She went to University or still is attending classes, I can't recall the course though...
Printable View
She went to University or still is attending classes, I can't recall the course though...
Arts degree! :rotflmao:
Sadly it looks like Ant is in the growing list of good riders without a ride this year. Tough time to be a professional motorcycle racer in these tough times of dwindling grids.
Arts degree! :rotflmao:Quote:
Originally Posted by Roby44
Sadly it looks like Ant is in the growing list of good riders without a ride this year. Tough time to be a professional motorcycle racer in these tough times of dwindling grids.
which other recent ex-motogp riders are currently unemployed?
I don't think there's many..
its a world wide thing - not just motor cyclesQuote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
Garry McCoy, James Ellison, John Hopkins only just got a ride in his national series (equivalent of West getting a 'dreaded' ride in ASBK), Alex Hoffman seems resigned to finishing as a test rider, Jamie Hacking, at the moment I can't see Mark Aitchison anywhere, current runner-up and 3rd place in ASBK Glenn Allerton and Wayne Maxwell have had to start their own teams to continue to race like Craig Coxhell did last year, except Cannonball is currently without a confirmed ride. They're not all ex-MotoGP but they're all bloody good riders.Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
And there's nothing surer than teams will disappear before and during the season this year. Like I said, tough time to be a professional racer (or anyone else as ozrevhead says).
Oh, forgot to mention, Ant has been listed with MZ on the Moto2 reserves list. Hope they are prepared coz I reckon there's a good chance of opportunity for them to step up.
Ant to follow Yamaha Racing Team to the Australian Formula Extreme Championship?
He said he would not race ASBK!
Anthony West has found a job in 2010. The former 250cc, MotoGP and Supersport pilot will go into the long distance World Cup at the start. His team-mates will be the Senior TT winner on the Isle of Man, 2009, Steve Plater and Damian Cudlin. Plater will be on display this year in the British Superbike and on the Isle of Man, Cudlin will ride in the IDM. The team is headed by Michael Bartholemy, who will manage 2010 a Moto2 team. The oil company Elf, will take over the sponsorship of the Endurance team, is gone with Honda Fireblades. motorsport-magazin.com
Thanks for that Jack. I see it's on MCN too : http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sp...?&R=EPI-121680
World Endurance isn't really where I'd like to see him but if it's a paying job in what sounds like a good team (his teammates are certainly competitive) then I guess it's a good thing.
i dont believe this story.Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
see below, from facebook:
"Ant West in in italy tested a superbike but they want me to pay them so just working on that
or moto2!"
Bryan Staring has just resigned from YRT Australia....... Ant? And it would be a paying job!Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
Well at some stage there's going to have to be a believable story or the dude's gonna be stuck on the sidelines again. He's just going to have to take whatever he can get.Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
Kev Curtain has Starings Yam ride in FX
any inside news on ant, jack?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pantah Jack
you used to be the go-to man when it came to behind the scenes westy goings on. heheh.
MZ retests
http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/im...sa/22444_6.jpg
The group, led by Martin Wimmer and Ralf Waldmann later this week further testing in Barcelona.
In the development department and the prototype was modified in MZ in Hohndorf diligently gewerkelt. On Friday, a new development stage of the MZ Moto2 ran successfully for the first time to the test.
A newly-created metal frame forms the basis for the prototype of the MZ-Moto2. This design was developed by Martin Wimmer and his team of specialists to improve the stiffness of the MZ. This had been identified by MZ test driver Anthony West in the first tests yet.
First, the slope of Valencia on Monday and Tuesday should have been hired. But the look in an international report said, for that period, only 8 degrees and rain ahead, said Wimmer. "We have therefore postponed and will test from Wednesday to Friday Barcelona."
For the driver issue: The Australian West is still as a tester for MZ with the process of going with the option of the MZ and 2010 in the race when there is approval. West was also to be a candidate for DFX Ducati in the Superbike World Championship.
Hey Jake... All pretty tight lipped at the moment. Must be pissin' him off big !!Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
Hey Ninja.... I am not sure of the accuracy of this one but I did get it from one of Ant's former mechanics from the Kiefer Boss days so ?????? I have not had it confirmed by Ant. Bottom line as always is CASH. I know Ant is really pissed that a lot of other riders that he considers inferior (as do I) have rides in Moto2, WSBK and WSS. Worth rembering tho that Ant's Dad also pumped in a lot of cash in the early days (about 1.8mill AUD). Ant also personally stuck in 180,000 Euro (which was the cash for his "second" year KTM ride) for the Kiefer ride in 2006.Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
It is a pity the Moto2 grid is restricted to 40 however this has more to do with the number of bikes permitted on a lot of the tracks than anything else. I dont like the chances of any of the listed Moto2 teams pulling out now but you just never know with various "sponsors" having a habit of not making payments to teams on time etc etc ???
