...and to think this guy is being booted to make way for a rider who is 70 seconds per race slower than his team-mate!
Poor form. poor form. :down:
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...and to think this guy is being booted to make way for a rider who is 70 seconds per race slower than his team-mate!
Poor form. poor form. :down:
From Mr Kropotkins excellent Blog:
Ant West Talking To Ten Kate For World Supersport Ride
When Ant West signed up as a factory Kawasaki rider to race in MotoGP, he could hardly have suspected just how miserable his life was about to become. The Australian had spent years trying to get into racing's premier class, accepting some extremely questionable rides in 250s just to get a chance at MotoGP. Tragically for West, his arrival coincided with a sharp decline in Kawasaki's fortunes, and after some promising results in 2007, West's career has been on a downward spiral, propelled by the dismal performance of the Kawasaki.
After hoping for a long while to somehow stay in MotoGP, Ant West seems finally to have accepted his fate. The German motorsports site Motosport Total is reporting that Westy is in talks for a ride on "a competitive Honda in World Supersport." "Practically my only option is the World Supersport championship. On a Honda," West told Motorsport Total.
Although there are a number of teams fielding Hondas in the World Supersport series, Motorsport Total says that paddock whispers say West's manager is talking to Ten Kate about riding for the team. West wouldn't confirm that rumor, though he admitted "I know the team, and I'd love to ride for them."
With Ten Kate having previously announced their 2009 lineup, a seat at the Dutch team which has dominated World Supersport seems highly unlikely. However, Andrew Pitt, the man who won the World Supersport title for Ten Kate, is known to be unhappy with the team, as he had hoped that a title would see him making a return to the World Superbike championship. But Pitt has been forced to watch his young team mate Johnny Rea move up to World Superbike, while he remains in Supersport to defend his title.
So Pitt could well be looking for an exit. If he does leave Ten Kate, then that would open the way for Ant West. And on previous evidence, that would not be a bad move for either Ant West or Ten Kate. In the three races that West rode in the series for Yamaha in 2007, West finished 3rd in one race, and won the other two. The bikes seem to suit West's style, and on board a Ten Kate, the Australian could end up being almost unstoppable.
Whether he ends up at Ten Kate or not, Ant West surely deserves a ride aboard competitive machinery somewhere. Kawasaki's failure has robbed West of confidence, and disguised the talent he has. On decent equipment, we may see the real Ant West emerge once again.
Source:
http://www.motorsport-total.com/moto..._08100610.html
It's pretty heart breaking for me as a Kwak fan. It was pretty clear early in the year that the bike was developed specifically to suit 'the chosen one' in Hopkins. Even though Kawasaki worked hard to alter West's bike to suit him, the dealings behind Ant's back and lack of respect in the way they keep towing him along with promises are pathetic. It really reflects a complete lack of professionalism amongst the team which matches their insignificance in international road racing at the moment. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
I soo hope Ant can find a strong team that he can really show what he's got. Somewhere that has his best interests at heart and not just biding it's time til someone 'better' comes along. All the best to Westy on "Operational Career Resurrection" in '09. :up:
In fairness to Marco on the weekend, I saw him crash going into Honda corner in morning warmup on Sunday and he came away looking completely confused. The thing just fell over for no apparent reason which gives the rider absolutely no trust in it at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Malllen
In saying that, it appears the only person on the planet who did not know what was happening must have been Ant.Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
I wish Ant well, he is a good rider who has a lot to offer the right team.
when kawasaki publicly state that they were considering wsbk opportunities for ant and it turns out they never even offered him a ride, how should one categorize that behavior?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
"After a difficult year in MotoGP I need to race on a bike that can win, and in Supersport together with team Stiggy I can. For 2009 I have only one goal - to win!"
Gooooo Ant! :D
From: http://www.stiggymotorsport.com/
IMO, a good move for West as Stiggy is a good team and he is known at both a talent and personal level so should be capable of fitting into the team environment quite easily.Quote:
TEAM STIGGY SIGN ANTHONY WEST FOR 2009
Team Stiggy Motorsport Honda are happy to announce that they have signed Australian rider Anthony West for 2009. The 27-year old will leave his factory MotoGP ride at the end of the season, for the highly-competitive Supersport World Championship. Anthony is no stranger to World Supersports. He made his mark in the 600 class, as a replacement rider in 2007, taking two wins and one third during his short spell in the series.
