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- What's your point? -
March 28, 2008

Last weekend at Buttonwillow it was round 1, 2008 for the AFM. I was in NY. What the hell is THAT all about? I know, I know. Sell the camera gear and go racing already... Tell you what I'll think about it, but first I'd like to share a few other thoughts I've been having lately about racing. If you have a response, email me. I will post your thoughts here - even if they say I've got this all wrong.

I love Valentino Rossi, don't get me wrong. He's a great racer and a huge draw for our sport. But to be painfully honest there is only one dominant athlete that I have ever actually wanted to see win - over and over and over. That athlete was Michael Jordan. Not sure what it was about him, but his team could have been up by 30 points and all I wanted was 32, maybe even 40. These days I'm actually liking the fact that Rossi is struggling a bit. It's made him more human. And as I'm sure you already know by your own experiences, no human is perfect.

Go back a few years to the infamous move Rossi put on Sete Gibernau at Jerez. It was the last lap, and Sete had Rossi beat, hands down. But Rossi wasn't going down without a fight, which is commendable. What I actually think is NOT commendable is how he ultimately fought. Going into the last turn, on the last lap, Rossi basically torpedoed Sete, out of control, and off the track - putting him into the gravel trap - then Rossi rode on to take the win. In the following weeks I read a lot about the incident. I was amazed at how unscathed Rossi came out of that deal. And to add insult to injury, Sete actually was ridiculed for it. "How backwards is THAT", I've always thought.

To me that move marked a pivotal moment in MY career of watching Valentino Rossi. To me that proved he was human. Proved he was not perfect. I think in fact he was desperate that day. Before you launch a nuclear attack on me, hear me out. Obviously it's on a much smaller scale, but I can definitely relate to the pressure a winning rider feels - to keep on winning. Honestly it's so much easier to race for a win when you've never won before. Once you chalk up a few, people begin to expect it. People even ask you what went wrong when you DON'T win. When you meet with your sponsors, all these suits sit around huge tables and talk together about how we'll all dominate the year. How we'll promote this, by winning that. And how we won't measure ourselves by simply winning, but instead by counting the seconds we win BY. All the while you sit there, as the racer, at the very same table, and you're the only one who is quiet. You realize at that moment no matter which of those players at that table actually do their job that year, or do not, it is YOU who will ultimatly decide, and be responsible for whether or not the entire collective effort is a success.

On that day, Rossi's team did not deserve the win. Sete's did. And even though he held that trophy high, and sprayed champagne all over the world celebrating it, I don't think Rossi was very proud of how he got there.

"Go BIG or go home" is one of my favorite quotes. It says so much in so many ways. To me one thing it means is when you team up with someone, you stick it out to the end. You stand behind them, and they stand behind you - whether you're winning at the moment, or whether you're losing - you are doing it TOGETHER because you are a "team." When I left the MotoItaliano guys at Buttonwillow last year, I left confident that it was the best thing to do for everyone involved - both long term and short - because of where we had suddenly arrived. Two days later I met with Michael Lock and handed in my report on everything that had happened. While I might not have said everything "right", obviously (I am also quite human), I definitely ultimately lobbied to save the team. To save the program. To support the struggling effort more, instead of less - because quite simply that's what you do in a team.



Last year we all watched Valentino struggle, like everyone else on Michelin tires. It was a horrible time to be on French rubber. But when you think about it, and consider all the changes in rules and strategies and budgets, it's not difficult to see how a multi championship winning (dominating actually) effort could find themselves suddenly lost. And last year, Michelin was completely lost. When you take a look at Valention's career though, it's painfully obvious to see that for about 94% of his entire road racing career, Michelin had been anything BUT lost. In fact they helped him in a very major way to win HOW MANY CHAMPIONSHIPS??!!!

Yet now we see that Valentino has again turned "human" on us. In my opinion he has again turned desperate. He left Michelin for the enemy. On a ship they call that mutiny. In my eyes it does not matter whether Rossi ever dominates again, whether Michelin is ever better again. What matters is how you treat your people - the people you race with, the people you race for, and the people you race against.