TIME WILL TELL
jack. getting info from a german site: motorsport aktuell.
here's the latest development.
MZ: Wimmer's Emergency Plan
Should they not be accepted for Moto2, project leader Martin Wimmer has made a Plan B.
After the new MZ Moto2 on Friday, has successfully passed the test on your baptism of fire, it was shipped late on Monday evening and sent on their way to Barcelona. Ralf Waldmann and Martin Wimmer drove on the night of Tuesday to Geneva.
There, the MZ comes in a truck hired one professional test team, which has the necessary equipment such as tools, data recording and monitors available.
Ralf Waldmann will conduct the test in Barcelona starting on Thursday. There he meets on his test driver Anthony West, who comes from Italy to Barcelona. A native of West Australia and for some years in Austria, but has moved because of a relationship now his second home in Italy.
"We will be on display until Thursday at the track. Rather, it all was, unfortunately, not created." admits Martin Wimmer. "The trim parts have been painted on weekends and most recently assembled and labeled. Everything is very tight. "
"During the test days are our employees in the factory have already finished off another frame, in order to further test's to try different outcomes, this will help if Anthony once again takes to the gravel trap."
The truck comes on Friday in Barcelona. "Then we still have two days in Barcelona and drive straight on to Jerez" reveals Wimmer.
The decision for a starting spot in the Moto2 2010 falls before the official tests which on 28 February in Jerez will take place. If the decision is for the MZ to run in Moto2 is declined, the team plans to run with the MZ Moto2 in the Spanish championship.
I dont know how happy Ant would be riding in the Spanish championship, but maybe they will apply for a few full time Moto2 wildcards and he'll just have to suck it up?
It appears to be his only option unfortunately.
West 5th-.2sec at Moto2 test 19 Feb. 2010.
Results
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/r...oto2+final+day
MZ with a declaration of war
By John and Peter Orasche Preissler
02.03.2010 11:14:18
The team led by Martin Wimmer and Ralf Waldmann wants to literally force a place in the Moto2.
The MZ-Team, with Anthony West in the saddle, shining with sixth place on the first day of testing at Valencia. Only: MZ is in the field of teams of the new class still listed as a Moto2 replacement. MZ-be boss Martin Wimmer will have none: "We constantly slap down some great times, until we have a fixed place," announced in Munich.
In Valencia, the team came up with a gain: New on board the Frenchman Martial Garcia, who has for years pushed for Kawasaki France and France recently for Yamaha in the Supersport and World Superbike scene as a team manager's own development projects.
Because of the cost-cutting measures in Europe and the French Yamaha importer country, Garcia is 2010 people are no longer in the Superbike World Championship. Last year, the team with David Checa Yamaha Ipone World Cup final ranking with 37 and four world championship points was anything but successful.
From http://www.speedweek.ch
Jerez test Moto2: day's best time for the West on MZ!
By Oliver Feldtweg 08.03.10-17:48
For the first time succeeded in MZ with the Australian test driver Anthony West, a personal best in the new Moto2 class.
The third day of the IRTA test at the Circuito de Jerez weather is standing under an unlucky star. It was still raining again, so the times remained unchanged from Sunday.
Bright spot for the MZ-Team: Anthony West saw rain on Monday with 1:56,636 min for the day's best time. "This week will decide whether we finally declared a fixed launch site for the World Cup will Moto2" MZ engineer Ralf Waldmann. "The impeccable test time should help us ..."
Looks like the teams KINO racing and Stop & Go dont have the money for racing this years Moto2. So maybe a chans for West to race in Moto2. If MZ/West have the money.
Hmmm, yes I'd noticed they were absent from testing. Guess Kino (with Fabricio Perren aboard) weren't much of a surprise that they're missing - although I'd picked him for a Fantasy League team! - but Stop and Go are more unexpected as their riders are Hector Faubel and Ratthapark Wilairot...Quote:
Originally Posted by axxexs
MZ will be there!
http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/im...sa/22585_6.jpg
By John Orasche
The MZ-team led by Martin Wimmer have been fulfilled, on Sunday came from Spain the confirm a Moto2 starting spot.
