Simon Crafar: From MotoGP Winner to Paddock Commentator

Simon Crafar won a MotoGP race in 1998 at Donington Park. He is one of a small number of New Zealanders to have competed at the top level of motorcycle road racing. Today he is a familiar face in the MotoGP paddock as a pit lane reporter and commentator.

In this conversation, Simon talks about his racing career, what it was like to win at the highest level, and how the sport has changed since his era. We also cover his transition from rider to broadcaster and his perspective on where MotoGP is headed.

A great listen for anyone who follows Grand Prix racing or wants to know what the paddock looks like from the inside.

Transcript

Copy

Angus Norton (00:07.896)
G'day everyone. It's awesome to be here. And today we're having a conversation with Simon Crafer, who's a well-known figure in the world of motorcycle racing, particularly in the MotoGP paddock and World Superbike Championships. Now, before he was a commentator, he had a very successful career as a professional motorcycle racer and later, obviously, as a commentator and also a coach. Now, Simon's early career began racing in the late 1980s in New Zealand.

where he quickly made a name for himself in various national and international championships. His early years were marked by impressive performances in the British Superbike Championship and the World Superbike Wild Card draws where he had the opportunity which really paved his way for an entry into the world of racing.

The 500cc Grand Prix was probably Simon's most notable achievement. And this came in 1998, where he rode for the Red Bull Yamaha team and secured his first Grand Prix victory at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, which at the time was a significant accomplishment. It was a very competitive area, maybe one of the most competitive areas of the last 30, 40 years.

He finished the season in seventh place overall and achieved three podium finishes, which really highlighted his skill and competitiveness in that top premier class. Before his Grand Prix career, he raced in World Superbike Championship and he competed in that championship hard and rode for various teams, including Kawasaki, Ducati and Honda and earned several podium finishes.

He was known for an aggressive riding style and a determination that really made him a fan favorite and a respected competitor amongst all of his peers, which we're going to talk a little bit about today. Now, when his racing career ended, he entered into the world of commentary and coaching. And after retiring from professional racing, he transitioned also into a role as an Olin suspension technician, rider coach and commentator and analyst for MotoGP broadcasts.

Angus Norton (02:26.754)
These days, he's not doing too much coaching, but his deep knowledge of the sport combined with his first-hand racing experience has provided valuable insights for viewers of MotoGP's broadcasts. And his engaging commentary style and technical expertise have made him a respected voice in the MotoGP community and paddock.

Now, in addition to his commentary, he has recorded numerous videos and written a book on what he calls Motovoodoo, the art of writing. And this Motovoodoo training program, which offers advanced writing techniques for coaching and writers looking to improve their skills, is still available today on DVD and videos on YouTube. This practical real world experience and his ability to translate tough writing styles and techniques

into a lingo that everyone can understand is one of his great skills, one of his great gifts. And, you know, his perseverance and adaptability and passion for the sport from his early days in New Zealand to the success of a global stage is something that is respected and something that has really helped him transition to commentary. Because in commentary,

He's one of the folks that's actually been out there on the bike. He's ridden in the GP class, the MotoGP class, and he's keen to share his knowledge with the next generation of riders. For me, Simon's legacy in motorcycle is it's really multifaceted as a rider. As a racer, he remembered for his thrilling performances at the Grand Prix victories. I saw him win in New Zealand as a really young fella, and that was awesome. And as a communicator and coach, he's got a unique influence in the sport.

He's respected by fans, riders and aspiring riders alike. And his contributions to motorcycle racing extend way beyond the track and in fact, way beyond motorcycles. He also has a massive passion for dogs and saving dogs and helping dogs and bringing dogs off the streets and into loving homes through his Riders for Dogs program. So the guy's got a big heart. He's a top bloke and

Angus Norton (04:44.588)
I'm really excited to chat to him, so let's head on over there. Well, good day, everyone. It's awesome to see you all again. And I am beyond excited for you all to meet Simon Craver. Simon's a well-known figure in the world of motorcycle racing, particularly in World Superbike, MotoGP, and he's also a Kiwi, and has had a really varied, really successful career as a pro racer.

and most recently as a commentator and a coach and a technician amongst other things for Olin's. So Simon, mate, awesome to meet you. Awesome to have another Kiwi on board. no, my pleasure. I've watched a couple of your interviews since Kirst, my wife, mentioned that you, you know, you invited me to come on your show. So I watched a couple and really cool, like.

