikes that well you say animals now they were like we were get maybe 25 210 or them with with a we had traction control on our
Bikes in ‘ 07 but it was a very basic form through MCH that uh race Stringer had come up with and then in ‘ 08 we were on the ex store back bikes so they they were the full melli um but with a much well the engines that they run now
More standard engine um so then the pathway bikes come along and again it’s going to be that the you know they’re trying to bring teams in to get them from a the bigger super stock teams to get them ready to be a full super bik team so they’re giving them this kind of
Interim thing that’s the way I understood it a little bit but I haven’t looked into it too deeply which I know I should do and I will do before the start of the Season what are the basic differences do they run they’ve is it super bike frame break swing arm but
It’s stand engine not even the swing arm um engine spec I would imagine it’ll be you can run a super bike spec engine again I should have I should look that up but it’s more for me about about looks not that I’ve got any anymore but so they they’ve got to they can
Run I don’t think I think they can run a certain set of all in FS so they don’t have to you know if you’ve got a Kaki it doesn’t have to run the shower Forks cuz you can change the internals anyway but it may be just the internals that can
But I know the swinging arm has to remain as as produced by the manufacturer but you can put the quick release systems on in they are so they slightly lengthened as as I understand it and that’s what the pathway bikes look like to me it’s just not a you know let
Them put the for if you’re going to if it’s going to be a pathway by the the cost is not with the time you’ve paid to get there and all the tires and all the fuel and all the engine whees blah blah blah you know if you can’t warrant
Another 20 grand for a swinging arm and some Forks then might as well stay and I just I think Super just very traditionally but if you crash it that’s another 20 grand you need yeah but you want just thinking on a cost perspective you know you crash these pathway bikes
You’re right two of them off a year and then you’re 100 Grand not expected to be running up the front and it’s for for rookies isn’t it it’s that step that’s what the super bike cut was but we were still on proper super bikes that looked
Like a super bike and that’s it’s just me being a big traditionalist and really super bikes should be a super bike and I hope I mean in 2010 like I said to you we were the first to run the electronics package that they run now so that we had everything taken
Away um and it was a trial and I’m just praying praying to God that they’re not doing this pathway as a trial to see if that if we do need the swinging arms and the suspension so they can make super bite racing cheaper I’ll be heartbroken I genuinely
Will because I know it’s just like a MotoG GP by is a Mot GP bike then your world super bike is it is the world super bike that looks similar to a BSB bike but there’s you know the the engines are a better slightly better spe and the electronics are far more open
You’ve got BMW m1000s you’ve got CBR fire blades you’ve got Z x10s you’ve got the r1s they’re essentially the same bike in that sense that they are a Yamaha R1 I just different and different Electronics I don’t want it to turn into the Super B Championship that the
Americans tried a few years ago where you had to remain with standard folks but he could put breaks on you know I just not having me a whole super B but yeah I I just hope I hope comes down to to to cost and close racing doesn’t it
Yeah you don’t want one manufacturer running away with it it was mainly the two Ducatis last year with the Y Yamaha coming in and having cameos with Kyle and uh and with Ryan but if you can bring in three or four manufacturers at the time then if the BMWs are coming
Closer the Kawasakis are coming closer Jason Max Jason’s not going to have it all his own way with M Max has got his tail up after last year oh yeah and the Hondas obviously the factory Honda with Andy and um Tommy yeah plus Dean Dean’s in there as well opportunity for Dean
For the both BSB and for the roads Dean’s now got the kit that Michael’s got so let’s now see the kawazaki was was kind of the bridesmaid the last few few seasons it wasn’t the bite to be on against the BMS and Honda with Pete and
Michael what they can do but he hung on for for for for for Grim effort to do it now he’s on the same kit as Michael who won he won the super B race on it last year and he’s he’s got the kit that he wants now I mean intrigued to see what
Dean can do yeah let it’s it’s I mean the Honda’s overall performance really I mean now it’s I remember a few years a go you were calling the superstock I was stood on the pit wall with John mcginness and he was calling it the Kawasaki cup yeah and
It’s just gone full circle that now basically they it’s going to be the Honda cup the Fireblade cup is it the super stock so the to top six or eight on Honda the only place that the Fireblade hasn’t proven itself is in World Super bikes it’s it’s been since
Its introduction uh the the new model it’s run well at BB and W races and Andy and Glenn have shown that um it’s mega super stock bik it goes well on the roads but unders always do um it’s doing all well in all Japan it’s done well
Here there and every you know it just seems to be World Super bikes that that seem to they lost their way yeah um but maybe the more the europeanized aspect of Honda and HRC that’s supposed to be coming through that will filter them from more and the direct input from HRC
Where we don’t want to do it that way and maybe have and the team have got a little bit more leeway with what they can do at bsp under the regulations and on roads it’s a free-for all yeah yeah so this it’s always going to be there
And thereabouts so yeah like you say it’s Dean Dean’s time I don’t think he’ll have any excuses you know he had the excuse of the Kawasaki last year and still rode the absolute nuts off it you know they work through like a trying that he didn’t win did it we’ve covered
Off most of BB I think as I’m looking Christian idden motor redo again Christian keeping that the the uh the same podcast can you go without mentioning Christian Iden as a title contender I did yes Christ on the bike um yeah second season third season
On fourth season on a deatti now did he do two at PBM or one no he did one didn’t he and then he went to Hawk for a season yes yeah yeah yeah so this is his second season on willes Ducati it’s really weird that I kept
Saying for years when Christin was at at Taz that it’s time for change it’s time for change them to that team and Christian are too happy together the the two in love and he needs that they both need that new challenge and enough he’s not been with the same team for more
Than a season since but so yeah you know Christian worked away chipped away last year it didn’t always go right for him there was a few issues and and what but we we know what w as a team is capable of they’ve got um that’ll be slightly restructured this year cuz Ian’s left
Yeah Ian hopcraft he’s um he’s now with the Affinity Academy Junior Team yeah good move for him fresh things up a bit it’s a good job he’s got nowhere now because he’d been losing it all after a season with them sucking lunatics let me tell you and that’s
That’s not even a bad let’s go work with the kids yeah Leon and the mcmanis and everyone else said God he’ be he would be pulling his hair out if he had it at least he’s one step ahead of the game there yeah I guarantee you you s get to
BR at end of this year and look how much Ian’s aged from the Mellow and calmness of wil’s place to the lunacy that is Le good as a rest Ron aslam’s Farm is the the world how it changes and one last subject in BSB who on Glenn win
Oh the man who at the moment is playing social media the social media game beautifully or it’s all getting a bit boring one of the two and he he’s playing it he’s playing it too he’s playing it beautifully for himself the engagement is up but know make it
Everybody seems to be so keen on what what’s Glenn doing what’s Glenn doing what there’s this story of he’s got an offer from warhorse at M America um he’s also been hanging on for the to see what happens with PBM Y and he got big announcement on Friday rst leathers and
I put it I put that on Twitter it’s like yeah I can’t wait to see which Leathers you’re going to do yeah because as as you as you understand BSB and you understand how it all works no biger announcements come on a Friday they come on a Wednesday morning come a Wednesday
Morning for the M because it’s tied up with MCN absolutely so whenever there’s a team announcement coming 99% of the time it’s going to be on a Wednesday morning at 9:00 so it drops with the paper for Josh clous the MCN reporter and for msv to put it out on their
Socials yeah so you ain’t going to get a team announcement on a Friday no uh and and to be fair I could I could see he was throwing titbits cuz he’d done it with his his gloves and his boots and gloves and then a picture with with Tim
Martin at the Irish Awards just having a chat with my mate oh oh you riding for my trainer going to put two bikes out no they’re not no spanner will tell you that it’s a one B team with Danny Ken yeah just massive you go you go and tell
Spanner he’s going to build two bikes massive kudos for getting spanner on thanks mate I uh I spoke from today I was looking for a part for yamama highight but I but I did message you and saying well you were a on that man you
Know Well Done blah blah blah like oh I was well outside of be Comfort Z many people have come back and and thank you for everybody that’s passed the nice comments on about the the chat with Chris he wasn’t 100% sure about it but the the the feedback of having a crew
Chief on and the Insight that he bought especially we asking about Taz and the the placebo thing have you ever told a rider that you’ve made a change when you haven’t just to set their mind at rest that side of thing somebody called it um level two speak to more level two guys
So we we’re we’re in the process on I’m going to message him again today with um one who works MotoG GP and a Mot GP mechanic over in Lincolnshire so we’re going to get a few more of the behind the scenes boys on because they’re the
Ones that can tell the stories you know there’s only so many riders are too bothered about upsetting people say there’s only so many times you can speak to a rider or a pelic from runor now that knows everything ches yeah CH sorry misses will kill me we we live in chesh
Actually the place is called Norton which is very yeah um but yeah so going off in a different slightly different direction and getting these guys in for those that want to know the technical side of things you know you seem to have a really good balance you’re getting the
Old guys you’re getting The Young Riders and that so it’s it just broadens the Spectrum doesn’t it I listen to Matt oxy and Peter bomb’s podcast an awful lot I have to I have to listen to it two or three times do you have to do that yeah like really concentrate really
Concentrate squinty concentrate face I can’t listen to it while I’m working cuz I can’t give it the attention that it needs and and I’m like I can’t process what they’re saying cuz it’s it’s exceptionally technical CU it’s beautifully technical I like the people side of things yeah they’re the
Technical side of things and it’s getting the best out of people your guys like I mean Chris even to a certain extent spanner they were they were still able to explain it in layman’s terms yeah and um Matt and Matt and Pete don’t and I’ve worked with Peter Bon once when uh
Kyle Harris filled in at World Super Sport brand so so so I know Pete um and so I know where he works and what he’s like so yeah for to for me to understand anything technically from what they’re saying I have to listen to it two or
Three times so yeah the the they’re getting spanner on and the other guys and then I’m explaining things in ways that normal people can understand I don’t want I mean like I’ve said motorcycle RAC I learn as because I don’t I know the people I know the sport
But technically I don’t I’m not mechanically minded I’ve never I’ve not leared it I’ve not been involved in that side of it so it’s all new to me like having Mike and Timon but I don’t think many people in The Paddock actually knew that that spanner could actually
Speak that like honestly I mean you’ve been there 20 years and and a lot of people have walked past spanner and looked at him and he’s either gred at him snailed at him and off his popped he’s a man of he genuinely is a man he’s a man of few
Words we have a couple more black whites but or latte yeah yeah latte thank you coffee break coffee um M that’s two cofes for me yeah Hy will definitely be out tonight because I will have no control um yeah yes spanner is a man of few words until you know him
Um and genuinely up until three four years ago maybe a little bit longer we’d never we’d never spoke I once went into he was working for MSS at the time I was it was at Cadwell Park in I think 2010 cuz even I shaved my hair off then
And I was looking after Malcolm Ashley’s team for him for that weekend he was running Hudson Kenna cuz I was shouting at the podcast because he was trying to remember where he was and what he was doing 2 with MSS cuz I comeing to ask for something that that’s the hardest
Thing with with mechanic with crew chiefs you can’t kind of go on Wikipedia or on their Facebook page and go just fill in the blanks that you know a lot of it over the last 10 years for being in the pdic but there are other places but they they don’t
Have Wikipedia Pages they just they’re there for the the love of the sport and that’s their job they’re there to work at a week Wonder spanners always cross up people and i’ been in so I went into Ms they were putting putting everything together at Cadwell because everything’s
A fast there best track in the world for me but it’s a pain in the house toally logistically and I asked i’ G Malcolm asked me to go and collect some parts and I span like first time I’d ever spoke to him like d we have a fair enough kid and and off
I Poway and off I popped and he was always really p with car but he’ just never look at me and I’m like he just doesn’t just doesn’t like me and and again I get it me and spanner are definitely chalk and cheese it’s that Marmite thing that we were discussing
Earlier so and then it come to a I was talking about Taza bike at mams at one time and i’ noticed the a swinging arm had changed from one to another and I presumed it was he’d gone from Su to C to something and I was on the internet
Doing my Facebook thing after a few beers and he kind of I say piped up it come online I’ll say it come online yeah I’m not saying that SP piped up Jesus and we kind of got into a bit of a a discussion argument I think yeah yeah he was
Basically saying like what the do you know you know how do you know this and um and he was completely right I’d only had sin The Swinging arm and it looked like a calx of the time but I don’t it might have been a Factory suit but that becomes irrelevant but I private
Wonderful thank you very much thank you very much cheers um yeah we’ve got thank you you got one AR you sugars no I need some more sugars please thank you cheers thank you yeah um so I ended up messaging privately I went mate what is it that you don’t like
About me and we we had we we ended up having a chat and the thing that that became very um apparent with spanner is he is very approachable and you can speak to him and if you do what you know if you have a problem and you say
Something and tell him oh believe it you know he’s not a but a race weekend is not the time to do it no um and it just ends up being that when you got him on I think people got to see it listen to a side of spanner that not
Many folk have seen and he is a genuinely nice guy an amazing guy and what he’s done in that so proud of him what what how he was because he said before it he’s like this I’m I’m not comfortable with it but then he once he
Got going with the stories yeah and you know the story about I think him reminiscing well um I think he enjoyed the reminiscent side of things because like you say get the chance to you don’t get the chance as a when you look back at at what they’ve achieved as a crew
Chief as a mechanic as being part of a as as part of a British Championship being in World Super Sport with tar and you know there was things he could say things he couldn’t say and that was something that I was was Keen for him
Not to do was hang himself out to dry because there are certain aspects of last season he had quite a strong opinion on but that wasn’t the place to air it yeah of course and it’s not about having the podcast as a as a platform to
Slag people off when they have no right of reply yeah and I think span he was well aware of that and it was something that he he’s like you know what yeah now we the things that there were things he didn’t say that he could have done and I
Was kind I proud of him for keeping that back because it was his first time on a podcast because you know you can you can get carried away with the moment and say things and if you’re saying something and and and I suppose I’m one of them I
If I’m saying something’s wrong with the rider I I always try to justify it and never never say that I’m absolutely right it’s just that this is my personal opinion and that’s why and I will but I’ll always back them up and same the rules that are coming out I don’t know
For sure it’s just it’s conversations I’ve had and if they don’t happen they don’t happen don’t shoot the messenger yeah and if they do then let’s see what comes with the championship yeah um you know it was it was the same but anyway we were talking I can hear people
Shouting at their radios going can you please get back to can you please get back to Glenn IR so we what what do we know what do we know do I believe he was going to to M to America I think that was put out there I knew that a few days
That that was probably going to be um bull chap because Andy in went put on Twitter or something somewhere just stop messing with your fans and put an American flag up so I knew that that was there’s been a bit of that there’s been a bit of that because I noticed when
When he put up about this announcement on Friday and this was the yin and yang of it as well um Johnny Mt team coordinator for PBM put underneath it we all know you’re going to mot America with a crying face and you’re like here we go yeah it’s
Like you very rarely put anything on Twitter you’re just playing the game as well Johnny you’re joining the fun I mean normally I would have been in me element and very vocal about it and saying you know that PBM are going ahead 100% and Glenn will be the rider and
Whatever and I and I don’t know this by any stretch I think it’s highly likely well yeah but what what I mean is in the in the month since the end of the season I would have been quite vocal I like I basically only what I believe to be true
Not that I’ve spoke to anyone or I’ve had any insight or anything I just putting things together in my own brain and I’m not normally too far away and again like you say if I am ever wrong I’m the first person to hold my hands up
And people love it when I’m wrong oh you said that well all right I get things wrong cuz sometimes yeah it’s just my personal opinion it’s my hunch like it like with with Jack Miller when he went to Red Bull I said that at the before
The start of that season I so some tches you get right so then I did I did initially saying say that um PBM would be 100% running this season because I just didn’t see it not doing and from what Jordan had said on a couple of podcasts I thought yeah it
Seems to me that that that that’s the path they will follow in the go but then were that much crap started going on social media I’ve really pulled myself away from it out of respect for the the team Frank Jordan um and and and and birdie to be quite honest I mean birdie
Always loves stirring the pot so he wouldn’t to give a crap that was Bird’s most favorite thing but you know at the end of the day BSB lost something last year in bird massive a massive massive part of it you know there’s there’s only one person in BSB
That’s bigger than birdie really and you know and for the am of time he’s been there and that’s the boss he runs it you know he he runs the he runs BB so it was it really was that significant so I thought you know I’m I’m just going to
Stay out of this CU I don’t want to start having back and force and arguing and you know somebody somebody put something on the other week some block that was going oh it’s you know he never had any money the team was being paid for by loans from
Frank bird polter and like well clearly you’re a [ __ ] and you don’t understand business mate and how all that works secondly what the he got to do with you nothing and you know they this probate thing everyone’s been driving me nuts with that and you this guy put some on