I really thought I had this nobility thing pretty well nailed while we were racing. I always told the truth, always rode with all my heart, and always did the things that most others didn't. But still I got nailed to the whipping post. I'm sure I deserve at least some of the flack. Definitely not all of it. But just like back at that big table and all those suits - just like the credit spotlight got shined on me, so did the blame spotlight. Personally I'd like to move on from here. Certainly of all the ways to end a career, this was not my number one choice. I always feared it would take an unhealable injury to stop me in my racing tracks, not some lame assed ball of confusing bullshit. But here I am, none the less, stopped in my racing tracks.. And why? I mean, really... why?

Because we are ALL human..

What do YOU think: Will Rossi ever dominate on Bridgestones? Was he truly proud when he looked back at Sete in the gravel? Was I wrong to leave the MotoItaliano guys at Buttonwillow? Would you have raced those bikes under those circumstances? And finally, if you were me, and you still had the burning fire in you to race - but no longer the support - if you knew you could go out there and win...... would you?

email your response, if you want, to Eric @ GoTagTeam.com. If you like I will post your thoughts below.

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RESPONSE - 3/29/08, Benjamin Schuster, Germany:

Will Rossi ever dominate on Bridgestones?
- Whoever cares about Rossi.... I don´t know. I think it´s the electronics and the rider. Seems to be a fact that Vale still is the best in GP and that Stoner is one hell of a rider but has the better bike. So, yeah, Rossi is going to win again. But not dominate. There´s others to come.

Was he truly proud when he looked back at Sete in the gravel?
- He´s a racer and he wants to win. He did win, so imho I think he didn´t care too much.

Was I wrong to leave the MotoItaliano guys at Buttonwillow?
- if you don´t feel confident in what you´re doing, leave. I think it was the right decision. As long as you can look in the mirror and see yourself smiling back in a positive way, it´s all good.

Would you have raced those bikes under those circumstances?
- Hard to judge. I have never been in a full sponsorship position, so I can´t say whether standing upright for my sponsor (who is paying for my beloved sport) or saving my own ass would be the choice to make. It still is a sport, and when things go really bad, it´s sometimes better to step back from the scene. If you feel you did everything you could and it just didn´t work out, there´s nothing to worry about.

And finally, if you were me, and you still had the burning fire in you to race - but no longer the support - if you knew you could go out there and win...... would you?
- Is that really a question? Dude, 90% of the guys I know pay everything out of their own pocket, including me. Maybe you have been pampered too much by getting a bike, having an awesome crew, winning all the time. Maybe it was time you get shown how it´s like when you don´t have everything. Maybe. You had the chance of going racing on that Suzuki ground missile. A well prepared bike, fast, ready to win. And you turned it down like it was nothing. Just because it wasn´t for you. You wanted a Duc. I don´t see why you complain? If you want to go racing and that´s what makes your heart beat, it shouldn´t matter whether it´s on one of these Bologna beauties or on some "I´ll rip your arms off if you don´t pay attention" Japanese bike. The bike is only the transport from A to A. The rider makes the big difference in Amateur racing.

I have been prepping my 2000 race R6 for months now. Can´t sleep, can´t think of anything but going racing again. It´s only 5 days away until we go to Oschersleben for the first practice session. Only 15 days til the first endurance race. And only 4 weeks til the first leg of the 2008 Supersport Open season. Know that feeling?

If you want to go out and race, what are you waiting for?

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Benjamin Schuster

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GoGo - 3/29/08

Thanks Benjamin. And no, I still haven't figured out how to make a blog look like this website. I know, I know. BONE HEAD!

For the record, I put 5 grand into my first and last Suzuki weekend. Going in I was told it wouldn't cost us a dime. That's good, because I wouldn't spend a dime to ride a Suzuki. Once I did the very real accounting, as opposed to the dreamer accounting, and saw what the future promised - probably 30K for the season - you are right, I turned it down like it was nothing. I can't explain it, but my first weekend racing a Ducati I was also racing two Suzukis. I came in from our first twins win, after also winning on the Suzukis, and instantly had an all Japanese motorcycle fire sale. Never looked back, since 98 - always Ducati.