Martin Wimmer in accordance with the telephonic confirmation from a launch site for his project from MZ Moto2 finally relax and plan. The troops had made at the official test at Valencia and Jerez, with Anthony West, several positive attention to himself and has now been incorporated into the permanent starter list of new Moto2 class.
Thus Wimmer Ralf Waldmann and partners have won a major stage win, after the project of the MZ-Roller-series had to be placed due to lack of bank commitments for the time being on ice. The stakes in the Moto2 class, as opposed to secured with budgets.
Even West was already committed for the entire season. Is now for the Zschoppau to produce enough parts to racing. On 26 March there in the last Jerez IRTA test before the season opener on 11 April in Doha.
Looks like Westy is back in the GP paddock :) Yey!
Great news for the team and West........fingers crossed.
West on the bike? Hope they dont run short of funds...
YEEHAA.......... FROM MOTOGP.COM
MZ Racing, who have Anthony West as their sole rider, have had their participation in the inaugural Moto2 season confirmed.
The German team, which is directed by Martin Wimmer with former rider Ralf Waldmann as his partner, have already ridden at the recent official tests at Valencia and Jerez, as well as the private test at Catalunya before that. MZ has now been made a permanent entry on the grid of the new category following the withdrawal of the Kino Racing team, who have cancelled their project due to financial problems.
The final readjustments to the Moto2 list for 2010 will see the return to the World Championship scene of experienced Australian rider West, who competed in the former 250cc class for a number of seasons on Honda, KTM and Aprilia bikes, and in MotoGP in 2007 and 2008 with Kawasaki. Absent from the Championship in 2009 West will ride the MZ chassis this year in Moto2, which proved very competitive at the official test at Valencia.
The Spanish Kino Racing team, which was preparing to compete in the new category with Argentinean rider Fabricio Perren, announced their withdrawal due to financial issues. The team were unable to complete their budget on time following the last-minute cancellation of sponsors who had been confirmed, said a team press release.
So who is gonna sponsor Ant West & the MZ team?
Like a phoenix with a mullet, Super Westie rides again!!! I hope he wastes them all with withering speed and witty post-race repartee.
From Moto Matters
Submitted by David Emmett on Tue, 2010-03-16 16:06.
With the official withdrawal of the Kino Racing team from the Moto2 field yesterday comes a new opportunity. To fill the place vacated by the Argentinian rider Fabrizio Perren, the first reserve rider has been allowed onto the grid, in the shape of Ant West and the MZ team. West has been testing with MZ since last year, though the team started out with one of West's former CBR600RR Stiggy Honda Supersport machines. Since then, Martin Wimmer and former 250 star Ralf Waldmann have been working on a trellis framed prototype which West has tested at Valencia, Barcelona and Jerez.
There is a certain poetic irony to the return of the MZ name to the middle class. The former East German factory revolutionized the 250s and sounded in the two stroke era when Walter Kaaden took the technology he had learned building V1 rockets and applied it to two-stroke exhausts. After a modest debut in 1957, the factory returned with a vengeance in 1958, its two-stroke engine radicalizing engine design throughout the 1960s, eventually forcing the four strokes out of the sport. It took a rule change imposed by the MSMA to finally kill off the two strokes in the intermediate class, and the introduction of the 600cc four-stroke Moto2 bikes.
And so MZ has come full circle. Once again, a poorly funded effort with a talented rider will take on the might of the established forces in Moto2 - in as far as there can be said to be any. Indeed, Ant West is also a fitting rider for the MZ effort, having been the rider who brought the Austrian KTM team back into the 250 class. So now, West takes it upon himself to bring forward another German-speaking team and develop a brand new bike. It will be fascinating to see whether the new MZ can live up to the fame of the old name.
For those of you interested in the history of MZ and how they changed motorcycle racing, see Mat Oxley's excellent book "Stealing Speed."
Monster leathers on Ant - they from the Kwaka days...
thought id revive this, for those interested. :)
West wants to push higher in Moto2
Anthony West achieved his best result of the season so far at Catalunya, where ninth place was a reward for the hard work that the Australian and his MZ Racing team have put into what has been a difficult introduction to the Moto2 class.
