Nick Wey

eurohero
Posts
545
Joined
5/7/2007
Location
Berlin DE
8/7/2008 12:48pm
in his book he(MC) said with the 03 KTM250sx he would have won the championship..... good enough for mcgrath.....
Please.....He was not going to win on that bike, he was going to die trying. Who cares what he writes, it was a book aout racing and I'm sure he did not want to make any waves currently by bad mouthing a bike brand. He is still in the industry and does not want to eliminate any possible opportunities, no matter who they are with. He learned that from his Honda experience. All we have really is track record with KTM bikes to go off of, and not to many people are successful on them, not even MC.

The bike is not the best one on the track and until some refinements, we won't see one in the SX winners circle any time soon. Even if you put James on one, he would probably crash his brains out trying to ride it like his Kawi and be out for the season. Hell, he might even do that on his Yami.
Yamaha336
Posts
1219
Joined
5/2/2008
Location
Woodstock, IL US
8/7/2008 1:09pm
I have read the book at least 3 times and I never saw anything where he said he was going to win on that bike. He paints the picture that he was afraid of that bike. Please read again.
armpumpking
Posts
187
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Greenwich, CT US
8/7/2008 1:25pm
in his book he(MC) said with the 03 KTM250sx he would have won the championship..... good enough for mcgrath.....
What page?
8/7/2008 1:54pm
Page 281-
"Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I had a good shot at winning back the title."

Nowhere does he paint the picture that he was afraid of the bike. If you're reading that, you got some Chinese fake bad copy of MC's book.


Eurohero- have you read the book (maybe Yamaha336 loaned you his copy)? McGrath doesn't come across like a dick, but he certainly didin't hold back much if any when telling the stories. Consider what he wrote about Suzuki's racing program, Wes McCoy, or his use of the 93 chassis for 3 years.

The Shop

Cygnus
Posts
14846
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Hanover, CO US
8/7/2008 1:59pm
KTM"S SUCK !
Yamaha336
Posts
1219
Joined
5/2/2008
Location
Woodstock, IL US
8/7/2008 2:01pm
Page 281- "Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I...
Page 281-
"Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I had a good shot at winning back the title."

Nowhere does he paint the picture that he was afraid of the bike. If you're reading that, you got some Chinese fake bad copy of MC's book.


Eurohero- have you read the book (maybe Yamaha336 loaned you his copy)? McGrath doesn't come across like a dick, but he certainly didin't hold back much if any when telling the stories. Consider what he wrote about Suzuki's racing program, Wes McCoy, or his use of the 93 chassis for 3 years.
That part was before the crash......Read on!
eurohero
Posts
545
Joined
5/7/2007
Location
Berlin DE
8/7/2008 4:42pm
Page 281- "Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I...
Page 281-
"Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I had a good shot at winning back the title."

Nowhere does he paint the picture that he was afraid of the bike. If you're reading that, you got some Chinese fake bad copy of MC's book.


Eurohero- have you read the book (maybe Yamaha336 loaned you his copy)? McGrath doesn't come across like a dick, but he certainly didin't hold back much if any when telling the stories. Consider what he wrote about Suzuki's racing program, Wes McCoy, or his use of the 93 chassis for 3 years.
I have not read the book and my response was not based on the book. It was based on weather or not he was being 100% truthful about his opinion of the bike given the fact that he might not want to burn any bridges in the industry. Also, there is a difference between a shot at the title and saying "I would have won." I'm not debating his book, or his thoughts, I'm just saying that some of it should be taken with a grain of salt, I could be wrong though, but I doubt we will know for sure.

Back to the topic, is the KTM 450 one of the top bikes out there? Based on the results of the same rider on different bikes, I would say no. The people that are or have ridden the KTM have done better on other brands and have seemingly struggled on the KTM. I think the bike is better outdoors as Alessi's results show, same with Wey's recent finishes. In SX, it seems like it does not suit anyone the same as their previous rides.
8/7/2008 4:51pm
Page 281- "Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I...
Page 281-
"Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I had a good shot at winning back the title."

Nowhere does he paint the picture that he was afraid of the bike. If you're reading that, you got some Chinese fake bad copy of MC's book.


Eurohero- have you read the book (maybe Yamaha336 loaned you his copy)? McGrath doesn't come across like a dick, but he certainly didin't hold back much if any when telling the stories. Consider what he wrote about Suzuki's racing program, Wes McCoy, or his use of the 93 chassis for 3 years.
Yamaha336 wrote:
That part was before the crash......Read on!
Surely you can do better than that?

Including the acknowledgements, there's 297 pages in Jeremy's book. I'm not seeing anything between 281 and 297 that could even be construed as negative about the 250SX, or anything in the pages prior to that.