We're all different, which is what makes this so great,

GoGo

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RESPONSE - 3/29/08, Zip Showket
(friend, race graphics sponsor)

Will Rossi ever dominate on Bridgestones?
Maybe, only a team effort will determine it really.

Was he truly proud when he looked back at Sete in the gravel?
Depends, if it is business, then it did not bother him, if he is a racer, it was painful.

Was I wrong to leave the MotoItaliano guys at Buttonwillow?
No! I would have done the same thing. The lack of organization, and communication was pathetic!

Would you have raced those bikes under those circumstances?
Hell no! Those bikes were not safe, had not been prepared, tested, torqued, or anything. Absolutely no excuse for that type of attendance to a race track. They are supposed to be a shop for crying out loud! Even I was over there on Saturday helping put them together. Not only am I a sponsor, but also a competitor and crew chief from another team.

And finally, if you were me, and you still had the burning fire in you to race - but no longer the support - if you knew you could go out there and win...... would you?
Winning, who cares about winning? Yea it is nice, sure it is one big atta-boy, but what does it really get you? Recognition?, you don't race for that, you are shy remember? Why do you race... for the love, for the comradery, for the competition, for the thrill, for the personal satisfaction and feeling that fills the soul. Any true sponsor will care more about being there and being supported than winning. What does the program produce in reputation is more important than trophies - how much attention and did it get and so on.

So, in conclusion, get a dam bike, and get your but back out there. Who cares what it is, if you win, or bla bla bla... You will always have lots of friends that want to see you and are willing to help as best we can.

Zip Showket
zip@race-graphics.com

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GoGo - 3/29/08

I love you Zip

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RESPONSE - 3/29/08 Michael Kottke

Ok so my twisted perspective is simple. Rossi has to win. Like Schumacher or Senna, Rossi needs to win at all cost. Senna and Schumacher were controversially champions. They possessed an ability to make the best in the world look average. The problem was (for some people)…there was no limit to what they would do to win. Rossi’s first ride on the Yamaha in South Africa is a great example of the making the best in the world look average. The Sete incident was Rossi showing how far he will go to win. Right or wrong I think the upper realm of champions doesn’t think like mere mortals.

Michael Kottke

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RESPONSE - 3/30/08 Dalibor Crnobrnja (Germany)

Hi Gogo,

Will Rossi ever dominate on Bridgestones?

To be honest: I don't know. Nobody does. Time will tell. But the most important thing is: was it the right way to move to Bridgestone? Well...to try not to sound like a Rossi fan: when Rossi went from Honda to Yamaha NOBODY said it was wrong. Honda definitely treated him wrong, not like their champ, not like someboby who jumped into Doohan's footsteps and went on to make Honda the dominant brand in Moto GP. No, opposite: they really pi*** him right into his face, not to give him this last one Moto-X bike he wanted (whats the price of a CRF 450...5 grands?? Yamaha gave him his GP-Title winning M1 as a gift!!) or giving their japanese star Kato (God bless him) the RCV 211 after Rossi was the one who did develop it and this in the same season, fighting Rossi etc.

So I think Rossi has already experience to say "Goodbye", when it's time to!! Having watched Moto-GP this afternoon, I heard rumours, were some Michelin guys said stuff like: "Rossi was difficult to work with.....he put us under a lot of pressure.....it was also a reason for our tires not been so good", etc. Come on....what kind of comments are this one?? They worked with a lot of other guys they developed their tyres with and NOBODY went well with Michelins, so...!!??

Rossi knows well, when its time FOR HIM to do whatever he wants to. If it was the wrong move, if he NEVER will dominate again, then it was supposed to happen. But he did well enough for a long time and he deserved it to be allowed to make his moves: wether another Motorbike or another tyre!!!

