Congrats to Bobby Fong...4th in 600 prod!!

[scalvert]

Another +1

The countryside is littered with the careers of national level racers whose personal issues and not their riding skill kept them from success. I've never met Bobby and have absolutely no real idea what kind of guy he is. Since he's not been posting in this thread I have no real idea what he thinks about the choises he made that led up to him violating two significant rules of the club. All I have to go on is MattM's comments in this thread. I suspect most everybody else here is in a similar situation.

It's MattM's comments that have driven this thread. Despite the spurious, mean spirited, and personal comments he's made here, I doubt there are many people here who are anything short of delighted to see Bobby riding and placing well at a young age. It's a wonderful thing to watch. What sucks to watch though is a young competitor with sportsmanship issues. I have no idea what Bobby's sportsmanship is like, since he's not posting here. But MattM seems to either not get some basics or to have forgotten them in his excitement over Bobby's potential future.

A good competitor when faced with his own mistakes should first own up to the mistakes, expect to take a bit of public grilling for them, defend himself _if_ things get out of hand, shut up, and make a point of not repeating the mistakes. It's concerning to me to see somebody who seems to have a mentorship role with a young bright talent getting these basics so wrong.

So please MattM, do us a favor, post one more time saying:
1) Bobby's sorry about continuing after crashing
2) The bike will have yellow plates next time out
3) The three guys who got past him in 600 P had better bring their A game to Buttonwillow cause Bobby will be there with fire in his eyes and even better, faster, and smarter than he was last weekend.

You'll get bonus points if you avoid making any more Little League Dad Syndrome comments about Bobby's certain future in the AMA.

--------------------------------

Edit:

Great... so I spend 30 minutes writing a post with a carefully sharpened and somewhat nasty edge to it, and you spend the same 30 minutes making good. Guess it's my turn to look silly

Here's to being young and fast!

 

[afm199]

Edit:

Great... so I spend 30 minutes writing a post with a carefully sharpened and somewhat nasty edge to it, and you spend the same 30 minutes making good. Guess it's my turn to look silly

Here's to being young and fast!

Hey you don't need any help looking foolish!

edit

 

[scalvert]

Hey you don't need any help looking foolish!

edit

That's for sure... just look at my bike!

 

[Corey11c]

I think all you guys should meet on the playground after school and kick the crap out of each other. That will settle this once and for all.
But seriously, I raced with Bobby last year and he pitted with me this past weekend. He's a good kid, never cocky, very polite, soft spoken, and gratefull for all he help and experience he's getting. He knows he screwed up when he got back on the bike. I can't say what was running through his head at the moment when he did it, but we've all done similar screw ups before and we learn from it. Fortunately this time no one was hurt (sorry to the guy who crashed into T1, but blame seems kind of iffy in that situation)
Bobby is a smart kid and a quick learner, and he'll know better next time. Maybe he should sit down and read the entire rule book cover to cover again just to make sure he's straight on everything.
P.S. Matt I'm gonna come out there and school all your 6 year olds so they run home crying to mommy.

 

[NSR250SP]

Damn! I didn't know we had so many perfect, respectful people in the AFM.

Stuart Stratton was a rider who raced with the AFM, as well with many other clubs (The AMA being one of them). Stuart was fast, and smart. I remember Stuart picking up his R6 on the exit of the old T12 chicane and getting back into the race. He was neither young, or inexperienced at the time. He did what he did in the heat of the battle when ones mind tends to get a little focused on winning.

This is club racing. Remember that last word "RACING". If you honestly think that we all need to give up the line just cause someone shows a wheel, then we all need to sit back and watch some of the more competitive classes in the AFM (600, Open Everything, FII, FI, FIII, 650 Twins, FIV, 750 and FP Basically all of them). Siglin, Carmen, Hill, Stanton, Mesa don't just give up the corner cause someone showed a wheel. If they did they wouldn't be where they are today.

I am sure Bobby will not get back on a bike when it crashes while racing with the AFM. I am also sure he will have yellow plates next month.

So lets give the kid a chance. Or we can all just get upset with him cause he's faster then 99% of us. Little Punk A#@ Kids! Don't deserve to race with us older slow folks

 

[Holeshot]

Matt, I'm the guy who's ridden around Bobby the most of late in the AFM. He has more than 3 races in the AFM, crashed on the 4th lap of our race in front of me and could use a few pointers out there that I'm reticent to give, considering the help he's already getting.

Awhile back another "future AMA'er" was on this forum with his mechanic and father. They bigshotted it up and pretty much burned every bridge that was available to them in the AFM, all on an internet forum. Now the kid can't make a Laguna grid to save his soul. It was a shame, but one that no one couldn't have seen coming.

Without friends at every level of racing, racers don't go far. There's just too much to learn that isn't going to happen at Stockton Motorplex. The AFM is a place he can learn. This attitude of "he'll kick all your asses" isn't gonna bode well for a positive future. We're racers. We don't want to hear about the next guy who's gonna kick our asses really. Maybe in 5 years when we're still stuck in the AFM and he's in the WSBK...but not now. You know that.

Bobby will go far. But not with comments like "he needs more motor". The kid needs a good mentor in the AFM. Pick someone for him Matt, and then let go. He's past Stockton Motorplex and soon enough, with luck, will be past the AFM. But right now, between the AFM's strict rules and people taking sides over a hobby most of us do in our spare time, ill will is only going to persist as you brag about a kid from the sidelines. I feel the only thing missing at times is the tounge sticking out. Let the racers of the AFM figure out Bobby's path and he'll be very likable. Let him be an AFM'er and transition out of your fingers.

Bobby rides on 16 year old aggression. That's good and bad. Let's get the bad out of him, and not do it by telling everyone and the kid he's gonna be a superstar. No one can say for sure what he's going to be, they can only hope.

Bobby, to you directly...don't EVER get on this forum! It's a total waste!

 

[Holeshot]

This is club racing. Remember that last word "RACING". If you honestly think that we all need to give up the line just cause someone shows a wheel, then we all need to sit back and watch some of the more competitive classes in the AFM (600, Open Everything, FII, FI, FIII, 650 Twins, FIV, 750 and FP Basically all of them). Siglin, Carmen, Hill, Stanton, Mesa don't just give up the corner cause someone showed a wheel. If they did they wouldn't be where they are today.

It's not club racing, it's club trackdays in the AFM. If this was club racing, would we have a crash rule?

 

[GPgofast]

...

Bobby, to you directly...don't EVER get on this forum! It's a total waste!

This coming from someone with 8000+ posts!!!

 

[christofu]

This is club racing. Remember that last word "RACING". If you honestly think that we all need to give up the line just cause someone shows a wheel, then we all need to sit back and watch some of the more competitive classes in the AFM (600, Open Everything, FII, FI, FIII, 650 Twins, FIV, 750 and FP Basically all of them). Siglin, Carmen, Hill, Stanton, Mesa don't just give up the corner cause someone showed a wheel. If they did they wouldn't be where they are today.

I'm sorry, did I miss something where someone advocated letting someone past you who shows you a wheel during a race?

I did see something that advocated not slamming the door on someone in PRACTICE if they CONSISTENTLY show you a wheel in every turn.

In PRACTICE, if someone shows me a wheel I will cheerfully slam the door on them. Once or perhaps twice. If they're showing me a wheel in every turn then it's time for me to realize that I'm probably not going to finish on the podium in this particular practice session and maybe not slam the door on them so hard. I'll still make 'em work for it but what's the harm in letting someone slightly faster past, especially when I'm going to get to follow them for a while?

Sorry to hijack the thread

 

[Gary J]

No ego problems here and I did'nt mean to come off in such a way. Just wanted to give some folks a little background incase they were wondering "who the f... is this guy defending Bobby.

p.s. I am truly hot shit, come out to Stockton some time and I'll have one of my 6 year old students show you the fast way around.

Matt,

The potential consequences (something all of us in the sport recognize and accept, to a degree) that can be associated with participating in the high speed sport of roadracing, make it easy to understand why many fellow racers have risen up to respond in this thread. Anytime there's a red flag raised, regarding a potential higher risk element that may be introduced to the club racing environment (where us local AFM'ers compete), we have every right (and should be expected) to voice our concerns.

I'm not directly pointing any fingers at any particular "young gun" racer (despite this thread's title having Bobby's name), in the following statements, as they're intended only as a "if the shoe fits" manner. If it doesn't fit for Bobby ..... that's great, more power to him and everyone that will be sharing the track with him in the remainder of the season's racing. Certainly Bobby's race finishing positions and lap times, based on the short time he's been competing in the roadracing arena, are to be highly congratulated!

Having been actively racing at the "club level" (AFM and others) for 14 years, and managing to somehow dodge the worst bullets along the way that have enabled me to still compete at a reasonably respectable level still today, I've had an opportunity to see a lot of "new hot prospects" come and go. Some have come on the scene like gangbusters, getting VERY fast in a VERY short period of time. Truly impressive to watch, in many cases. Unfortunately the list of those individuals that have had "longevity" associated with their active involvement in our sport, is quite small.