You've got something in common with all of the journalists that I like and that you love the sport and whoever you're interviewing or whatever subject you're talking about, you have passion for and it's about that rather than you. excuse me for being straight up, but that's me. And I learned that after being a racer because racers have quite a ego, you know, that you have to get rid of that to be a good teacher when I did that.

instruction and also I think that comes into the journalist side as well. All the ones that I respect have that meaning journalists have that in common. wanted to you a big up. Good on you. No, and that's also I think it's also kind of a Kiwi thing to speak our minds. I've followed you for a long time, obviously, because there's not a lot of successful motorsports people that have come out of New Zealand, although there are some very, very famous ones historically, which we'll get to later.

But you I remember watching you back in our local track in New Zealand. I actually did watch you race in the 250 TT series. Long, long time ago, which I think you won a few times and then you went on and won a Malaysian title and there's a bunch of stuff. so, yeah, I it's just great. It's great to have you here. As a fellow Kiwi, what I'm really curious about obviously is how you got started in motorcycle racing in New Zealand. It's not known for producing lots of motorcycle races and

Angus Norton (07:09.198)
Can you share some of early experiences that sort of drew you to the sport? Yeah, well, I knew about the sport because my uncle, mum's brother, younger brother, was a successful motocrosser. And so we went to watch him a few times. But I mean, he was more a hero and I was like a toddler, you know, running around or like single figures, probably five, six, you know.

And so he was just a legend to me, you know, and he put me on the tank a few times at the end of the race meeting and tore me up and down the field just so I could experience it. that blew my mind, but it was too removed and too, you know, it felt like impossible for me to do that because I didn't even know anyone with a bike, you know, my father was a blacksmith still is he's about to retire, believe it or not, 75 and

And high level blacksmith, the way, or racehorses and trotters gets flown around now fixes horses that like expensive horses that have problems. back then when I was a kid, he was showing the rural, you know, the farmers, they only care if the shoe stays on, you know, and you're showing them in the mud. And I was there holding them, looking at the farmer's motorbike. One of my best mates at school at 10 years old, I went around to his farm.

his father's farm and he had older brothers and they taught him how to ride his father's TS one eight five Suzuki. And, he taught me, I begged him to, and he taught me one evening and that was it. I honestly knew what I wanted to do. I know that I feel lucky about that. And I, I was like this to my father pulling his shirt for 12 months before my father gave in cause he's horses and rugby, you know, and that's free.

It's free because he's a blacksmith. could get me the horses, shoe them, a place to put them. And I did have horses until then, you know, and I just, so I'm really lucky. I got knocked out playing rugby, woke up in the back of dad's car and he looked super worried, you know, looking at me close. I just woke up to see his face, super worried. And I said, dad, I don't want to play rugby. I want to ride, I want to ride motorbikes. So he went, okay. And gave in. We went down that path.

Angus Norton (09:32.524)
So I feel super lucky I had a father that backed me in what I wanted, you know. Yeah, it's a great story about dads, especially as we ride and we have our own kids and we want to set the right example. We also don't want to be hypocrites, right? When it comes to our kids riding, which is definitely something I'd want to talk about later. And what's interesting hearing you talk is, a lot of professionals I meet that have gotten to great levels in the sport, all new very early and all very competitive early.

Would you consider yourself someone that just wanted to win all the time was just like competitive from day one or that that's something is that something you sort of discovered? Sure I was competitive of course. Yeah. But I think I've kind of admitted to this to myself towards the end of my career. I realized that the ones that won world championships that was their dream, you know, to smash everybody and

Be honest, my dream always I've loved the machinery like I love motorcycles and I looked at the magazines, you know, and had the center page pulled out, which was of a factory machine, you know, whether it was Freddie Spencer's or earlier motocross, like Harkin Calquist or someone Brad Lackey. So I would have them on my wall. And my dream honestly was always to ride those factory machines against the best guys in the world.

and dad doesn't have to pay, you know, that was it really. That was the deep rooted dream goal. And I'm so lucky to have made that happen. But I think if I'm honest, I believe I would have got further if I had bigger ambitions, you know, it was more, I was totally happy once I was there, you know what I mean? Well, writing those machinery and

I didn't really have the hunger to smash the opposition, you know, I was quite friendly with them and they all weren't friendly back. And I think there was something missing that one more step from me, I believe. clearly you've had some great moments in your career that have been pivotal to you not only being a great coach and a technician and definitely

Angus Norton (11:54.166)
I can tell that in many ways you're quite professorial and quite academic around how you think about what goes into riding a motorcycle well, whether it be through your motor Voodoo coaching, which I want to talk about, or just the way you talk about and make sense of all the craziness that goes into MotoGP bikes for the average listener that doesn't understand. My wife loves Formula One, but she's now all about MotoGP and a lot of it is because she's learned so much listening to you.