Maybe you 'll need to take a break from Vital and read it a 4th time. Grinning Get back to us with the specific pages where MC is negative about KTM, please.
Yamaha336
Posts
1219
Joined
5/2/2008
Location
Woodstock, IL US
8/7/2008 5:05pm Edited Date/Time 8/7/2008 5:06pm
Matt, it's not big secret that Mcgrath was scared of his KTM. After the crash he had testing with Skip he had another one in Europe resulting from the same problem that caused his first crash. If he really thought his KTM was aw-inspiring he wouldn't have been on a Honda again immediately following the year he retired. Actually, it wasn't even that long. He raced a National on the Honda the summer he retired. Not so sure why you are in such denial. It was not the "crashes" that made him decide to retire. It was what "caused" the crashes that caused him to retire. A bike that he did not have 100% confidence in. End of story.
crf250pilot
Posts
2126
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Manning, OR US
8/7/2008 5:31pm
nc_mx_kid wrote:
Kan't
Take
Motocross
i thought it was "Keeps Taking Money"
8/7/2008 5:33pm Edited Date/Time 8/7/2008 5:34pm
Page 281- "Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I...
Page 281-
"Right away I loved the bike. It had tons of power and was really fast. it was fast enough that I felt like I had a good shot at winning back the title."

Nowhere does he paint the picture that he was afraid of the bike. If you're reading that, you got some Chinese fake bad copy of MC's book.


Eurohero- have you read the book (maybe Yamaha336 loaned you his copy)? McGrath doesn't come across like a dick, but he certainly didin't hold back much if any when telling the stories. Consider what he wrote about Suzuki's racing program, Wes McCoy, or his use of the 93 chassis for 3 years.
Yamaha336 wrote:
That part was before the crash......Read on!
Surely you can do better than that? Including the acknowledgements, there's 297 pages in Jeremy's book. I'm not seeing anything between 281 and 297 that could...
Surely you can do better than that?

Including the acknowledgements, there's 297 pages in Jeremy's book. I'm not seeing anything between 281 and 297 that could even be construed as negative about the 250SX, or anything in the pages prior to that.

Maybe you 'll need to take a break from Vital and read it a 4th time. Grinning Get back to us with the specific pages where MC is negative about KTM, please.
x2 he would have won on it with out a doubt... also remember todays tracks are 4 stroke tracks the tracks he would have won on had 2 strokes in mind...
8/7/2008 5:42pm
You guys need to share what your smokin if you think Jeremy had a chance of winning anything on that KTM.

I know personally that he was afraid of that bike at speed.
Yamaha336
Posts
1219
Joined
5/2/2008
Location
Woodstock, IL US
8/7/2008 5:44pm
x2 he would have won on it with out a doubt... also remember todays tracks are 4 stroke tracks the tracks he would have won on...
x2 he would have won on it with out a doubt... also remember todays tracks are 4 stroke tracks the tracks he would have won on had 2 strokes in mind...
They were still racing 2 strokes at the time. Jeremy also came back to SX on a Honda CR250R NOT a 4 stroke.
Teflon
Posts
73
Joined
6/20/2008
Location
Fairview, UT US
8/7/2008 6:37pm
Wow. This thread has the potential to be legendary. Ktm arguments, 2 stroke vs 4 stroke, yamaha336. Add a oil ratio or two in there and we have almost every mx agument ever.
8/7/2008 6:39pm
Yamaha336 wrote:
Matt, it's not big secret that Mcgrath was scared of his KTM. After the crash he had testing with Skip he had another one in Europe...
Matt, it's not big secret that Mcgrath was scared of his KTM. After the crash he had testing with Skip he had another one in Europe resulting from the same problem that caused his first crash. If he really thought his KTM was aw-inspiring he wouldn't have been on a Honda again immediately following the year he retired. Actually, it wasn't even that long. He raced a National on the Honda the summer he retired. Not so sure why you are in such denial. It was not the "crashes" that made him decide to retire. It was what "caused" the crashes that caused him to retire. A bike that he did not have 100% confidence in. End of story.
So what you're saying is that there's nothing in the book that would allude to MC being afraid of the bike, or the bike being responsible for his retirement? I'm guessing you won't give a straight answer, but go ahead and prove me wrong.

When Yamaha jerked his chain at the end of 2002, MC looked at Kawasaki, Suzuki, and KTM, and in his words "KTM stood out the most". He didn't go into the 03 season blind. Next, the 2 crashes on the KTM were not related to the chassis, which is the component that most point the finger at when talking trash about the pumpkins; no one bitches about the motors. The first crash was caused from the bike bogging off a jump, much like his Honda did in the 92 Mt. Morris race. In the second race he collided with Kyle Lewis over a triple.