During the last few years, something that I hadn't seen during the first 10 years of my club roadracing, has surfaced. This is cases where families that have fairly significant financial resources (or access to outside funding of their efforts), have dedicated extensive time/money/energy towards rapidly accelerating and promoting their own "young gun" racer(s) into the roadracing pipeline. Normally this starts at the "club" level, with the focus being to "use" that venue as a stepping stone (and showcase) towards moving on to higher levels of competition (AMA and beyond).

This progression through the levels of racing is all well and good; and natural, but the "OK'ishness of this process stops (in my mind and most other "club" racers with families and normal jobs) when that quest for "the big time" includes behavior on or off the track that carries potentially added danger and risk (of an unnecessary/acceptable by "club" standards level) to the other racers.

It would be easy for the local AFM'ers that post here to come up with a list of the names of some "young guns" that have showed up on the "club" racing scene (AFM and CCS) during the last couple of years, who's racing stats would include involvement in some rather questionable decisions on track. Unfotunately some of these "gotta get to the front/ no-fear" behavior exhibitions have had subsequent negative (aka "crashes", etc.) consequences for other less star-bound, everyday working family type, racers that were on the track at that moment.

I'll put it right out there, and not candy coat it, in the following statement (my opinion, FWIW). This isn't directed at you personally Matt. It's really addressed to anyone that's sitting on the sidelines (off the 130MPH battlefield pavement of the roadrace circuit) promoting and pushing along any of these "next Valentino Rossi young-guns". I suspect my view on this is shared by a large percentage of fellow AFM "club level" racers, that value "safety and going to work on Monday morning" high above the quest for roadracing stardom.

At "club" level events, I'm NOT OK with the idea of potentially being "just another obstacle" to be moved out of the way (while out on track) in the quest for carving a pathway (one race at a time) to the Big-Top of roadracing, by any other racer. There's no special tolerance or consideration that I'm going to be compelled to hand out in this regard, regardless of the age of the pilot of the bike. That old ploy of "he/she's just a kid", "cut 'em some slack", doesn't hold any merit for me, when the arena where the activity is being conducted is at triple-digit speeds, on the very unforgiving world of asphalt. Life and death are very real elements that ride along with every rider on track, every time they take to the grid. We all know this, and accept it when deciding to participate in the sport. Despite this recognition, anytime that a "preventable" element (like reeling in unacceptable/dangerous/or rule-violating behavior), that can/will increase the probability of bad events happening is identified, putting a stop to it early and completely is not an unreasonable stance to take.

Just a final note for you Matt. The methods and intensity that I'm sure you instill in these young riders you train, in the motard and dirt track venues (where the speeds and equipment are a little more acceptive of the process of "falling down"), do not directly translate over when moving into the world of "roadracing" on full size machines. This is especially true when that arena is the "club racing" environment, whether it be with the AFM, or any other organization. Please be sure that a part of that "hot shit" (your quote terminology) training that you do with Bobby (and any other "young gun" riders), includes at the top of the list, stressing the importance of respecting the safety of every other rider that they are "sharing" the track with ........ as a "person" (with wives, children, families, friends, etc.), and not just another faceless "obstacle" to be cleared aside, in the quest to find the magic pathway to stardom in the world of roadracing.

End of soapbox.

 

[NSR250SP]

I did see something that advocated not slamming the door on someone in PRACTICE if they CONSISTENTLY show you a wheel in every turn.

So it went from closing the door to slamming the door.

Now there is a difference in my mind.

One is not giving up your line. The other is taking the line with force.

If Kim were a real man he would have taken that 1000 and put it in front of that small 600 before the corner (Just screwing with you kim).

I don't know why people are getting all over this kids back. The only issues that I have seen so far that says he did anythign wrong were he got back on a crashed bike, and running white plates. Neither of them have anything to do with riding dangerous.

 

[NSR250SP]

Hey Matt,

Maybe you should mention something about yourself, and your experience in racing. Seems people are stuck on your involvment with mini bikes, and not actually knowing anything about your history.

Thanks,

 

[Trackho]

I don't know why people are getting all over this kids back. The only issues that I have seen so far that says he did anythign wrong were he got back on a crashed bike, and running white plates. Neither of them have anything to do with riding dangerous.

So tell me again how many times Fong checked over his bike for leaking oil?????? Of yeah Zero---so if he had been leaking oil thru T11 exit, the straightawayT1, T2 and on---and 10 people piled into the wall would THAT change your opinion?? Trust me I got to go down in some one elses oil---it sucks.

Yes, he made a mistake, so the AFM should make him "sit out" the next race. Time to learn that there are (minimal in this case) consequences for being uninformed/stupid/deaf whatever.

Then "Hotshit Matt" can explain the details to him, maybe even pick up the AFM RULEBOOK.---Which as Gary states should be known BEFORE he even sets a foot on the track.