Btw: both, Honda and Michelin already earned a lot of money on Rossi!! Think about it!! ;-)

Was he truly proud when he looked back at Sete in the gravel?

I don't think so!!! I really think he had a hard time to come over it!! Not feeling THAT sorry for Sete, but being pissed to look like the "unfair" guy!! He likes to win "cleanly"!! He's not this cold hearted guy, everybody tries to make him look like. Even though he does look like one at the moment (and the last ~3 years). But I think there was a lot of "psycho-games" onto him, with Biaggi trying to wrestle him down EVEN BEFORE his first 500cc season and a lot
more wich followed. This "formed" him somehow. Sete was some kind of strange: acting like a friend to Rossi, he still fought hard against him, remember the "starting-grid-cleaning-spectacle" in Qatar 05'!!!?? So this move was more a sort of their personal "little-psycho-war" than a usual unfair move. I think Rossi would have done different if this was not Sete!! I'm absolutely with you, Gogo: I kind of like seeing Rossi struggle: he has to come down again, find back to hisself and do it different in the future. Melandri's not doing well with the Duc: maybe Rossi is going to move to the red bikes, to do what Schumacher did with Ferrari!! This would be historic I'm sure!!! :-)

Was I wrong to leave the MotoItaliano guys at Buttonwillow?

Well, we did not heard all of the mistakes they did, but to hear that a brake is falling off or moving (or whatever it was) is an ABSOLUTELY "NO-GO" for a Raceteam or a Race mechanic!!! It's THE nightmare of every racer, not to have his brake appearend, going onto the brakes at ?? 190mph. At a trackday one time, I saw a leaking brake line on my bike. I went on to a Track-turn, pulled right back into the pits and went home, even though it was still 2 Track-turns to go.....the bad feeling did not let me ride freely!!

So if you have had some of this experiences, how can you do good, how can you perform well.....it's impossible!!! You've done ABSOLUTELY the right thing!!! (my 2 c!)

Would you have raced those bikes under those circumstances?

NEVER!!!

And finally, if you were me, and you still had the burning fire in you to race - but no longer the support - if you knew you could go out there and win...... would you?

You know what?? I'm interested in your site since ~3 years. Reading all your race reports and watching your movies with big enthusiasm. It "shaped" me somewhat!! I'm missing movement on it, since....approx one year!! It's quite there and I don't like it!! You have to move, mate!! You have to race!! Do it, no matter where or in what class. Sometimes all your problems go away and you quickly come back where you were, where you're supposed to be!! But you don't if you don't move anymore.....so do it!!! You have to!!!
And: do it in red!!! Some guys can race anything, some just good handling japanese bikes. But some guys out there just can do it on these red machines, but perform AWESOME!! They are different!! I wish I would do so, but you DEFINITELY do!! So please, go on....Internet's boring, otherwise!!! ;-))

My 2 Cents,

Dali!!!

(Germany)

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RESPONSE - 3/30/08 Bob Cotter (old friend, Canada)

Okay, the thoughts that occured to me in no particular order: Your words were that you noticed them hanging there......have they been there for a while and you just noticed?.....a sign that you have hung up your gloves i giving up the fight?.....something going on within, that caused you to notice them this time, when you have walked by without a glance
many times before? time to pick them up again?......someone hung them there so that you would see them....and ask the very question you are asking now.....me, I immediately saw motorcycle gloves...I wonder what kind of gloves the other twelve people thought they were.......

Inner conflict means
There's always something to do
Or run away from

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GoGo - 3/30/08

This is fascinating. Thanks guys, for taking the time to respond in the ways you have. I have been very quiet for quite some time now on this site. The irony in that fact kills me because in the very same time frame since that fateful weekend at Buttonwillow I have learned so many things, and developed so many skills - all of which would add a lot to what we've built together here.

Time to give credit where credit is completely due - for the idea to welcome feedback on these pages. Benjamin Schuster, who was the first to respond here, has been after me to create a blog section to this website for longer than it should have taken me to do it. Thank you Benjamin.