But like, as you think about those key moments as your career grew, know, a guy raised in Pukakoa in New Zealand, a rock at the bottom of the South Pacific, were there moments in your career that you feel were pivotal to what, however you determine success, because we all determine it in different ways. But you had a victory, one of your big victories was at the British Grand Prix, right? was the biggest one, yeah, for me. That was your biggest one, like...

It's clearly one, but were there others that maybe people don't quite realize in the life of a racer that they don't see it, but you know were big pivotal moments for you? Yeah, it's a really good point. And you're right. Success is measured. Sorry, that's one of our dogs. Say hi if he wants. Yeah, he probably wants to chew or something. He's massive. If you get to see him, he's a Czech wolf dog and literally

Car party and wolf mixed with German shepherd. So first of all, you mentioned the word academic or along those lines. I sure wasn't. I left school with nothing. And I'm talking before school C, we call it at home, because 15 before the exams, I got offered to work like an apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic. And this shop would supply me motocross bikes. And that was my first

like dream come true, dad, you don't have to pay for my bikes, you know, mom and dad, just to give you an idea, they ran away from home when they realized they were pregnant with me. And because back then it was uncool, you know, and so they grew up with nothing, you know, whatever they built. And I knew they really couldn't afford to back my racing for long. They did for four or five years.

Angus Norton (14:20.318)
And so first opportunity out I wanted, and I went did this apprenticeship and and it didn't turn out great. I was too young, you know, to leave home, go to another city. And I went off down the wrong path and learned the hard way. But I just to give you an idea, I have no academic zero papers, you know, from schooling. But.

I absolutely love the sport, you know, so I spent so much time trying to understand it and teach me how to be better and learn how to be better. But also the mechanical side, I did my apprenticeship as a bike mechanic and I understand the I can build a bike, you know, from ground up and I understand the improvements, the changes, the mods, what they do. And I love to put it is just how my brain works. I love to put it in a simple way, you know.

because I think it should be that way. My favorite saying, for example, is a man obviously much clever than me, Albert Einstein says, one of his sayings is, if you can't explain something simply, you don't understand the subject well enough. And I fully believe in that. If you really understand the subject, you can put it a simple way because

It is relatively simple. You don't have to make all the magic around it and make it more complicated than it is. I'm sure there's some complicated subjects we're getting off track, but I love the sport. I love the machinery. love. So I try to understand everything and I love to share it. know, and that's another thing I learned on my way is the best crew chiefs, for example, that I did legend crew chief. I got to work with two of them that are super famous. Guy Coulon.

93, the looks kind of like a clown, you know, sorry, but I love Guy. knows I love him. And then, he's still in the paddock with tech three. He's a part of tech three. He's one of the three original partners. so then the year after Merlin Plumlee, who's an American who worked for Honda America and all of so many legends came through Honda America onto world championship.

Angus Norton (16:44.686)
through Merlin, you know, he was their crew chief. And the last one would have been Nikki Hayden, I reckon, at a guess. Merlin sadly died of cancer a long time ago now, but wonderful man. And I learned so much from these two crew chiefs. And I always was shocked how open they were with me. And Merlin, it was the one that explained it. Because I said to him, again, I was in the workshop. He was doing something to an RC 45 engine.

We managed to get fifth in the championship, him building the bikes, me riding them, they're private machines. We fifth in the World Superbike Championship. And we're no way without him. No way. You know, he was, he was wonderful. And I learned so much from him. And I said to him one day when I'd asked something about the engine, why do you, why are you doing that? And he, um, put the talks down and explained the whole reason, you know, thoroughly. And I was just shocked because.

I'm used to growing up around people that hide, you know, the knowledge. And, and he knew exactly what I, what I was asking. And he said, look, Simon, you'll find the people that really understand, whatever subject it is, they are so busy focused on learning the new things. They're not worried about hiding what they've already learned, you know, and they love the, and it's the people that hide, they're hiding what little they know.

You know, and I've found that to be true in every, I want to say trade or every profession that I've done. And I've done a few now. I found that to be true, the very best, they're happy to help and share and what they know, you know, but, but, it sounds as though for you, were like, people that came into your life early that took an interest in you and you had a learner's mindset.

to learn from them. And so you had a couple of people and you mentioned Freddie Spencer as well. And he's a pretty interesting cat. I did his Yamaha Champs riding school in the US, which is something that he founded. that in, sorry, in Las Vegas, wasn't it? Yeah, he founded it Vegas. takes all, I live in Seattle. Our local track is the Ridge Motorsport Park, which isn't the most famous track in the US, but arguably one of the best. It's pretty incredible.

Angus Norton (19:03.828)
when you come here, you're welcome to spend a night and take one of my bikes out there. we'll, we'll, we'll have some fun. we've got a few bikes in the garage. something I didn't answer. Yeah. you said about the, you know, the, the, big one was a British GP one for me. Yes. And everyone knows that, but it wasn't my favorite race, you know, because I, I I managed to run away. I was just running from Mick Dune who was.

Awesome. And hunted everyone down and I sure he was going to hunt me down. I was just running for my life, you know, trying to make the gap as big as possible early on. Cause I knew I had the speed to do that, but I knew he would come back and he didn't. that was in, it wasn't as yeah, of course it was exciting, but it wasn't as exciting as Phillip Island that same year. which I love the circuit to start us. It's, so fast that.

It makes motorcyclists dreams come true. You know, everybody dreams about sliding at 200 kilometers an hour, right? Front and rear. First time I went to Phillip Island, it scared the pants off me. was like, I don't know if I'm good enough for this. Honestly, 89 on a, on the Super Angel, OW01 Superbike, you know, my first year. it scared me because I hadn't had experience with fast circuits. New Zealand's all naggery stop start, you know, the odd one at Pukakaui.

so to, to basically I started the race. I'd qualified well. I can't remember. I think it was front row though. Maybe just off the front row and mid race. I was seventh and between mid race and the end of the race, I went from seventh passing heroes of mine. I'm talking literally heroes of mine. They still, still are. Kosinski,

Biagi, Cheka, Kenny Jr., Abe. The last two I got by, I was around some of them and then ran away, got past them and managed to get, the last two was Barros, who was third, and then Crivie who was second. And I ran away from them and bridged the gap halfway to Mick. And so that race was so much more exciting, you because you're passing your heroes, you know, it's working. And

Angus Norton (21:27.032)
those dreams are coming true. I'll never forget it going, you know, sliding at 200 kilometers an hour. It's like unbelievable. And cause you know how close you are to getting very hurt, but you're confident to do it. It lap after lap. It's working. You know, it's just incredible feeling. Like I said, dreams come true. And the big one was standing on the podium after cause there was a cool track invasion there.

massive sea of people. And I look down and see mom, dad, granddad, grandma, know, uncle's auntie sister. Wow, there's nothing better than that. You know, that was so for me, that was a favorite one. Hey, before we jump in on this one, perfect timing. Let's compare sizes for you know, since we don't know to hold your cup up. I was just seeing your check that out. Yeah, this is a yank size. Yeah, And I like that as well. A good one is great. But

Sweet as. I actually have upstairs a fancy Mazocco espresso machine, but I can't use it at this time in the morning because I wake my son up, he's sleeping upstairs and I'm grinding. So that's my excuse for the yank cut. But you're right. You called me on that. Now to answer your other question is and there's a lot of things I hope we touch on that are important to get from riding dirt bikes and

Yeah, let's talk about it. To get to a world championship and a lot of pitfalls. And it really was because my dream was to ride world championship, you know, ride the factory bikes against the best guys in the world on the best circuits. Because of that, I didn't get distracted by the, for example, the good jobs and national championship that I got offered.

I would do them, but only as a stepping stone. And for example, one move I'm super proud of is, I mean, I had to get to, I got to Malaysia. I should start out in New Zealand to Malaysia. did seven races in Japan. So I'll do this as quick as I can, but they're all the same. They're all the same ingredients as I was in working in a workshop, like I said, in New Zealand with a sponsor to pay for my bikes, who was the bike shop.

Angus Norton (23:53.376)
And I'm working in the shop and it was a Honda shop in New Plymouth by now and I just won the New Zealand Championship 250 Brody and.

I had to this year, two bikes, pick up truck, you know, to take my bikes around, pay for by and, but I'm working through the winter already looking forward to this. And I get a phone call. Do you want to go to Suzuka eight hour? Because I'd won the championship at home. There's a Japanese team looking for. Riders with talent from New Zealand and Aussie to bring them over there. And that was a YSP Maggiro super angel. Another, another name. People know it as McDoone was their first guy. Aaron slightly second then me and Stroudy me Stroudy and Scott doing.

Was that year and so they invited us over and invited me over the others were already there or moved on and

The, had to say no, cause this shop owner made me choose between one race, Suzuki eight hour that had been invited to, or go, you know, stay with him and have a year of bikes. And you know what I mean? It was really scary. He rang my dad. Can dad's trying to convince me not to do it. Cause he's saying it's mad going from 250 body to super bike in Japan on slick tires. And you've never got no experience. You're going to hurt yourself. And so I almost said no. And then.