You wrote underneath in your polite lovely way like you know how do you know I’m just genuinely interested and I wrote underneath something like you’re the guy had put on that PBM definitely wouldn’t be running that was it yeah yeah and I’m like genuinely not open question how do you
Know and this goes back to the journalistic side it’s likely that PBM won’t run but it’s also likely that they will but this guy was saying it as a definitive and I wanted to know how he made that decision because now when you look into it
There’s um there’s a new team there’s a new company new company set set up yeah in Jordan and Frank’s name um PBM racing limited limited limited indeed well done kids well done I need to drop Frank a message actually he said back at Donington once everything was all the duct in a row
That him and Jordan had on so I’ll be making that call this afternoon um and and I think Glenn’s been holding out long enough that I would suspect I would here we go I would heavily suspect that PBM racing will run in 2024 with one Rider on ducatti v4s something else
That had changed was the location the workshops were originally in penrith now it seems they’re running out of Frank raffles’s place Oh you mean they’ve moved back to Frank raffle’s place yes um oh back to back to the future back to the yeah so when I bought
Again Paul and this is all out there online it’s not something we make it from that point of view this is yeah in the public domain this this is me and and my own personal thing and and you know Cav so you know it such a tragic
Loss to to lose birdie was was a good friend of mine so my little Memorial to him and thank you to him but all the way through my super bike career Bird’s interjected and been out and I was one of the people that he helped that people
Don’t know about 07 we got to Donington that and like I said you the super bike engines then were super bike engines they were fortunes and our engines were tired and our budget was ridiculously low we were we were running on fumes basically um but Tristan was leading the
Super B Cup Championship and had a real chance of winning it after to back of bird truck never really sport to him just an odd nod in The Paddock and he asked me about our traction control system up at no cuz he did it and wanted to know what it
Was went in asked him if we could buy an engine he said I can’t sell you an engine can’t do that set that one there how many miles has that one done and it was um n what’s it called Stewart um blande BL Blandy how many miles has that done
Uh well it’s three 400 clicks there’s not all on it take that engine take it well how much you want for it bir sort it out probably charge a bit of rent or something but just take it Go and win your go and win your Championship off we popped year after we
Bought two bikes off him um he did us a mega deal on them and a mega thing and then in 2012 when I was running the Kawasakis one of them was running the PBM swinging arm that only birdie could have manufactured and sell it his leisure one of them had him the other
One didn’t have a swinging arm birdie I need one and I’m skin mate can you send you one down just pay me when he can and I did um so he’s been in out of my racing career all all the way through and what a guy you know the there was
Times in the in the early 2000s that people on the TV didn’t get him because he was blunt as hell blunt as hell he sacker rider for farting you it was just there he was or we came across but that really wasn’t bird he he was a he was a
Lovely chop and if he liked you you he liked you and he was Mega so yeah I’m I’m devastated his loss so that’s but that’s kind of respect I’ve tried to it as much as he can I believe like you I believe that they will run I did say at
The end of last season before I even knew anything the best thing for them to do as a starting up as a new team because it really is even though it’s the good most of the same people it’s new people running it you know Jordan’s
Got to find her feet the best thing for them to do would be to run one Rider didn’t say wi Rider didn’t know him and didn’t really care um you putting two and two together you can only surmise that it’s Glenn you can only surmise and
If the dynamic from last season as well that Jordan have you do you ever go sorry did you ever go to the workshop in pen have you ever been up there so it’s a massive hanger aircraft hanger type thing and part of this was um C anded off and made
Into to a nice Workshop so whether something’s happening with that part of the building and it because it’s only across a road from Frank bird poultry Frank bird poul is there but it used to run from down at um Frank R’s place they’ve got some brilliant little workshops there I can
Well imagine that um that’s why it’s moved back down there cuz Frank be you know they it might because of what Bird’s done over the years the amount of people that be wanting to pitch in now to help Jordan and Frank will be will be amazing and and you
Know that that that’s from where I see it and it’s the them there they’ve got the dyno on hand you know they’re not running a million miles it will have all been thought out and done correctly but the the internet these days on Facebook I know all the social media they want to
Know yesterday what’s happening what’s happening what’s happening I mean you didn’t there are some very well-informed people out there who actually think about what they’re they actually think things through before they type but there are those that just go pro it happening Pro it no Happ you read and you
Go how did you come to that how did you come to that opinion when you actually strip it back and you go well that can’t happen because of that or so and so is going to ride for them or they’re going to ride two bikes
And Rory skin is going to be on the other one you’re like well it that’s as may be but saying it as again saying it as a fact yeah that’s the bit that makes it difficult you know I even with my own beliefs I’ll question myself so I expect everybody else to
Question me if I question myself because I was I start overthinking things and right well Taz haven’t signed so could could Taz be holding out to find out exactly what Glenn’s doing that’s excuse me but that’s going to be really late in the day and they’re going to be left
Without a rider but then I’m led to believe there was an option at Taz for Glenn it it wouldn’t surprise me um it didn’t really end in the best of circumstances last time they they they rode together but it’s nice to see that they they got well over that
And and there was an option so and just but at the end of the day you’ve got to think that that that’s what’s happening um cuz unless to do with it or or John yeah unless you’ve had the phone call from one of those three to say howwi we Dave run in