Anthony's race experience is impressive. He started out in the Australian Dirt track championships in 1994, winning the class soon afterwards, before carrying on to win the domestic long track championship in 1996. He then moved into road racing and won the Australian 250cc Production Championship in 1998, taking "Rider of the Year" title in the process. He raced in Japan before joining the International Grand Prix paddock in 1999 - in the 250cc class. In 2001, he had a brief foray in the 500cc championship, but was soon back in the 250cc class again. During his six years in the 250cc class, Anthony managed five podiums, including one win.
Johan Stigefelt
"I'm very pleased to have Anthony onboard. We both come from MotoGP and the 250cc class and know each other well, having been team mates in 2003. I know he is a talented rider, a fighter and a winner and he will be the perfect match for us next year. Ever since his "wild-card" ride in Supersport 2007, I have wanted him in our team. Now it's a reality and we will have to put all our efforts into a successful relationship. With four years experience in World Supersports, I believe we'll be able to give him a winning Honda. Our aim is high - we will be fighting for the title next year."
Anthony
"Im very happy to be joining the Stiggy team. Stiggy is a friend an old team-mate from 2003 in 250GP. I remember saying to him one day that he should start his own team because none of the other teams knew how to do it right, and to my surprise he did! Over the last couple of years I heard from everybody in the industry that the Stiggy team it's one of the better ones in the championship. To have a team boss that knows what it's like to race and knows what racing is all about is just great! After a difficult year in MotoGP I need to race on a bike that can win, and in Supersport together with team Stiggy I can. For 2009 I have only one goal - To win! "
I will tip a top 5 championship position in 2009 now (and favour top 3)
Garry
From: http://www.stiggymotorsport.com/
IMO, a good move for West as Stiggy is a good team and he is known at both a talent and personal level so should be capable of fitting into the team environment quite easily.Quote:
TEAM STIGGY SIGN ANTHONY WEST FOR 2009
Team Stiggy Motorsport Honda are happy to announce that they have signed Australian rider Anthony West for 2009. The 27-year old will leave his factory MotoGP ride at the end of the season, for the highly-competitive Supersport World Championship. Anthony is no stranger to World Supersports. He made his mark in the 600 class, as a replacement rider in 2007, taking two wins and one third during his short spell in the series.
Anthony's race experience is impressive. He started out in the Australian Dirt track championships in 1994, winning the class soon afterwards, before carrying on to win the domestic long track championship in 1996. He then moved into road racing and won the Australian 250cc Production Championship in 1998, taking "Rider of the Year" title in the process. He raced in Japan before joining the International Grand Prix paddock in 1999 - in the 250cc class. In 2001, he had a brief foray in the 500cc championship, but was soon back in the 250cc class again. During his six years in the 250cc class, Anthony managed five podiums, including one win.
Johan Stigefelt
"I'm very pleased to have Anthony onboard. We both come from MotoGP and the 250cc class and know each other well, having been team mates in 2003. I know he is a talented rider, a fighter and a winner and he will be the perfect match for us next year. Ever since his "wild-card" ride in Supersport 2007, I have wanted him in our team. Now it's a reality and we will have to put all our efforts into a successful relationship. With four years experience in World Supersports, I believe we'll be able to give him a winning Honda. Our aim is high - we will be fighting for the title next year."
Anthony
"Im very happy to be joining the Stiggy team. Stiggy is a friend an old team-mate from 2003 in 250GP. I remember saying to him one day that he should start his own team because none of the other teams knew how to do it right, and to my surprise he did! Over the last couple of years I heard from everybody in the industry that the Stiggy team it's one of the better ones in the championship. To have a team boss that knows what it's like to race and knows what racing is all about is just great! After a difficult year in MotoGP I need to race on a bike that can win, and in Supersport together with team Stiggy I can. For 2009 I have only one goal - To win! "
But, I do hope that it is not Brookes who is losing out on this move (that is the Aussie coming out)
I will tip a top 5 championship position in 2009 now (and favour top 3)
Garry
Ant should be top 3 in this championship, 2009.
Hope the Stiggy bikes can peg back the Ten Kate bikes.
good move. i recall how ant west destroyed the field in those 3 races in 2007, which clearly shows that he is a more than capable supersport rider. this is much better than a crap kwack wsbk/wss entry.