I would shorten it up. ended up ringing and saying yes, um, to them, I'll do it. I'll do it. And walked away from that job, you know, took my toolbox on Monday and went to Japan and it was the right thing. You know, I heard, I learned the hard way, a lot of crashes. Um, and that's what my Motivoodoo book is about the stuff I learned in that period. had seven high sides in three and a half months, cried myself to sleep. Oh, with ankles, know, like, but, but that was one, it was.

Angus Norton (25:45.134)
Not, you know, chasing that. There's no point staying in New Zealand if you want to go world championship, you know, then the second one I'm super proud of is. I know before that I went to Malaysia, Mike Webb, I was working for by then in a bike shop, motorcycle shop. He helped me write letters because he can write a letter. I couldn't. left school too early and at that stage anyway, he helped me write letters. He said, what do you want to say? And this is to Yamaha Malaysia.

I just said, I just want a chance. One race, give me somewhere to sleep. I'll bring my gear back. One race, show you what I can do and then we'll talk, you know? And they went, yeah, I'd sent this to Lotte Yamaha because I knew the OW01 that I could turn up and ride it. You know, I knew where to set it because I'd been riding one in Japan. And so they said, yes, turned up there, turned into a year and a half, 18 months, you know, the second half of that year and the whole next year won the championship for them.

Awesome people, Hong Li on Yamaha, they looked after me, helped me do my apprenticeship on a super bike, know, properly learn how to ride it. Then I got an invite to go to the UK to do the last two races there. And I knew that was a chance. I had to go take the brain out at the last two races and do something so I could get a job in the UK for the following year. And it worked. I got the job. got fourth in the first one, the Brands Power Bike, which is their

last big event of the year and, um, just to ride the bike, trying to go one better and the, and the, and the next one, but did enough to get off at the RC 40, RC 30 the following year with Honda UK. End of that year, which is what I want to tell you, was a real pivotal moment for me. think end of 92, I'd by then I'd learned all the tracks and, um, Honda, you Bob, Bob McMillan, Neil Tuxworth sat me down.

I was having a beer with Joey Dunlop because it was a Honda event. And Joey and I were the only ones there alone in suits, not very comfortable in suits. And we were in the corner having a pint talking about the best tracks and the best bikes. that was a cool memory. I didn't realize how cool it was till later, you But I got sat down and they said, here's the deal. And it was, I mean,

Angus Norton (28:10.99)
92 was the first time I got paid and I didn't care. I just wanted more world zip bike races. That's what I pushed the amount of super bike races, you know, as a wild card, I pushed it from one to three and not the money. And then the second deal they offer me is three times the money, you know, so it's getting proper paid proper. And I went, no, I'm not staying in national championship. I'm, I'm going world championship. And they went, have you got a ride? And I went, no.

But I'm going World Championship. And they went, Simon, this is a good deal. And I went, I know, but I'm bored. And if I get bored, I'll drink and chase girls, you know, instead of focusing on the, and how could they argue? You know, they went, well, fair enough. And I had no job. I'm talking to April the following year. And then I get a call. Raymond Roche let me do four wild cards on his personal owned

888 he was the team manager for foggy and for Lapa. He did this for me. stayed with him, travel with him and did four races on a kit 888. I managed to get sixth at Estoril. it was the best result on it, but all tracks, I don't know, cause I'm just turning up to World Championship. And I did then got offered a, ride in five hundreds, but on a bike that was the worst. When I say worst, was the oldest,

Lowest budget team, oldest machinery, two good mechanics, actually good people, one woman and one guy. so super small. had two sets of tires. The race weekend. wow. Wow. All the practice had to be done on old stuff from the weekend before. And then you have one for qualifying and that does the warmup and you have one for the race, you know, management math. So what I'm saying is the excuse to go probably go off track from what you wanted, but

No, it's okay. Don't distracted off the path of your goal by a good deal, you know, to stay in what you don't actually want to do. But it's a good, I think that's a was a what I like I said, I'm super proud I didn't get distracted by that. and it, you know, I went into world championship for nothing. But I learned all the tracks, I learned a lot. And that helps for later when you

Angus Norton (30:38.466)
when I did get the proper ride, know, I'd already been to the tracks. You see what I mean? And I wouldn't have gotten noticed by the people if I hadn't been doing it. It's interesting because in those days when you were studying a track and you're learning and you had this, you really wanted to compete on the world stage. You're saying no to offers. You're turning up at tracks. I'm a big believer in having a plan when you turn out to a track, even as a enthusiastic A group writer.