To say that the KTM had absolutely nothing to do with McGraths retirement seems illogical. But to single the mfg out as the only reason seems ludicrous, given the facts.
catatonic
Posts
1575
Joined
3/20/2008
Location
Cape cod, MA US
8/7/2008 6:43pm
chrisgg90 wrote:
You KTM bashers, clearly don't know what you are talking about, Silly Silly
Yamaha336 wrote:
I have ridden one and there is NOW WAY IN HELL I would ever buy one. One of my best friends has one. I rode it...
I have ridden one and there is NOW WAY IN HELL I would ever buy one. One of my best friends has one. I rode it all day long one day. He rode my Yamaha. He couldn't wait to sell his and I couldn't wait to get back on my Yamaha and I have never been real happy with it.

He had never ridden my bike before that day and was posting lap times 2.5 seconds faster on my Yamaha than he was on his own bike. I was between 3-4 seconds slower on the KTM than I was with the Yamaha.
Dont buy one......just keep trying to make that yamaha turn.
Yamaha336
Posts
1219
Joined
5/2/2008
Location
Woodstock, IL US
8/7/2008 6:53pm Edited Date/Time 8/7/2008 6:54pm
So what you're saying is that there's nothing in the book that would allude to MC being afraid of the bike, or the bike being responsible...
So what you're saying is that there's nothing in the book that would allude to MC being afraid of the bike, or the bike being responsible for his retirement? I'm guessing you won't give a straight answer, but go ahead and prove me wrong.

When Yamaha jerked his chain at the end of 2002, MC looked at Kawasaki, Suzuki, and KTM, and in his words "KTM stood out the most". He didn't go into the 03 season blind. Next, the 2 crashes on the KTM were not related to the chassis, which is the component that most point the finger at when talking trash about the pumpkins; no one bitches about the motors. The first crash was caused from the bike bogging off a jump, much like his Honda did in the 92 Mt. Morris race. In the second race he collided with Kyle Lewis over a triple.

To say that the KTM had absolutely nothing to do with McGraths retirement seems illogical. But to single the mfg out as the only reason seems ludicrous, given the facts.
What I said was after reading the book I TOOK IT as he was afraid of the KTM. That was the picture he painted for me after reading the book. Yes, he felt insulted by Yamaha because they offered him 350,00 instead of the 750,00 that he got on his previous contract. He then was talking to KTM and Kawasaki. KTM offered him the 750,00 and he took it. When you look at everything though, from the troubles he had on the KTM and retiring after the the overseas rounds, then showing up 6 months later on a Honda really tells the tale. IMO of course.
eurohero
Posts
545
Joined
5/7/2007
Location
Berlin DE
8/7/2008 6:56pm
So what you're saying is that there's nothing in the book that would allude to MC being afraid of the bike, or the bike being responsible...
So what you're saying is that there's nothing in the book that would allude to MC being afraid of the bike, or the bike being responsible for his retirement? I'm guessing you won't give a straight answer, but go ahead and prove me wrong.

When Yamaha jerked his chain at the end of 2002, MC looked at Kawasaki, Suzuki, and KTM, and in his words "KTM stood out the most". He didn't go into the 03 season blind. Next, the 2 crashes on the KTM were not related to the chassis, which is the component that most point the finger at when talking trash about the pumpkins; no one bitches about the motors. The first crash was caused from the bike bogging off a jump, much like his Honda did in the 92 Mt. Morris race. In the second race he collided with Kyle Lewis over a triple.

