This is not another post bitching about the announcing on the broadcast but I do want to talk about Bubba's mentality and how he announces and does his podcast. I just finished his latest Rewind race recap for Hangtown and I realized that Bubba doesn't just watch a race. Mentally, he is in that race and experiencing those tracks and that's why he's so good at commentating. Other announcers can notice a thing here or there, but Bubba notices the smallest things about what the riders are doing because he's watching and mentally racing that same race alongside those riders. That's the only way he could pick out subtle track changes and changes in what the riders are doing. You can see the same thing if you follow F1 and listen to Joylon Palmer or Cruz Pedregon in NHRA - These are the guys that only physically stopped racing, not mentally. Other former racers who announce haven't retained that mental connection.
Not an earth-shattering observation, but something I thought I'd point out.
I agree with you right up to the Joylon Palmer reference. I just don’t get it with him. If you’d said Martin Brundle, I’d see your point. When they ask Martin to talk you through a lap you can literally sense he is in the car, arse in the seat feeling every bump, slide and gear change. That man has only left F1 physically
Yep, he will call the pass 2-3 corners before it happens (usually).
Ricky does the same in SX. The passes usually don't happen though
You're right. He's a pleasure to listen to when he adds what guys are probably thinking out there. You know he's strategizing as a true racer would do.
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Hilariously accurate.
I’d like to thank RC for introducing me to the term “Jammed up.” I don’t know if I use it daily, but the term has spread and it’s always fitting. I know a lot of his stuff starts threads immediately here, but every now and then he’ll break something down, and I’ll take that over science of supercross on how you need to wash your boots.
On another note, I’ll agree with the original post. I really like JS7 in the booth, his insight is great. Some of the stuff he sees and when he gets in depth on bike feedback or stuff racers see is awesome to hear. This goes for a lot of high level athletes with their sport, the way they can break it down to the “do this or do that, he was thinking this, he saw that, bike was doing this” type of stuff is cool to hear.
JS7 does give some good insights during the race, but he needs to work on his delivery. He's only slightly better than RC at bumbling around and repeating himself. Weege is the only active all-around excellent commentator in MX/SX.
Paul Malin is amazing too
I loved the commentating for Hangtown.
James brought the detailed observations and is so on point, just as the OP indicated. He knows what's happening inside the helmet!
Weigant adds narrative and excitement. Great pairing!
They would if it were him on the bike. Stamp it.
James has mentioned several times that he would watch the races over and over when he was growing up. He studied the other riders to see how he could go faster. I’m sure that still plays a part as he’s watching the races now. I really enjoy him on the broadcast and his rewind show.
One specific thing that blows me away is the track knowledge JS7 has. He'll casually drop things like "back in 2007, the corner before the finish line was even more off-camber so you had to be 2nd gear and start way more inside to get the finish line double". He says that shit in the middle of announcing the race so you know it was already sitting in his brain as a fact and he just popped it out. That's a true student of the sport.
Regarding his delivery: I agree, he could clean up his phrasing to be more polished, but I sort like that he is who he is, not some slick smooth talker. We all have people in our lives who bumble around the wording and phrasing but we grant them a little grace because we like what they have to say.
Totally agree with this. He's not the smoothest (yet - remember that he hasn't done too terribly many of these things yet), but his insight is great. I also like that he's managed to keep a little of his personality in it instead of going full corporate drone.
I'll take him all day in the booth. He's head and shoulders above other options right now with his breakdown of the riders, bikes, and track...makes it an easy choice.
As I said in another thread, JS7 does a great job. He has so much moto insight, it’s refreshing. He’s better than Fro and RC.
I do think he should try to stop saying but every other sentence. Honestly though, who cares? For a former racer I think he’s doing great and will only get better.
He'll never top "preparate", although this years misuse of benefactor was also entertaining.
You mean, when he meant "beneficiary?"
Oh well, at least the dude is trying.
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