You know, I had a plan and I write, I write it a lot of tracks in the U S and I get in my van and I drive down to Laguna Seca or whatever, some of the tracks. and I studied the tracks on YouTube or here, the great writers here's, here's the turn point here. Here's where they're looking for the apex. I'm making notes, but in those days you turn out to attract. How did you study a track before writing it? I didn't. Okay. didn't. The most I got was a walk around the night before. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. No,

Because you're right, I didn't even have a phone or a computer or so. You're right. was before all that. Well, not before phones, but before they were smart. Yeah. Watch things on there.

Yeah, I mean, it was a different time, you know, it really was. And I think a lot of people, if they look at their careers, will agree on those early years when you're really finally doing what you want to do. You've got no money, you know, I sleeping in team trucks, bumming lifts with the boot people, you know, that sponsored me for boots.

I would stay with them for a weekend near Imola and then catch a ride to the next race. And I was doing things like this, whatever it took until tech three took me on, which gave me a motor home. They paid for the fuel and I could call Kirsten and say, come on over. but the, and that period with her same, it's some of our best memories, know, that's, that's a good one. The very last race I did in New Zealand.

Angus Norton (32:47.362)
Yeah, I convinced, Yamaha Malaysia to loan me, the bike was already painted up with Mulberry Yamaha for Malaysia. Right. They had a, they had an international race. called Pampas Pacific, Pacific Pacific Superbike Championship. So all the Aussies came and Asian different, you know, writers from that region came, but you're talking probably Phyllis Malcolm, a Campbell Malcolm Campbell.

super fast boys, Aaron Sleight, who was riding an Aussie by then. Yeah. And the Kiwi boys, which included me, I wanted to do it. I convinced them to loan me the bike, but I thought how I pay for it to get over there and run it. I went to Philip Morris in New Zealand, you know, which is Marlborough cigarettes and said, would you pay the freight? We're already kitted up. We've already got the equipment to compete. It's just freight cost and some tires or something like that. They went, hell yeah. Super deal. Little did I know they thought.

let's do some extra promotion and sent to Broly Girls. And my teammate who I was looking after, I put the deal together for him as well. That was the deal from me. They said, take your teammate young Chinese Malaysian guy who's still a good buddy of mine. He came as well. And the girl that was his Broly Girl, I said, please, can we swap? I've fallen in love with yours. So yeah.

That was 1991. That's awesome. We're still together. Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah. And I've enjoyed corresponding with her because, know, I reached out to her, was kind of a total, you know, you know, and I was just so grateful she responded. And you talked about the Marlborough Yamaha. Interesting side note. So a couple of years ago, I rode Ducati ST3S across Europe. Sweet touring bike. Ducati what? Sorry. ST3S sport touring bike. Okay.

Yep, yep. And this is before the Multistrada and stuff. Then I went back and I did it again on a Multistrada and I got to visit Pessaro, town of Pessaro in Italy, and I got to visit Mr. Morbodale. Really? Very cool. so he had the largest private motorcycle collection in the world, second largest to Barber. I had no idea. Yeah, yeah. And so Pessaro is where La Verda and Multibanale and it's just very close to where Rossi lives.

Angus Norton (35:10.284)
And anyway, in there, he had a Marlborough Yamaha. And every single bike he built himself from scratch. I mean, I have to send you pictures, incredible. But he said, yeah, Brian Crosby's bike. Graham Crosby's bike. He said, this is Graham Crosby's bike. I'm like, yeah, the Kiwi that owns a shop in Auckland. You know, I knew that he had raced, but I think he raced, I think pretty sure it was a Yamaha. Yeah, he was teammates with Valensina's dad,

The first time I met Valentino and, um, Graciano's dad, didn't know who Valentino was. His dad came up to me and he, were at my boot sponsors house. You know, they had a party right before he, he was at, yeah. Or maybe it was Magello. Yeah. Anyway. Um, he came up to me and I saw him on Graciano. Uh, this is my son. I know he actually said, um, do you know Graham Crosby? Oh yeah. I didn't know Graham. Um, he's owns a motorcycle shop in New Zealand. He said,

He was my teammate. He's crazy. And he went into a bunch of stories about Graham and, which was brilliant. And at the end of it, he went, this is my son Valentino. He's here. He's, just won the scooter like championship in, in Italy. And Valentino went, child, do you, in English, do you have any stickers? The smile that he has now that he's like, cool. And so Pesaro is like on the Adriatic coast. It's got an amazing history before the Japanese took over the motorcycling world.

a lot of the great bikes were designed there. And so I'll send you some history on that. And so you're being super humble about the things you've achieved and the people that have helped you along the way. And I love that. And I think that's what it makes you very real. I want to sort of stay on the riding front. Now, you saw the interview I did of Kayla Yakov, who's a young rising star here in the US.