“When this new class started I was really excited because all the bikes were going to be quite similar, but money always plays a big part and our team doesn’t really have a lot to spend on some good parts,” explained West. “The other teams still have bikes that are a little bit better than ours, so that’s something we need to improve on and try and find some good sponsorship, but we are doing the best we can.”
The result at Montmeló in the last round was West’s first top-ten of the season and he wants to use it as a springboard for more solid results.
He continued: “For us Catalunya was like a win on this bike. Now I want to win. Even though I had one good result at Catalunya I still want to win. Top ten is not enough for me: I want to be up the front. We’re a small team and it would be nice to beat the top guys with big budgets on the bike we have got, that’s our goal. I think we can do it; we just need to go ahead with what we have.”
West and his team were present at last week’s Aragón test where they ran a new lighter chassis, which West hopes will make a difference for the remainder of the campaign.
“The biggest reason we needed a new frame was the weight of our bike. It’s more or less 18kg heavier than every other bike that’s out there and in this class every little thing makes a big difference on the track,” he said. “There’s one second between 20 guys so you need everything to be perfect and when we have 18kg on a bike we have no chance of winning. I’m happy with it so far and I just hope that it’s going to work in a race situation, which is always different from testing. So far it feels good though.”
This weekend will offer West and his team the chance to see the fruits of their labours at Sachsenring, a track the rider is looking forward to tackling.
“Germany for me is more like a home race being with this German team and a German manufacturer in MZ. I seem to have automatically gotten a huge fan base in that area so I’m looking forward to it. There are a lot of people who are still in love with the MZ brand and I hope we can put on a good show for them there. I’d love to get a good result before we go into the short holiday and then I can go and relax a bit and not stress about the season we’ve had so far,” concluded West.
Crikey....18 kilos is a lot....the equivalent 18 litres of water. The original frame was slightly "agricultural" in appearance. Great rider and I hope things are on the improve for him and the team.
Anthony West: New chassis, New perspectives
After the first trial runs at the official tests in Moto2 Alcañiz last week completed the new aluminum tubular chassis of the MZ Racing team is a promising debut in a real race conditions at the Grand Prix Germany at the Sachsenring.
http://www.muz.de/images/stories/Pre...achs_600px.jpg
The new aluminum tubular chassis - whether it is used in the race is decided depending on the weather on Saturday
Built by Frenchman Martial Garcia, a partner of MZ in Moto2 racing, is the new chassis lighter and handier than its predecessor, made of steel and shows up on the twisty Sachsenring, despite the initially modest 29th position of Anthony West as right choice.
"Anthony has just completed the first mile with this chassis at Saschsenring, and of course we still have some coordination problems. We were translated by two teeth too long, we had to adjust the position of handlebars and brake pedal, and even with the suspension still plenty of work ahead of us. But the basic right, "the team manager Peter Rubatto was confident.
This confidence was shared by MZ's Managing Director Martin Wimmer. "I was on the track and have done in the curved sections Teilstoppungen. And when Anthony was very good. He has lost on Elias and Iannone, only one tenth of a second. The overall lap time is not right yet, and that we need to analyze the data recording. But with our cornering speeds we are forefront. "
Anthony West - 29 Place in 1:27,935 min.
"We need some time for the suspension tuning. It certainly was a little early, with the new framework now compete at a Grand Prix, but we had to take that risk, because the other bike had reached his limit. We are still far from a good set-up away, but if we have only found the correct settings for the suspension will work very well, the chassis, as I am sure. The feeling is so good, but the suspension was now simply much too soft. The front wheel went under braking, the rear wheel when accelerating on block, and the whole bike surged back and forth like a seesaw - a funny feeling. But at least we know where we start tomorrow. If all goes according to plan, I can certainly keep up with the fastest group. "
apologies for the poor google translation, but you get the idea. haha.
Been a while ........ but a few updates.
It seems Ant has some options for 2011 (what a change a year makes). He did have an offer from another German Moto2 team but declined it. Probably been a while since Ant could actually knock back a ride ;)
MZ want Ant for 2011 along with another unconfirmed rider (but one of some note!!!). Word has it that he is also on the short list for a ride with Marc VDS Racing where he would team up again with Michael Bartholemy.
Can hardly wait to leave for Sepang on Wednesday to catch up with all the goss..............
oops... forgot to mention MZ have a new bike surfacing for the last 2 rounds. Hopefully it has some extra grunt etc etc
you mean hopefully it has some less weight ;)
make sure you post everything you hear jack, it's much obliged.