Dali, I'm a little shy to read all of your response today because my tivo neglected to record the Jerez race! Now I have to wait until Tuesday to watch it - which means I am banning myself from reading anything about racing until 43hrs from now. SHYITE!!!! I will say that among the lines I did peak at, your opinion is one I am definitely looking forward to...

Thanks to everyone so far. Big decisions going on in a very little knoggen right now. Makes me walk crosseyed ;- )

GoGo

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RESPONSE - 3/31/08 Ed Molijn (New Zeeland)

Eric, The one thing that the 'doers' amongst us resent more than anything is the
'if only' scenario that feeds the procrastinators. This, I suspect, is the dilemma that is fueling your anguish. Clearly, you are not ready to leave those gloves hanging limply on the
wall, and yet the unpleasant circumstances that put them there has forced you
into a situation you now want to change. If you had reached the stage in your racing career where it was obvious the hunger and passion had waned, then it would have been easy to walk away and not look back, especially at the idiots that gave you the push.

But now, when you have decided, and lets be honest .... you have , that you want to race again, it's suddenly a huge problem. No bike, no sponsor and, if you are like most addicted racers, fuck all money.

Well, sorry mate, no amount of soul searching is going to change any of that. But, being the 'doer' that I'm sure you are, getting of your arse to make it happen is the one thing that will appease your tormented soul. It obviously won't be cheap .... uhhm .... sounds like you burned a couple of bridges there chap .... but thats not to say more sponsors won't appear once you start to make the right moves ... ie ... buy bike and go race !!!

And besides .... the new Duc's are lookin good.

Good luck man.
Ed

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RESPONSE - 3/31/08 Susie Leiper
(Old friend/Sponsor/Team Owner - BCM Motorsports - pre Grossman)

Hi Eric. Like others around the world, I have stayed in touch with you via the tag team site. I have enjoyed your race stories and love to see you developing the photog skills too. I already knew you were an artist and it is great to see that side of your spirit coming out in so many ways. I truly am a fan no matter what and I hope that you realize that and believe it in your heart forever.

I love Rossi - I love his free spirit and his generosity. I hope that he will dominate once again on the 'stones but this year there is alot of talent and he will have to start getting "into a good rhythm" much earlier in order to keep those children behind him. Ultimately, I hope that he will ride a Ducati and retire from MotoGP on top and with the best bike!!! Then I will experience uncontained ecstasy.

You did the right thing to not ride the bike that was unsafe. I do not know all the details about the behind-the-scenes action that made the sponsorship go away so really cannot comment on that.
.
As for you and your gloves, DUDE, you have come back from such greater hardship than this and you know it! This is not putting you on a f&^%ng skateboard rolling around the floor you are tiling because you can't walk. You wanted to ride again back then and you did...that was a harder step than this one could ever be so get off of that, get your panties out of a twist and get yourself a bike! Maybe get back into instructing for awhile and see what shakes out from that. Just get out on the track and enjoy for goodness sakes. Besides, you have an awesome woman supporting you and a wonderful young man who sees you as his role model. Don't mess up that good stuff with this penny-ante crap, puhleez!

So Eric, it all comes down to the image I've attached...



Love lots,

Susie

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GoGo 3/31/07

Random thoughts are running rampant through this noggin now, thanks to your very kind responses here. I had no idea...

Somehow that image is making me hungry Susie - and not for rabbit OR pancakes.

So I talked with Tracy today. Told her of all the ways to go, this way really sucks. Plus it's too early, for me anyway. I'm always a decade behind schedule regardless. All she did was agree, so we've set some time aside this week to go over it all. If we can manage it, we're gonna' manage the hell out of it.

I have to say in defense of the MotoItaliano guys last year, they're not bad guys at all. In fact they worked their asses off in 06, and we accomplished a lot together. I think 07 was just too much too late in too much of a rush with too many other things going on to know which end was up, tightened, torqued or topped off. And that's just not how you go racing. What happened after that is pretty normal human nature stuff. Nothing spectacular went on, it just all ended up in my lap, on my head, and all over my career as a roadracer.

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