A COMPARISION OF TWO: BRADLEY SMITH AND CAL CRUTCHLOW From the time it was decided that Bradley Smith would graduate to the MotoGP class in the Tech 3 Yamaha squad he, and many others, have been criticised for the opportunity he has been presented to join the elite. It hasn’t seemed to have ebbed since he first threw a leg over the Yamaha M1 machine immediately after the completion of the 2012 season with the regular two-day test at Valencia, two days after the final GP of the year. If anything, in some quarters the diatribe directed at him through social media has increased. Very little criticism has emerged from the GP paddock by those that know a lot more. Maybe, the reason for the vilification is how his entry to the class eventuated or that some are under the impression that the 22-year-old’s results in the lower classes didn’t warrant the move to MotoGP Yamaha satellite factory team. Whatever the reasons, he is the youngest British rider to secure a premier class Grand Prix ride. His career path was decided sometime before his present team mate, Cal Crutchlow came on the scene and seeing they are both English, and teammates, plus, it’s the eve of the British GP at Silverstone, it is a timely excuse to compare the pair in their respective first year in the premier class. But, first, let’s delve into a bit of background on both talents. The elder statesman of the Tech 3 Team, Crutchlow now 27 years old, was drafted into the team after strong performances in the Superbike World Championship classes. Initially, it was in England where he made a name for himself, winning the 2006 British Supersport championship. He graduated to the British Superbike class in 2007 finishing ninth, and third in 2008. Next stop was the Supersport World Championship in 2009 where he was victorious in the title. In 2010, he moved up to the Superbike World Championship and finished fifth. In 2011 he replaced Ben Spies in the Tech 3 Yamaha Team after the Texan was moved to the Yamaha factory team beside Jorge Lorenzo, to fill the spot of Valentino Rossi when he left for his ill-fated tenure with the Ducati Team. 2011 was an up and down year for Crutchlow in his first year of MotoGP with the lowest point the British Grand Prix. He missed his home race due to a broken collarbone suffered during qualifying and crashed in the next round at Assen but, remounted to finish 14th. His season highlight was a fourth place at the final race in Valencia. Similarly, Smith hasn’t had an easy time of his first year, coming through a different route after a successful junior career in motocross. He joined the 125cc grand prix category in 2006 and during his five years in the class won three races, was on the podium a further 17 times, had nine pole positions, four fastest laps and was runner-up in the 125cc world championship in 2009. Moto2 was nowhere near as fruitful. He was disappointed with his efforts and has even stated that he had lacklustre performances in the middleweight class. In his two years in the class he scored just three podiums and one fastest race lap; at Catalunya in 2011. Maybe some of the criticism was warranted considering there are many good riders in the world that cannot even get a sniff of a GP ride. But, as they say, you make your own luck and Smith has done that by being under the ever watchful eye and direction of Dorna as they endeavour to find a British rider that can deliver a MotoGP victory and a World Championship for the first time since Barry Sheene. Sheene won the 500cc World Championship in 1976,77 and the last of his 19 victories was at Anderstorp, Sweden in 1981. (Incidently, Sheene won three, 125cc Grands Prix – the same as Smith - and, if you haven’t noticed they share the same initials.) Smith has copped his fair share of injury as he comes to grips with a bike that has 120 more horsepower than the Tech 3 Moto2 bike he rode last year, as well as adapting to intricate electronics, carbon-fibre brakes and Bridgestone slicks. The most severe injury was during FP2 at Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix in June where he broke his scaphoid and tore a tendon in the little finger in his left hand that is now permanently bent. He competed in the race to finish a gutsy sixth. So how do they both shape up after 11 races of their debut year in the class? After 11 races the results were: Cal: 11 – 8 – 8 – DNF – 7 – DNS (broken collarbone) - 14 – DNF – 14 - DNF - DNF Brad: DNF – 12 - 10 – 9 – 9 – 6 (injured left hand) – 9 - 6 – DNF – 8 – DNF Smith has scored six Top 10 finishes while in 2011, Crutchlow had scored three. Crutchlow DNF’d four times compared to three for Smith. Crutchlow was in 15th position on 34 points while Smith is, presently, on 59 points and in 11th position after crashing out of the Czech GP in Brno. This year, Crutchlow has beaten his team mate home in every race bar Catalunya. In 2011 after 11 races Crutchlow had beat his team mate, Colin Edwards, to the line in only two races. Even comparing the 11th round of both years at the Czech Grand Prix, Smith can hold his head up as he qualified in sixth, just 0.467 second off the top spot while in 2011 Crutchlow was 1.206 seconds away from pole in 11th spot. Also, bear in mind that Crutchlow commenced his MotoGP career on an 800cc machine while Smith was greeted with a 1000cc weapon. As the MotoGP paddock assembles at Silverstone there is a lot resting on the two Brits in front of their home crowds. One would expect that Crutchlow - if everything falls in his lap - has more of a chance than his compatriot of taking a home victory, although it is probably an achievement that is against him this year as the “three amigos” - one in particular - are sweeping all before them. Hopefully, he can breakthrough for a win this year because in the next two seasons he stands next to no chance riding a Ducati, unless the now German-owned, Italian company has a major turnaround. It took Cal 29 races to achieve his first podium - ironically at Brno. There are seven races left and Smith needs only 12 more points to beat Crutchlow’s total of 70 points in 2011. All riders mature at different rates. After almost three years in the MotoGP class, Crutchlow is now one of the fastest and most sought after, riders in the paddock. As for Bradley Smith, his best is yet to come.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:03:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015