And I've got a lot of, she's incredible. And one of the questions I asked her is like, you know, as you think about, you know, differentiating sort of a track day rider, you know, a high level track day rider, you know, that is doing good times, but isn't racing. But from your experience, when you think about sort of fast track day riders, you know, what are the sort of mindsets or skills you've learned for your company and for coaching?

Angus Norton (37:33.302)
this through to make the leap from track days to maybe just doing club racing or competitive racing. cause I see a lot of track day riders who are really fast. but, they're, we always say like, what is it? How do you make that transition? And what is it really a big transition and whatever mindset changes? When you do go racing, I mean, cause at the end track days, everyone works and we have to stay safe. You know, you have to, and that's why.

what my books and videos and stuff are on is trying to go as fast as possible without crashing. Where's all the time to steal without crashing? Because we've got to go to work. We can't afford to crash. People can't afford to fix their bike, for example. They can't afford to have time off work. So then you get someone that is going that fast and

Especially when I was in my forties, I still really enjoyed that. You know, I could have a client that you could ride that hard with and, you just use the things you've learned to get that little bit more. Cause he's really fast. You know what I'm saying? But, then you have to dig to a level you don't normally do and then show them where it was. You know, you can steal a little bit here and a little bit there. But the big thing is the difference between to me, the clear big thing is you got to be prepared.

smash everything up, you know, because you're standing right on the edge then, you know, and it's defer, you're going to step over it a few times looking in the wrong area to win some time. And, that's the thing about racing, you know, it's not track days anymore, unless it's quite low level racing. Yeah. You've got to be prepared to, to, to hurt yourself and smash your machinery up, you know, and, that's, but.

that I think only do that after you've got the time from everywhere else. You see what I mean? Yeah, The next step is risking it and looking for the time. it's only little pieces here and there. And it's when you're using the edge grip. I try and tell people to stay away from that until they've got it in all the safe areas. But the thing is, the type of person that makes it

Angus Norton (39:56.116)
Is there's varying types. He's the absolute naturals, you know, that just understand so quickly where, the grip is, you know, it's amazing. And then there's the one, the workers that I want to give you one example, that proved to me that it is a learned sport is, everyone will know who said that Jibun now is, but when he first turned up, he was pretty shit.

You know, I would say to his face, he was pretty average, you know, and I came from New Zealand and you don't get second chances, you know, you've got to do something straight away reasonable to get every opportunity you get. You've got to make something of to get a little bit further up the ladder or keep the one you've got, you know, and Sete turned up and he didn't do that. So I thought, he'll be gone next year, but he wasn't, I didn't realize he was like,

relative of the Bultaco family, know, grandson, and so had the connections and to get another chance and, and you know what, I thought he was shit. And he turned out really good, you know, and it's just, shows that there is two ways of getting there. You know what I mean? You can learn it. And I think I was in between probably, or probably was similar to him. but I

There's no way you get the opportunities, you know, unless you are. So there's a lot of people that probably slipped through the net that don't get the opportunities. They just going to take a little bit longer to learn it. And once they do like set a, you know, but I've been a junkie. one of the videos, by the way, the years, a little off and you sound a lot like what you talk about in your motor video training. So, but yeah, but carry on. So the learning learning is something. Yeah. The main point I wanted to put across is about races is.

I think it's the same with all sports people. There's a certain level of natural ability you need to, if you're going to be a professional anyway. and then the rest is how much the work ethic, how much you have, you know, how much you're willing to work, to learn, to push yourself to get better. And, every writer is a different, different mixtures of this. And it's why Mick doing always springs to mind because the level of,

Angus Norton (42:19.4)
of natural ability was above average. know, like he was bloody good the first time he got on super bikes the first time he really good, but not the same level as like to me, Kosinski, probably BRG, those freaks, freaks when it comes to natural ability. Unbelievable. But his work ethic, so he had more than the average amount of

natural ability, but his work ethic was bigger than I've ever seen. Like he would do whatever it took to to win, you know, and he pushed himself so hard. Like he's the only one that gets straight off long haul flights and go running, you know, and I don't always think it was good for him physically. I think he batted himself, but he wanted he told me I was his training partner for three years.