One bite it’s going to be Glenn you can but then you still wouldn’t go onto a public forum and go Johnny mt’s told me or Jordan Bird’s told me you kind of like wait well no courtesy you we get told all sorts through the year but you can’t go on
There but I app it’s great that we have such um a Fascination amongst the fans FC just that that Minority just yeah yeah the the the trolly the trolly arrogant ones that are just you know and they’re just the ones that are wanting it to fail and wanting to to laugh at it
And say oh the prob bit this and but also we’ve got that Rider thing as well now ien whether you’re a Glenn fan or you’re or a Tommy fan and you’re like basically wanted to say to him on the internet was listen Frank bird Poulter
And Frank bird a massive yeah and I can assure you that if Jordan and little Frank want to go racing and Grandad agrees and all the other people are there in the right places cuz there’s a couple of other people that are in the background helping out that I know of if
They want to go racing it doesn’t matter about the pro bet they will go racing I can assure you business is business and racing is racing whether everything of bires has to sit in a in in the hanger for 12 months that was always going to
Be the case because he was so director yeah without anything in place for Frank or Jordan or for Frank Senor to take control so Paul bird Motorsport as a company is still going through processes but it doesn’t stop them setting up PBM racing exactly ex as a new company with
Two new directors yeah to go racing yeah exactly yeah PB Paul bird Motorsport limited or whatever it was as a company will cease to exist because the sole director passed away and I think um Grandad I think took it on because when you have a look on company’s house
Director resigned which it’s we he didn’t obviously but it says from from a from a legal perspective yeah um and there there are Financial considerations to be to be looked at with Paul bird Motorsports so set up a fresh new company Jord and Frank there you go let’s go Glenn in a one-man
Team for his confidence let’s say for one of a better word for for the confidence that he has within himself and his character it’s the perfect storm for him yeah Glenn if if if he goes Glen will have everything around that he needs that that side of things will will kind
Of the comfort thing will be there he knows all his mechanics and stuff if they stayed in that um I think Ryan rainy and I think maybe JN and wer I think he’s retaining the same yeah um staff um and you know it’s PBM by name
And it like you say it’s still have a lot of the old people there but be nice to just give Jordan and Frank the chance to to grow and and and make it completely there so it’s I just don’t think there was the need for all the the
Crap that was thrown out there you know like I hope it runs be a shame if they didn’t run Etc not there I can tell you it’s not running because I’ve looked and I’ve been on company’s EG [ __ ] off everyone can go on company’s eggs C you
Know it just it just yeah so I still clear be a big hole in the championship as well wouldn’t it we we’ve lost two births with mam jamaha um the marra one remains so there’s there’s two missing there um one bike at PBM will Lee Hardy Lee hard’s
Been really quiet so I don’t know what’s going on there yeah I mean he put this winter testing Livery out hasn’t it the the black data tag um so as you got a rider in place if so you can’t kind of GL point out to good point sign Glenn
Yeah he’s signed Glenn yeah p pbms in prob bit I didn’t if you know ah yeah so he’s going to run Glenn on De catties out of gastan out of gastan yeah that’s the one that’s the one um yeah yeah but like you see he has been
Very quietly hasn’t it but but again the the SE I mean the season it it is get it is getting ever closer um so that you know announcements will be made but if everyone’s been you know since the bloody La the the season finished on the last day last year everyone who’s doing
This season finished on the last day that’s unusual well well it starts on the last day as well doesn’t it at the end of the last day the 24 starts but what I mean is people just want 24 starts now there should be a gap between announcements new season loading all the
Social Media stuff coming through it’s race week when you wake up when you wake up on Monday morning with that hangover at BRS and think oh Christ not me I better uh I better go home and do some work to try a racing next year we went
Back Sunday night not staying for them parties too old for that [ __ ] I tried I mean I didn’t make the last one this year I missed the last few rounds because of of of what we discussed earlier on um but I tried the year
Before and I made it to half 10 and I was back at the otel and I’d rung Emily and said I’ll come home it’s tea time I’m I’m I’m really ready for home I don’t want kids she was like come full of kids she was come she says no stay
Them there this is your night you know this is what you and I was like yeah pissed off on so we’re too old for that now yeah we can’t do it let’s have a dabble in World Super bikes Johnny Ry Yamaha top rack to BMW sha M very
Bullish about top rack very bullish after the test even though it went pop on the second lap yeah yeah it happens it it happens um everyone will be complaining about I mean you don’t know you don’t I would imagine it it have been a very similar B
To what was being run run last year but you don’t know what they had inside it might be to to try or whatever but it was quite a flippant remark but it Che the way that sea mu is so bullish about the BMW and they they’ve changed a lot
Of things and things have being F led me to think that the you know the BSB bikes will come on in leaps and Bs um you know maybe they F something chassis wise or what I don’t know I don’t know um but yeah so you’ve got the the main protagonists there that have
Swapped bikes or changed manufacturers should I say CU he not like swap from one to another Sam L’s coming into it Andre only you know with um a member of Tommy bridwell’s Championship winning team car has gone to Sam Low’s M VDS well you L Italian man with the top knot well if
If I’m right and I think I’m right and I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure that I saw an old crew chief for shaky Burns in with Sam a certain Mr giovany did I see right I think he did yes I thought I saw him so you know G
He’s giovan is no mug and he and he was in a VDS shirt he wasn’t in a catti top which I found very interesting because he’s been deatti through and through for Gio and and cam have worked together for years they know each other well from
Thec the title was shaky won the title was Scott reading Scott reading took into Worlds with him didn’t they um and then he’s been whever so yeah to for him to leave the dcti fold um it to be what to be fair it just shows how serious VDS
Must be about the the world super B campaign that it might not it might not end to see what he can do you know yeah but but it might not end with just just some there for the next three years it could I I just wouldn’t imagine Giovani
