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His track record shows he should be better. He has damn near 20 top 5 results in the 450 class over his career. He's also last years 250sx champ.
I hear you -- This year has some core cats in the top 10, and it gets really serious in the top 5, -
When he was top 5/450 who was on the track? Where was he in his career? What bike was he on? What were the expectations? Were they one off rides, with no pressure or expectation?
I agree he should be better, but he's not. Why?
That's a lot of questions. The main one I want to answer was where was he at in his career? Well right now he's your last 250sx champion. I would guess he's expected to be in his prime of his career.
Yeah - lot's of variables - that's why it's impressive when someone wins the 450 championship, indoors or out.
The list of regional champions that come into 450 and never win another championship is lengthy.
IMO he mentally connected with the Yamaha in a way that he hasn't yet with the Husky.
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His career is unique because it took him like 13 years as a pro for the stars and moon to align for his regional championship. He's 31 years old, that is usually past prime in this sport.
I think he's doing well to be in the top 10, I didn't expect anything more.
Exactly. Plenty of past regional 250 champs finishing about the same as he is in the 450's right now, right?
Other than Hunter last year, he was battling Vince Friese, which should say something about the level of that region last year.
The bike change seems to have destroyed his confidence and so far in his career if that confidence is gone, he seems to struggle immensely.
He's a 31 year old regional champion, where exactly is the Mendoza line? Just my opinion, but again, I feel like the super publicized route they've taken with the vlog and everything has invited a lot of criticism. That's on them. If they really thought putting their lives in the public eye was going to ONLY gain support and not criticism, that's insanity to me.
The vibe from their vlog, to me, seems like "look how far we've come and what we've had to deal with." While you have guys like Deano (who's dealt with some serious injuries and hardcore ups and downs as well) put out a vlog that just seems like pure fun and like he just wants people to see what it's like to be a professional racer. He seems to be relishing every minute, knowing it's probably ending soon.
He had 7 top 5's outdoors last year on a 450 Yamaha. His best 450 outdoor season yet right after his best 250 indoor season ever. Statistically he's getting his best results last year on Star.
Look at his 450 results last summer right after his 250 title. Some of his best results of his career. Top 5 results in well over half his races.
Coming off a 250 SX title and his results in the 450 outdoors I am guessing he expected many top 5's in 450SX this year just like he did all last summer.
Why are these people doing "vlogs" (whatever the hell that is) when they are losing? Shouldn't they focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions? I really don't understand. Most people I know have far, far, less high stress careers, and couldn't do their jobs for shit with a camera documenting everything. Put the camera down and train, focus, adjust, excel....
I know what you're saying. But you do know they hire someone to record the videos and post them, right? The Craigs are just going about their business as its filmed.
Team green calling us key board warriors is an honor really, at least we’re not real life dick riders.
Do you watch the videos? If you actually think it's not a distraction, whether they hire someone or not, you're mistaken man.
It's 99.9% impossible to knowingly be filmed and not let it change your actions, even the slightest bit.
If I was his employer, and obviously I'm not, and his results are far below what they expected....I'm having some serious conversations about focus and simplification of the whole program.
Who knows what his contract says, but if there is fluff that's not directly related to bettering his results, as an act of respect for your position as a PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, I think you owe it to whoever is paying to you get rid of that stuff.
FMOP? Craig?!?! Herlings just attempted to take his shirt off and dislocated his shoulder halfway through. He'll be back racing in a month or so.
You did see the three words after "FMOP", right? Not a lot of people would argue Craig wasn't INSANE in the whoops last year. And I'm obviously not a fan. You always have to come up with the most off the wall arguments, don't you?
That being said, the shoulder dislocation comment did make me laugh. Well done on that.
I saw the 3 words after. I was just making a joke. Everytime I see FMOP without Herlings being attached to it. I just picture his fans losing their shit. My humor is not for everyone.
Well they have an Instagram page for their son, I think the chance of them buckling down and trying to stay out of the limelight is about slim to none
Man, I can picture most posting in this thread don’t have a family or understand what kids do to you after becoming a parent.
Christian and Paige are adults. Christian is not a 17 year old phenom straight out of Loretta’s trying to figure it out. He’s racing in the most stacked 450 class I can recently remember and he’s consistently in the top in practice times. He’s been getting horrible starts and finishing consistently in the top 10.
His story and run for a championship last year was an amazing feel good story that he nor his family shoved down your throat. They were truthful and honest. Producers and the powers that be chose to tell the story. A story that showed hard work and extreme perseverance.
He didn’t lie about breaking his back.
He didn’t lie about all the injuries.
He didn’t lie about taking a long time off to find the passion to race again.
So what if his father in law gave him a chance. It was obviously deserved. You can’t buy talent and work ethic.
I’m sure there are a lot more people out in the world that became fans because of his story then there are grumpy haters in here.
If you dont like the Vlog, don’t watch it. Hating on a well mannered, hard working family man that chooses to have his family around in his first full year on a new bike with this competition shows the maturity of those posting negative comments in this thread.
Life is bigger than any job. Looks like Christian is winning that championship.
He will figure it out and the negative nancies will find something else to explain how it should be done.
Well said, Regis
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Regis for the “reality trophy”.
Andy has no idea what he is talking about. All he knows is electric vehicles with cameras attached to them.
So you watched exactly one of the Craig family vlogs. Well case closed I guess.
Wasn't aware that there was a case open, but okay.
I guess I don't spend my life obsessing over motocross athletes and their families. I'd rather just be a plain Ole fan....old fashioned - I know.
CC finished right behind AP in Daytona . Imo this was his best race . He was in the mix
With a mrs like his I don't think beating himself is a concern.
Or with a mrs. like that, he has no choice.
You missed the point. Some people are put off by how Craig and family portray themselves in their vids. I just thought it was funny you watched one and declared anyone of that opinion bitter. One isn't much of a sample size. I'm with you I don't really care about any of this. I've watched one less vlog than you, zero. Some of the stuff Craig has said in interviews about nobody has gone through what he has is a little much
“So what if his father in law gave him a chance. It was obviously deserved. You can’t buy talent and work ethic.”
This part hits with me, I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge someone for getting help from their family. Jealousy? Isn’t that the very essence of family?
Yes I think he’s a bit of a head case, but he doesn’t come from the most stable background and in reality and that probably has something to do with it. One thing is true, he has made the most out of this opportunity that he has been given.
Another thing, we bitch about how we don’t have an inside look into the riders lives, they start a vlog and we bitch about how they should be training instead of vlogging.
Okay, so if someone beats hunter this year for the title, you'll minimize that too right? Just wanna be consistent.
Probably not, as long as it's not a 30 year old who literally said NOBODY has been through what he's been through.
We can keep going back and forth all day if you want, or you can just admit it's ok to have different opinions on this.
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