I like West but he's no championship materialQuote:
Originally Posted by X-ecutioner
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I like West but he's no championship materialQuote:
Originally Posted by X-ecutioner
Are we forgetting also:
1. Ant's results on the Kwaka in 2007 b4 they came out with the 08 piece of e ( check Gardners comments after his test on the 07 Kwaka)
2. Hoppers results on the Kwaka (and he WAS 4th in champs on the Zook )
3. Yamaha wanted him on the Yam for 2009 but for his previous manager (read tosser) who said "no thanks" without first consulting Ant
2010 is but another year !!!! We will see.
Yep, quite positive actually that the cuts were not 'sudden'Quote:
Originally Posted by X-ecutioner
Australian Anthony West has been left without a ride for this weekend's final round of the World Superbike Championship at Portimao, Protugal this weekend. More cutbacks at Team Stiggy Racing Honda have forced the team to trim the rider line up further and as a result Supersport rider West will not be able to make his planned final appearance for the team.
The 28-year-old Australian who started off the season well by finishing third at Philip Island has had a troublesome and difficult time for most of the year. Following another two podium finishes, (in Valencia and Brno) Anthony has now managed to bring home 117 points and holds a current fifth place in the championship.
“Yeah, it’s pretty bad to end a season like this but on the other hand I wasn't very motivated anymore," West said.
"We've been struggling with me getting to like the feel of the bike all year, and some races were better then others. All-in-all it's been a pretty frustrating year for us. For me, I know I can do so much better and for the team, they are also used to doing so much better in the Supersport class.
"I will now start concentrating on next year, and I will hopefully make a test in Portimao after race weekend. I will be present at Portimao all weekend and it will be hard just to watch when I should be out there racing. Still, I want to say thanks to my team and to Stiggy, we had a tough year but at the same time we had some good laughs together. For next year I'm going to try turn my luck around, maybe starting with changing my No 13," West concluded.
Team Manager Johan Stigefelt said, “Economic difficulties have made it impossible for us to finish the season the way we wanted. Yet again I have been forced to take drastic measures and had to cut Anthony for the last race. This is a very bad situation I have been put in and if I could solve the problems in a different way I would; this was really a last resort solution.
"It is not easy for me as the team manager to cut a rider but that’s the reality we find ourselves in, unfortunately. Therefore we will have to rely on Leon to do the job for us this weekend. He made fantastic debut races last year at Portimao, so I'm really hoping we can match that and take two podium finishes this weekend as our final result of what has been a very, very difficult year!
The sole rider to finish off the 2009 season for the team this upcoming race weekend in Portugal will be Superbike rider Leon Haslam. Judging from his last year’s performances, as a newcomer to the track, Leon finished in fifth and third places in race one and two respectively, so the team has high hopes for a strong finish in Sunday’s final WSB races.
“I want to go out of the season on a high with the Stiggy Team to say thank you to them for the opportunity I have had this year. We got on the podium a few times on a privateer machine and we will be going for that again in the final rounds. I rode a Honda at Portimao last year, and got a podium, so that experience should help us this weekend," Haslam said.
Source:- http://www.fullnoise.com.au/news/ind...l&News_id=6226
As can be seen, there is constant refernce that alludes to 'ongoing/prior' issues to support the assumption that the financial problems would seem to be 'nothing new' for Stiggy.
Also, an aside is that West was actually fifth in the chase prior to the last round and finished eighth overall having been overtaken by ex-World Champions Pitt and Foret based on last round results.
Gaz
Jack, what of the Oz Supers rumour? Heard anything?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pantah Jack
Yep... I think he will be riding a Yamaha in Friday practice, a Honda in Saturday qualifying and a Ducati come race day (with special guest appearances in between race weekends on a Zongshen) heheQuote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
Dunno ... wishful thinking but one never knows in this caper
It's interesting, reports are surfacing that Yamaha Oz, would reconsider its withdrawl, if they had a sponsor (motoonline.com.au). Not bad for a team who pulled out just a few weeks ago......Quote:
Originally Posted by Pantah Jack
Perhaps there are some truthes behind this. It would be a good shot in the arm for ASBK, Yamaha and hopefully Ant!
as ive already stated, a move to ASBK would be career suicide for Ant, purely and simply..
he'll wind up the next gobert..
Well at least West won't end up like the filth Gobert is.Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
for those of you interested, i got this response from Ant's web designer/PR person when i asked about his plans for 2010:-
"Hi Jake,
I met Anthony last week and he has no ride yet for 2010. His Manager is on it, but there is nothing sealed yet or official.
Therefore I cannot update his website.
I am waiting for updates and from next season on he will do his website himself.
I will try to get an official statement from either him or his manager to update his web soon.
Best regards,
Judith"
Rather than Gobert, coming home didn't do the likes of Coxhell etc any favours either.Quote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal