Jump to content

Week 28 - The Real Dave Thorpe Shows How


Andy
 Share

Recommended Posts

 

 

I remember seeing an interview with Jody Weisel (I think) the Editor of the magazine that tagged Dave "the fastest novice in the world". I forget exactly what he said but it was meant as a compliment. It was something along the lines that he "never seemed to be going very fast at all".

Edited by TooFastTim
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Would loved to have had Dibs at the St Davids but unfortunately other commitments prevailed, would love to see James full time in uk along with young Brown, Morris, Wigg and Graham. Add Dougie in for good measure and what a series 2008 could be!!!!!

To answer your question on streams at a British Champ we had 3 sections in a running streams, 1 in a dry stream, 3 section on big steps as is expected, 3 on banks with steps that had the weather not been so dry would have been muddy, a loose rocky section and a big hill climb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
 
My favorite Dave Thorpe memory--1986 MXDN, he was on a works 500 Honda and got passed by Johnny O'Mara on a 125 ;)

with a broken back brake IIRC on a very hilly Italian circuit (not to undermine the 13 year streak of the USA)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
It was something along the lines that he "never seemed to be going very fast at all".

I only saw Thorpe racing once in the 80s and your right, he made it look so effortless that he looked as if he was cruising round.

It was a British championship round and after a few laps he was on his own at the front - to the casual observer it looked like he had backed off until you saw the mob frantically chasing him half a lap behind.

I remember him saying that a bike can only slow down unless the back wheel was on the ground and he used to drop of jumps as soon as possible to get traction.

He is the Mike Hailwood of MX.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • 2 weeks later...
 
 Share

×
  • Create New...