 

[Holeshot]

Charles, let me be crystal clear here: if you have not ridden next to someone, you'd be hard pressed to know exactly how they ride. I ride next to #440 the most of anyone lately. Please don't defend on emotion or personal connection if you haven't ridden next to someone.

Kim Nakashima isn't a guy who talks to talk.

 

[NSR250SP]

Jeff,

Should we all be benched each time we make a mistake? if so, then I am sure we would all be sitting out one time or another.

From what I see it's a case of us older much more mature racers knowing everything, yet not actually thinking that we could do something wrong.

I see more shit happen on the track and off the track by people three times this kids age, and its all okay, cause were all adults.

People putting together some of the most messed up pile of crap repaired bikes just so they can race that last race of the day, and get some points. Entire exhaust systems failing off bikes after they have been teched (not tech's fault). Barbara handing out tools that were found on the track. Front brake calipers falling off the forks cause someone forgot to re-safety wire them after the made repairs post tech.

All I am saying is Don't beat the kid cause he made a mistake. Help him learn from his mistake in a constructive way. The kids lucky to have Matt as a mentor, and a father that supports his racing.

Again, I am glad I am not as perfect as everyone else. It would suck to be even more full of my self

Thanks,

 

[Trackho]

Jeff,

Should we all be benched each time we make a mistake? if so, then I am sure we would all be sitting out one time or another.

There are MANY 600 riders that ARE BEING BENCHED under the new crash rule--for FAR less reckless behaviour---so yes, I think he should be benched
1 pt for the crash like everyone else
1 pt for "shitty, in the moment behavior"

This makes perfect sense, thanks for asking

Charles your opinion seems to sway ALOT by who you know/like/or dont know/like---interseting. I just dont want to get killed by someone you know/like.

 

[MattM]

Hey Matt,

Maybe you should mention something about yourself, and your experience in racing. Seems people are stuck on your involvment with mini bikes, and not actually knowing anything about your history.

Thanks,

Thanks Charles, I think I will.

Uh..my mane is Matt and I'm a alcoh.... oops, sorry wrong forum. Seriously though, most that know me know I'm just a hack that's read a few books and has ridden a bike around a few times, not much to tell really other than I love kids and seem to be able to connect with then as well as adults. I'll say one thing though, I don't want to make any enemies with the AFM/BARF community and not just for obvious reasons either.

I've said it once here and I'll say it again. I DID NOT AND DO NOT CONDONE what Bobby did.

A quote from Gary J:
Please be sure that a part of that "hot shit" (your quote terminology) training that you do with Bobby (and any other "young gun" riders), includes at the top of the list, stressing the importance of respecting the safety of every other rider that they are "sharing" the track with ........ as a "person" (with wives, children, families, friends, etc.), and not just another faceless "obstacle" to be cleared aside, in the quest to find the magic pathway to stardom in the world of roadracing.

Gary, please understand the humor in the term "hot shit" (actually I was dubbed that from afm199) as this is absolutely not my attitude. And yes, I do stress the importance of respecting the safety of others to all of my students AND SMRRC club members. I recently suspended a rider for a race for riding reckless and causing a crash. I do know a little about racing even if it's just "mini bikes" Stupid still hurts even if it's a lot slower. Safety, It's one of my priorities.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apollogize to Bobby and Anthony Fong (his dad) if I have stepped over my boundries in this matter. Racing is a very passionate sport and we all can get caught up in it at times. It was not my intent to cause any bad publicity for dragging this on.

I will not post any further on this thread. If anyone wants to respond to me any further, please feel free to call.

Matt
(209) 914-3697

 

[NSR250SP]

There are MANY 600 riders that ARE BEING BENCHED under the new crash rule--for FAR less reckless behaviour---so yes, I think he should be benched
1 pt for the crash like everyone else
1 pt for "shitty, in the moment behavior"

This makes perfect sense, thanks for asking

Charles your opinion seems to sway ALOT by who you know/like/or dont know/like---interseting. I just dont want to get killed by someone you know/like.

Jeff, I don't know Bobby at all. Seen him race, but thats the extent.

So I guess your assumption about my opinion is wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble.

My opinion is based on not being perfect, and knowing what goes through my head while racing, as well as what I have seen on the track by much faster racers then you or me.

Thanks,

 

[CTS488]

don't worry everyone, all this talking is coming from this!!! Someone who drinks a double blended non fat java chip 2 pump half cafe moca, with extra whip!!! What a fruit!

 

[blue]

don't worry everyone, all this talking is coming from this!!! Someone who drinks a double blended non fat java chip 2 pump half cafe moca, with extra whip!!! What a fruit!