Moto fans have short memories when it comes to a rider’s performance. As does the media, teams and industry as a whole, a lot weighs on a rider’s current form. Take Jo Shimoda for an example, right now he’s the 2nd hottest 250 rider in the world and Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s lead rider. 8 months ago, he was a 5-7 guy in regional supercross searching for a podium and we were wondering what’s wrong with ‘Sushi”, but 18 months ago we were stoked with him taking his first Supercross victory at Salt Lake 1. Ups and downs!
“Sushi” on the loud handle
There’s plenty of examples of ups and downs. Take Chad Reed, after winning titles in 2008 supercross, and outdoors in 2009, Chad was thought to be finished after one rough season in 2010 only to bounce back as a race winner. How about the up and down form of Jason Anderson, Austin Forkner and Aaron Plessinger. Even Cooper Webb has gone from a much celebrated 250 multi time champion to struggling in the 450 class, to winning 450 titles, to 1 winless season and now people are asking if he at only 26 years old can ever win again.
“You’re only as good as your last performance” that’s a quote that gets thrown around. It’s how the impulsive masses look at sports. Riders win and people are quick to jump on the bandwagon, but they are even quicker to lay the boots in when the results drop. I believe that if a rider has been a winner and his results drop there is a solid reason, or reasons. To me that’s very interesting, people are very complex, especially pro athletes. In our sport being one percent off your game can mean missing the podium instead of winning and once someone’s a winner, then they are expected to win.
“The King” 1997, hopefully with the throttle slide fully opening!
I’m not talking about injury or just getting old, that slows everyone down! But riders could be dealing with mental health problems, that one I believe is very common and not spoken about enough, physical issues like arm pump or minor niggling injuries, of course new bike set up, new team, too much pressure or not enough pressure, not enough training or as we know now days, maybe too much training or not enough rest. Family things like grief or a loved one being ill, team manager changes or Epstein Barr virus. Even a bad mechanic, like when Jeremy McGrath’s Suzuki wasn’t getting full throttle! so many possible reasons. They
could even be getting their ass chewed by a high maintenance girlfriend.
Wouldn’t we love to know, but it's pretty rare for a struggling rider to give us much more than the old “we’re struggling with set up” I wonder who the ups and downs will be next year? Does AP find that 2021 form again, does Forkner finally live up to what we know he can do. Do Chase and Jo bring their form to
Supercross? Does Coop and KTM figure out the new chassis and get the magic back at the Bakers factory?
Time will tell.
Go Riding
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