Leaving the the comfort of dcti unless just in a VDS shirt and he’s if they’re a ducatti employee they wear the dcti stuff you true Paulo did it yeah PBM didn’t he this year yeah they always they’re always in the red it’s like if you’re look in a Prat garage at motor GP
You see the deatti yeah guys there so so yeah so that’s you know World Super B has the prospect have been really rather entertained there was some some good races last year but you were always looking the best racing I thought for the season yeah I know it was the same
Threey it’s boring it’s the same three guys but it’s exciting racing yeah even if the Manchild on a missile decides to disappear off into the distance the racing behind was fantastic but he’s come out now hasn’t he and said well he was asked about the um the the weight the weight limits a
Little bit tougher on this it’s going to be tougher but I’m not going to cry about it like the Riders did to make it happen and so it starts um Johnny Ray on a Yamaha Johnny Ray style for the last however million years has y so suited to what that yamaha’s about
And how often has he been behind it to understand what he can do but it should suit me like behind it behind it should shoot Johnny R down to the absolute Grim top rack top rack well we’ll see at the end of today and certainly ended
Tomorrow where it doesn’t have a big 600 met straight it’s all twists and turns so if they’ve got the bike dialed we it’s a great leveler to understand how the bike actually works rather than having the horsepower down the straights and making the time up there all the
Time’s got to be made up through the the curves yeah um so Alex Alex L on the Kawasaki I think that’s going to Teeter off um I just think Kawasaki need to to build a new bike it’s been the same B for that long now as a teammate young F
Itan yeah so we’ll see how that goes whether that Spurs him on or not um because Alex is clearly that he’ll be the number one Rider but then um who else is the coming into into the for only you know there so you’ve now got there’s three the six or seven
Riders that could you know kind of fight for certainly podiums and know Ian only should should be winning Sam interesting to see what he does Sam could win Puchi Puchi yeah he’s he’s it’s it’s his time to to shine a little bit now even though
I think he struggles I think Sam will be top five top six Pace yeah fairly swiftly I think he’s got the bike for it he’s he’s not too heavy he’s not too tall he’s he’s you know he’s he’s probably the perfect ducatti size almost after Bou Easter what is he about 5’7
5’6 5’7 yeah yeah he’s not he’s not the biggest I wonder who’s going to who’s going to be the person to try and get in between the L Twins fighting in the race I’ll go up inside of one still it could there’s a potential for them to get in each other’s way without
Anybody else helping yeah there’s a big potential for that so that’s um yeah that’ll be that’ll be interesting to see it’s I think that’s one for your for your next podcast that you can set let people know how it went but uh yeah I think to like you say like
You say I mean Sean you he’s always bullish about his teams and what they what they capable of are going to do but he does seem rather upbeat about this one and I’m also intrigued to see what Scott does at bonovo without the the SMR input because clearly the relationship
Was on its back side there last year for whatever reason however it works we don’t know what goes on behind the garage door but there was clearly not he was kind of muzzled from the start of the Season talking to the Press you could see from his body language he
Wasn’t happy everything was an issue Fresh Start If the BMW has changed under the bonovo banner alongside Goff that’s going to be again that might just be the spark that Scott needs yeah maybe just he needs that bit more freedom of of of what he wants rather than BMW saying you
Have to do I mean they’re getting a lot more support but it’s it’s whether you know Sean M’s team might have been saying it can only work like this and Scott well I want to try this I do know I’m pretty I’m pretty sure this I’m
Factually right on this that at one test last year they put a standard swinging arm in Scott’s bike and it they put a carbon fiber shroud over it I know someone in the padic that saw it um and didn’t really do too much more than that
That he would he would Scott was that lost with the bite that he wanted to try the stand you know kind of go back to go forward but yeah this you know for whatever reason sometimes you can have the best team and the best Rider and if
They don’t gel as a package it just doesn’t work unfortunately and it you know it’s so much more that needs to align it’s not as simple as that if it was it would happen all the time yeah you know I think best Rider on the best bike where does that lead us
To do you want to go to motor GP some young um upand cominging Talent what’s he called now bloody um he’s got a brother he’s got a brother called Alex um Sam Sam l no no not not him Martin martinz Mark Marquez yeah he he’s done
All right a couple of times yeah had a couple of results on a had him a few years ago he was quite fast but the last couple of years he’s top number one in the crash standings yeah literally been to to Hellen back hasn’t it and I think every
Journalist and reporter always said The only person that would stop m Marquez winning was would be himself and they were very right weren’t they so yeah the biggest news in motor GP I mean it getting shows when the team launch the other day half the internet
Was watching the team launch that was a big hooa of a thing and that’s a they’re not even a you know they get a little bit of assistance they’re on year old bikes you know they’re not a PR to to the C but they got more exposure than the the factory
Team the factory team just basically put pictures out yeah you know what I mean there was no team launch for the factory team it was no change of Rider Number one’s Chang a little bit different for PCO it’s it’s more in keeping with the color of the
Bite there was going to be no bigger story and no bigger launch than than that was I mean he rode it at Valencia in in November after the last round and anyone that watched it you could see that he looked I can picture it now he looked like that smile when he
Came and sat down in front of Frankie and he looked across and and the whole of the internet and I think the whole of the internet went yay the Moto GP pad it went oh no yeah cuz he looks and it’s been said by other reporters since and
And I said it he doesn’t look like he’s even trying he’s FL he looked like he was floting we know what Mark did 30 laps didn’t he and he went faster than he did on the Honda what Mark’s style is about and that heavy breaking and the
Backends and he’s all over the shot and he just he was just floating around you know he was coming onto the start finish straight there was a little wheeler and he was off a bit like that and the rest of it was just just flawed imagine the
Size of the grin that he had after five laps well you you you would completely completely 180 degrees different to Valentino when he wrote it they can say you know all the other hunda Riders struggled I mean RNs did win a race on it at Texas but the H always seems to go
Well there I was well done you you’re the good luck champ Honda Honda’s latest employee good luck ch um so yeah but you after such being so dominant to be then struggling and you know there were times this season where we we know for a fact
Because he openly ad he said I give up I am not putting my balls on the line for nth and 10th for what yeah we seen him a couple of times fighting for fourth and there were there was a Sparks of the old um of Mark but nothing really to write
The fight was there when he wanted it to be well and when he knew he could use it when he when felt he could get a result that was top five but it’s you know but once if you notice once he got back to fifth and sixth it was kind of like it
Just s of yeah you know what off you go boys fill your boots marking time till the end of the season so he will have whe like it or not he will have been doubting himself and questioning himself a hell of a lot so yeah like you say after five LS he
Must have just kind well and after after two years on a nail to get on that and go this is what I can do I can still do it and look at what I’m going to do remember Casey when he rode the um the LCR yeah it wasn’t the best bike on the
Grid and he struggled and struggled and struggled they put him on the duati and he was I know he had the Bridgestone tires and there was there were there were other parts to it but the fact that he had a season on a bike that he had to override that
Was difficult and trying to spit him off and now Mark’s had that for two seasons on that RCV now he’s got on a that will do what he wants with all the arrow with the electronics all of a sudden and this was something else that I was speaking to somebody somebody about
Previously Mark is the sole remaining alien he is he yes so will Valentino jge Casey Danny Mark they’re the aliens Danny proved that at maano yeah anywhere or done anything apart from testing KTM and he’s challenging for third at misano yeah he was old I’m going to say I think he
Tested it at both tracks previous and they so but it’s still got ped round dude yeah yeah but that’s what I’m saying that that testing previously you know if you’ve been at a track two weeks before or let’s say for like Leon at at Donnington hlam it only gives you that Advantage
For about the first five laps because you’re straight into it and you’ve no but after that you’re riding against the best in the world that have also rid there a lot they don’t know they know yeah there were a lot of people saying that oh he’s Rod there he’s been
There every bloody day well listen I told you it’ll give him an advantage for the first half of the session because he’s set up a bit pretty near but you know there’s only two sessions for them all to find the settings and they there there’s all
The so for me to see Mark with that smile it’s going to be difficult to see which way he goes and I know you’ve got got the theory on the 23 bike which I disagree with completely shall I throw myself under the bus now go for it so wait for this I
Am and I I really I’m throwing myself under the bus pull up a sandbag he’s going to tell you a story yeah um I just think there’s going to be another twist to the tail and it’s completely only me and I think I’m the only person in the
World that thinks it and hopefully which tells you all you need to know if Frankie Frankie sees this he obiously can shoot me go don’t talk at your ass but we are Frank in the next couple of weeks so I will point it out it last last season when when Martin was
Fighting for the championship with with PCO there was all sorts of deatti will allow him to win the championship because there won’t be team orders which was which is cool of dcti but if he’s won it at the end of the season he’s moving to Red the number plate will be
On a red bike the number one yada yada yada he’s on a factory bike in prak so you know it leaves PR you know it’s it’s unfortunate for Prat it w’t get to run the play Etc so you then get Mark Marquez coming into your satellite team that is just a
Customer team at the end of the day that could win a championship what is essentially the fourth tier tatti team after pramac vr46 so probably let say the third because You’ put pramac and um vr46 on a similar level yeah and then you the the only team that you were considered to be
Lower last year than than graini really like you say in the T Stakes with the RF April is really you know that’s kind of I know what you mean so m i mean this this decision will have to be made by the end of the sapang test I believe
Because that’s when they’d have to do it so will we see Marquez having a bike pushed into the back of his garage at sapang no now someone will go oh you know there’s cost things and deatti said they can’t make anymore if D want deatti want
To make another 24 bike they will let’s be clear on that how long’s his contract I know it’s only 12 months but this is it so you’re at risk of having your best Rider PCO on the best bike being beaten by a third fourth tier team on a year
Old bike how does that make you look as the cat especially and I’m only going off with what they did to to Mar and basically said we’re going to you win you’re moving to to the red bike not to it wasn’t to promote yeah it wasn’t to
Promote him it was so that the red Decat would have the number one on let’s be honest that’s what it was about so there could be a final twist I’m probably a million per wrong because meed’s done a million miles an hour about it but all right let me say this
Would it surprise you if it did happen if the C come along and went listen we we can’t you know because they’ll be thinking in their minds in the manag side can we risk a 23 bike beating the 24 in a team like that where does where
Where does it put the cat that’s the choice they take that’s the risk they’ve taken in putting Mar in in allowing grini to sign Mark do you think they had a lot of a lot more to do with it than than you think not monetary wise but um
Terms of s they’re yeah because they are a private they’re absolute private don’t to buy the bikes off D catti for them but you’re not telling me that an Italian team running de catties doesn’t have a strong link to the factory yeah so Dominic Al AB will be will understand
Exactly what’s going on and that that grini brought in Mark alongside his brother Alex showed what the bike can do Digi showed what the bike can do at the end of last season when he found his form which I was so so pleased about I think digi’s great but the risk they
Understand the risk of racing of whether Mark is the mark of old after his arm injuries which I I don’t doubt he isn’t it’s the archetype I’ll beat you with one arm tied behind my back well most of the time in the last two years he’s had