To say that the KTM had absolutely nothing to do with McGraths retirement seems illogical. But to single the mfg out as the only reason seems ludicrous, given the facts.
Not sure, but wasn't one of the big reasons MC went with KTM was the fact that he had an outside sponsor that he did not want to part with. I know that Bud Light being on board was a touchy subject given the fact that there is a huge fan base of people not of drinking age. The year before, I think Morais did not get a ride on that team because of the alcohol/age thing. KTM was swinging the most money around and was also willing to bring on Jeremy's sponsor, I think those 2 things were the biggest factors for Jeremy's bike choice, not which one tested the best.
tunedlength
Posts
2776
Joined
12/9/2006
Location
Ontario, CA US
8/7/2008 9:42pm
Yamaha336 wrote:
I have read the book at least 3 times and I never saw anything where he said he was going to win on that bike. He...
I have read the book at least 3 times and I never saw anything where he said he was going to win on that bike. He paints the picture that he was afraid of that bike. Please read again.
What page is that picture on?
djp2k8
Posts
149
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Grand Rapids, MI US
8/7/2008 10:12pm
Yamaha336 wrote:
I have read the book at least 3 times and I never saw anything where he said he was going to win on that bike. He...
I have read the book at least 3 times and I never saw anything where he said he was going to win on that bike. He paints the picture that he was afraid of that bike. Please read again.
What page is that picture on?
Well, it' s been a long time since I read that book (whenever it came out), but I also have always had the impression that MC thought the KTM was dangerous. If I didn't get that impression from that book I don't know where I got it from. Can't someone scan and post the whole chapter or something? You know what - maybe I'm confusing his KTM with the first aluminum frame CR in 97. IDK, someone call up MC to clear this up!
8/8/2008 1:11am
I have ridden Honda`s fore 10 years. Now I have a KTM 450 and I LOWE it.[IMG]http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8659/div0708129zt8.th.jpg" class="img-fluid" />[/img]
ayearinmx
Posts
2760
Joined
3/5/2007
Location
GB
8/8/2008 2:52am Edited Date/Time 8/8/2008 2:53am
Mr Alessi said that the KTM is just as fast as 'the big 4'... it's just it took Mike more effort to make it so...
aggiemoto99
Posts
304
Joined
11/12/2006
Location
San Antonio, TX US
8/8/2008 5:17am
This thread is an equal opportunity offender....sheesh!
-eagle-
Posts
1610
Joined
5/9/2008
Location
ZW
8/8/2008 6:08am
So, Nick Wey......
Anyone know whats going on with him next year?
jbomx363
Posts
2008
Joined
9/4/2007
Location
Denham Springs, LA US
8/8/2008 8:27am
KTM Bashers? Not really. Just simple observationists. How many pro's are on a KTM? How many wins does KTM have?

Seems logical that one can come to the conclusion that KTM is not competitve here, for whatever reasons.
8/8/2008 8:33am Edited Date/Time 8/8/2008 8:39am
jmar wrote:
And how many AMA supercross events have you competed in? Can you honestly tell me that you can push a bike like the KTM past it's...
And how many AMA supercross events have you competed in? Can you honestly tell me that you can push a bike like the KTM past it's limits? What is your skill level?
8/8/2008 8:38am
Sinbad wrote:
None of this changes the fact 800 got out of his contract early because he hated the pumpkin so much.
Yeah, and he has done so well on the Suzuki, crashed himself out of the supercross then crashed himself out of the nationals, the linkage on that Suzuki is really helping him out a lot
-eagle-
Posts
1610
Joined
5/9/2008
Location
ZW
8/8/2008 8:43am
Look what he did on a privateer honda when the class was stacked.
Look were he's at this year with the class depleted.
I hope he takes his practice bike up to canadia and does well this weekend.
Confidence is so important in this game and he could use a few shots.
socalmx716
Posts
342
Joined
12/6/2006
Location
Fontana, CA US
8/8/2008 8:46am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:57pm
chrisgg90 wrote:
Yeah, and he has done so well on the Suzuki, crashed himself out of the supercross then crashed himself out of the nationals, the linkage on...
Yeah, and he has done so well on the Suzuki, crashed himself out of the supercross then crashed himself out of the nationals, the linkage on that Suzuki is really helping him out a lot
but he was a level above the rest of the riders he was battling with last year. No doubt he improved a large amount this year.

socalmx716
Posts
342
Joined
12/6/2006
Location
Fontana, CA US
8/8/2008 8:50am
yep, those KTM's suck....MX2 moto #1

and they won the MX1 overall as well.

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Fed. Bike Time laps Diff. First Diff. Prev. Bestlaptime in lap Speed
1 4 Rattray, Tyla RSA MSA KTM 41:33.589 18 0:00.000 0:00.000 2:13.006 2 42.61
2 2 Searle, Tommy GBR ACU KTM 41:55.126 18 0:21.537 0:21.537 2:12.340 3 42.25
3 10 Goncalves, Rui POR FNM KTM 42:08.542 18 0:34.953 0:13.416 2:11.755 1 42.02
4 34 Roelants, Joel BEL FMB KTM 42:09.575 18 0:35.986 0:01.033 2:15.408 2 42.01
5 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR MCUI KTM 42:15.503 18 0:41.914 0:05.928 2:14.023 3 41.91
6 89 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB KTM 42:19.852 18 0:46.263 0:04.349 2:15.209 2 41.84
7 183 Frossard, Steven FRA FFM Kawasaki 42:54.057 18 1:20.468 0:34.205 2:16.434 2 41.28
8 37 Krestinov, Gert EST EMF KTM 42:56.864 18 1:23.275 0:02.807 2:14.485 2 41.24

Post a reply to: Nick Wey

The Latest