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Two races down and Yamaha and Cooper Webb are failing to live up to the hype and expectations.
Or are they?
There has been so much pre season talk and bench racing ahead of Cooper Webb's debut in the premier Supercross class, that I think perhaps it's time to step back and reassess the situation using a more objective long-term view.
Bear with me.
Let's get back to those expectations for a moment. On whose expectations are we judging his performance? I could be mistaken, but I don't recall hearing from Cooper or anyone on his team any specific goals for the season beyond learning the ropes, staying healthy, etc. Of course, he has made statements such as "hate to lose", "battle with those guys", etc, but those are simply generic, canned responses in my opinion and don't reflect the true state of affairs within the team. Other teams and riders state specific goals like "wins", "podiums", "top ten", etc.
I really don't think Cooper or anyone in his program are anywhere near ready to hit the "panic button". Heck, I bet they don't even have one of those in the Yamahauler.
It's no big secret that the reverse engined YZ450F has a less than stellar track record in pro racing in the USA, especially in Supercross. I think it's safe to say that this has negatively affected sales of that particular model and perhaps other Yamaha product by negative association.
I believe the company is keenly aware of this and has a plan to repair the damage and I believe that plan is in full effect now.
Here is what's happening with Yamaha, in my opinion. All just speculation on my part.
Yamaha and Cooper Webb are going to play it extremely safe this year in Supercross and probably will continue to do so until they start racing the 2018 bike. Word on the street is that there are some major changes coming.
From a marketing and bike sales perspective, what would make more sense? Have your top prospect and proven champion rider take risks to achieve mediocre results on soon to be obsolete equipment? Or, do you continue to develop the team, infrastructure, test components and allow your #1 rider to go out and learn the ropes without any pressure for results in his first year?
I think Yamaha sees a successful model in what Honda has done with Ken Roczen and their new bike.
Cooper appearing to "struggle" on the current bike should not surprise anyone. In fact, it should be expected. I'll go one step further and say it was planned.
This way Yamaha can completely close the book on the current generation bike and start a new, more successful legacy with the new one. One more season of less than stellar results in Supercross on the current bike isn't going to further damage it's reputation.
I want to believe they are taking a more long term, sustainable approach with Cooper.
Or are they?
There has been so much pre season talk and bench racing ahead of Cooper Webb's debut in the premier Supercross class, that I think perhaps it's time to step back and reassess the situation using a more objective long-term view.
Bear with me.
Let's get back to those expectations for a moment. On whose expectations are we judging his performance? I could be mistaken, but I don't recall hearing from Cooper or anyone on his team any specific goals for the season beyond learning the ropes, staying healthy, etc. Of course, he has made statements such as "hate to lose", "battle with those guys", etc, but those are simply generic, canned responses in my opinion and don't reflect the true state of affairs within the team. Other teams and riders state specific goals like "wins", "podiums", "top ten", etc.
I really don't think Cooper or anyone in his program are anywhere near ready to hit the "panic button". Heck, I bet they don't even have one of those in the Yamahauler.
It's no big secret that the reverse engined YZ450F has a less than stellar track record in pro racing in the USA, especially in Supercross. I think it's safe to say that this has negatively affected sales of that particular model and perhaps other Yamaha product by negative association.
I believe the company is keenly aware of this and has a plan to repair the damage and I believe that plan is in full effect now.
Here is what's happening with Yamaha, in my opinion. All just speculation on my part.
Yamaha and Cooper Webb are going to play it extremely safe this year in Supercross and probably will continue to do so until they start racing the 2018 bike. Word on the street is that there are some major changes coming.
From a marketing and bike sales perspective, what would make more sense? Have your top prospect and proven champion rider take risks to achieve mediocre results on soon to be obsolete equipment? Or, do you continue to develop the team, infrastructure, test components and allow your #1 rider to go out and learn the ropes without any pressure for results in his first year?
I think Yamaha sees a successful model in what Honda has done with Ken Roczen and their new bike.
Cooper appearing to "struggle" on the current bike should not surprise anyone. In fact, it should be expected. I'll go one step further and say it was planned.
This way Yamaha can completely close the book on the current generation bike and start a new, more successful legacy with the new one. One more season of less than stellar results in Supercross on the current bike isn't going to further damage it's reputation.
I want to believe they are taking a more long term, sustainable approach with Cooper.
Come 2018 coopers on a bike he's happy and comfortable with and with a team he's happy with. Then we'll see what he's got.
Thoughts?
If the 250 and 450 use the "same" frame, it's silly to me... why would you be ok thinking the same frame would work with the added weight and power etc?
The Shop
The irony of the mass cg concept biting them in terms of handling is amazing. Innovate or die or innovate and die.
Wish he stayed red. I genuinely believe if he was 100% comfortable on the bike he could still do it. No way he has those podiums up Dungey's backside last year and he can't do it. Just needs to be comfortable.
This is 'wont turn 101' you cant run forks like that , and then complain it doesn't turn .
He's got the forks up, different lugs, clamps... what else?! And it might be to get initial bite, but is it compromising mid-corner? Or in the whoops? Or what else...
Hard being a Reed fan man... He's had a lot of years where he was maybe not on the best stuff, but when he's been comfortable, 03-04, 09, 11-12 there has been magic and he's great to watch.
Would have loved to see him truly comfortable and giving it a proper crack at 35!
Never heard a thing about it on the fs1 show.
Was that not what happened? Did he jam the previous broken wrist or not?
Not many people expected Coop to be running with Roczen at this stage but I think everyone expected him to in the top 6 or 8 with some flashes of elite speed, maybe dicing with 3rd for a few laps or leading a heat for a few laps or something along those lines. So far he hasn't been close.
No, its not panic time. He will almost certainly get faster and I think everyone at Yamaha wants that ASAP, not next year.
You need to get into fiction and fantasy writing, this is incredible work.
Pit Row
Coop will be fine. There's serious competition in the 450 class. He will work himself up to Anderson, Musquin and Tomacs speed eventually. He will not find himself racing with Dungey or Roczen. Not this year and not next. End of story.
Its been 2 races... im pretty sure his wrist is bothering him, hence the whoop speed, or lack of it. Not everything needss to be a conspiracy theory in life!
So yes, since the 18's come out in 6 months of course it exists. But is it totally redesigned from the ground up? Probably not. So it it just a freshened up 17 model? Probably.
Garbage, all of it.
Villopoto talks about it on the Pulp show, he was a fish out of water for first part of 2009.
Takes time for some to adapt.
Dude is Cooper Webb, he will get it figured out.
The kid sucks. Maybe he'll get better, maybe he won't.
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