To race with one arm behind his back but they they won’t want a factory 24 bike going into a fourth tier ducatti team because all their money goes on red when they’re gambling the money goes on red they everything goes into that and you could argue the fact that there were issues
With um if if you want to be a real um conspiracy theorist problems with launch control on a prac problems with tire pressures on the prac let me just throw that out there I don’t believe it for one minute but there are people out there who will
Be all over that so you know it’s like GG’s in the back of the garage press the button the button boss press the button PR the button yeah that’s real conspiracy exactly but I don’t believe that for one minute but that’s just tongue and cheek but they always bet on
Red and they will put everything they can behind bastianini and PCO they believe PCO has enough to beat Mark some to throw in the mix isn’t it yeah yeah we’re doing two edits of this by the way so at the end of this we’re going to
Redo this and I’m going to go there is no way that D would ever consider giving Marquez because this is going out after the the suan test oh God quick just to to round this off CU what we’re we’re on we on nearly hours Jesus good um top three uh sorry top three
Champions BSB World Super bite mot GP go oh de why did you do right I’m going to go because Glenn for BB um I’m going to put my neck would I say really on the line Johnny Ray I’m going to go with Johnny Ray on the Yamaha really do think that
There’s something there knowing that you know I’ve R I’ve rod with Johnny and I know he rides that’s how old I am um mot GP I’ll go left field I’ll go Martin okay I’ll go Martin I’ll go Martin I don’t I don’t know if I believe that but
It’s who I’m going to pick it’s who I’m going to pick Glen Owen Johnny Ray ha Martin yeah that’s what I’d liked that’s who I’d like to win so that’s who I’m picking yeah this is going to be worth visiting at the end of the season in it Christ
Almighty I’ve told you this might be my last ever one and if these all these predictions that don’t come out right I I probably will I’ll be hiding under a bush going no no I don’t want to talk oh weirdly I was just going to say after
The first couple of rounds of the Season why don’t we sit down and do this again um for a pup chat like this that that that that I would be be be happy yeah yeah yeah defin with me again I think so I think so we’ve had enough to talk
About it for the last two hours let’s say honestly weirdly the the first part feel feels like a therapy session I’ve had that much that I’ve wanted to say to people cuz they’re not going to see me certainly not this year as much in the
Padic C and I just wanted people to kind of understand where the rider’s mentalities at you know James toland I’ve heard him talking a lot his story is very similar to mine with my my father dying and my mother fetching me up and me getting into racing how I did
And stuff was very similar and I just you know and he’s had his his troubles and you know mental health never gets talk about and now it’s almost the it’s gone the the other way that everybody’s bloody talking about it I just think I’ve got a real thing to to say that you
Know there’s just because you might be the loudest brashest person in the room that’s trying to entertain everybody you might be the scarest person in the room the unhappiest or whatever so don’t always just take you know don’t dge your book by its cover sometimes there there’s a little bit behind there so
We’ve all got life going on outside of this yeah but that’s but that’s the thing you say I never did I my sole Focus was on racing and chasing sponsors and trying to get it and then when it didn’t happen for whatever reason cuz I couldn’t get the money the the downtime
Then for me in my head is is it’s terrible and I’d never want anybody to to go through that so but now I’m able to focus on more than one thing at once which I’ve never been able to do in in anything from rugby as a kid to to
Working to to come in racing it’s I’m focused on that and the blinkers are on and everyone else can sort off it’s why rugby was it was a a proper team sport as and you were all on the pitch together I know racing is a team sport
But when you’re on the bik you’re on your own not though is it and I never it never worked for me even though I was you know I was really good at rugby I don’t want to keep backing on about that bit but but I was but it was F time you
Said I just I just never it was just not what I wanted so I could have been it could have been the best in the world but I would have never found any enjoyment so even though racing has brought some seriously dark times I would take the
Good times of racing over over anything else and I’m not I don’t want sympathy from from anybody cuz believe me I’ve lived I’ve had a good time time I’ve had an amazing time but you’ve just got to find that balance and it’s took me 46 years to realize that there is more to
Life than just that one thing be be anything rugby racing know I’ve got me I’ve got the boy to think about now and we’ve got to get him on that golf course as soon as possible because he’s my little retirement plant and on that bombshell so so how he
Hasn’t grown up he’s just matured a bit and you comtable in your own skin I don’t know someone else said that mat I don’t want to say matured why because i’ rather say calm down and and and and start started thinking I don’t same mature I feel like
You’re maturing you seem like I’m trying to go on some sort of bloody maturing I’m not a cheese s Saga holiday or something like that no I just is mate and the old the POU will be coming through no no no I’m I refuse to accept
Maturing I say just just calm down and realize that you don’t yeah you just I I can I can be you can be happy in accepting that’s the one that’s the one more accepting of life so yeah let’s send it there melf gentl Michael Howard thank you much thank you
4 Comments
What is the omission, that you reference Nico Bulega, in the description?
Such an interesting chat guys awesome watch so many things covered I just loved being a fly on the wall for this one Michael just has to come back on again for more chat and insight .I was a bit concerned for Rory being on a BMW but when you look at Leon's season it ain't a half bad bike really such an exciting prospect this year and Danny on a Yamaha well that's gotta be good . Gotta know where that cafe is Dave cos I'm moving to cliviger just outside Burnley in the next month or 2 😉it looks good and I like a coffee and cake whilst out .In my opinion their is no way the Glenn would be sat on the sidelines at this time if the PBM team was not going to be on the grid but what the hell do I know 😂 .👌👍
Brilliant show Dave and Michael. Loved all the content. Best insight I’ve watched on the B.S.B 2024, and including the TT. Much thanks 🙏 to you both. 👍
Realy enjoyed this one, didnt even notice how long it was 😊