He told me he wants to line up on the grid knowing that he deserves it more than all the others. What does it to what's a training partner? Sorry, just help me. you are like a physical cycling gym. Yeah. I didn't know that. Yeah. Mick is when you took my natural abilities, like Mick and I think Fogarty, you also to some degree you watched them and you there. mean, and the reason I've done a lot of different schools, Keefe's I've done, I've done Yamaha champ school. I've looked at all of your online videos is that.

I feel like I get a piece from every piece of it from everything's good. You know, and and so your learners mindset, like I get on the track every year, even though I'm making progress and I'm shit scared the first time I get on the bike for the for the year. I'm like, am I going to remember anything? And I have realized that you have to keep training to keep learning. But but so you're so so doing though and foggity, if I'm if I'm right, they used to ride kind of crossed up. It looked like they weren't like they would ride. was weird watching them ride now because we're all taught like

vision is everything, know, and lock on. And I remember the first time I dragged my knee, I thought there was something wrong. I Oh, fuck, what's wrong? And I Oh, I'm actually writing properly. Cause I've actually, I'm not trying to drag my knee anymore. It just happens. It's those guys, you said they were naturals, but they're also road in a very, was it just the time or they were so good that it didn't matter if they kind of looked crossed up and they were still winning? Like, think, um, that, mean, just off the top of my head, I think that back then, because

Angus Norton (44:44.366)
There's no electronic stuff that you could find different ways to do stuff and make it happen. Where now, think it's everything's squeezed out so much of the package. You have to do everything. Well, not everything, but most things so close to engineering was correct.

You know, they even know the angles to get the best drive to, you know what mean? You've got to slow it down here a little bit more to get the angle to get that. They can actually tell you the numbers now. We didn't have the numbers. We had to feel what. And so there was more people getting it wrong. And I think you could someone like Mick could squeeze more out of just whatever he had. You know, that's another thing I want to touch on, actually, is people say the different writers.

in the different eras, who was the greatest in Murrah. My belief is that a writer, successful writer is someone who can adapt and get the best out of what he has or she has now. And those same writers would succeed no matter where you drop them in, no matter what era you drop them in, because that I genuinely believe that it's not because

It's just their mentality. They, like I said about Mick, he would, whatever it took to win, if you dropped them in now, he would, he would win again, you know, he'd fight for the win again. doesn't matter if the bike was easier or harder or, um, so I don't think you can, it's those same people, you know, and I would say there's more that would succeed, um, and going fast now because the rider, the bikes are more user friendly, you know, it's very physical now.

But I think there's less chance of getting smashed up in your first year. Just to summarize, I think the champions of every era, doesn't matter if decade, would succeed in another era because it's the mindset. Yeah, shit, man. God, I wish we had more time because there are so many elements that are learned. Right. And what I found with you is that in your videos, you you really talk like you're a professor, even though we talked about you have super humble beginnings.

Angus Norton (47:08.046)
Like you're one of these guys that has just got this encyclopedia of learning. And even on MotoGP, you sneak around the paddocks and you come back, oh, I saw this new thing here. I saw that there. And that's why that corners like your MotoVidu work feels very, um, um, uh, feels very academic, even though it's not, you know what I mean? Like when you, the way you talk. is that, me a bit about MotoVidu and if I'm straight up, um, I believe everything is.

relatively straightforward like i think people watching now would have gathered that by now and sure it doesn't mean it's easy you know and it's easy to feel or understand but it is straightforward it's not rocket science i've actually stopped instructing i couldn't cope i did four years of both jobs when i got the commentary work yeah because i didn't want to let my company go and i didn't know how long they were going to keep me

in commentary work. I did both, but it burned me out. Can I tell you something that is still out there? Some people we know in the UK have done a really good job of doing the digital book. So it's a Motu Veru digital book. it's online for sale. It's not expensive. And it has it all there and all the photos and that, it has all the links to the videos that you've just read about. So you read about it, go, okay, see the bit and then click on it go to the

So I hope that thing helps another generation of riders, you know? I get sent videos to your links to your videos quite a bit actually. Hey, have you seen this video? I suppose outside of motor video, the favorite ones are you just screaming down these GP tracks on MotoGP bikes we've done, which has been listening to you scream when you're riding on those bikes is awesome. There's so much to talk about. Cause I want to talk a little bit about like the technology in the sport because

Obviously the technology has changed dramatically. And I'm really confused because MotoGP has always been, hey, this is like prototype stuff. Some of it might make it into street bikes one day. Some of it may not. Whereas we want super bikes stock bikes. Well, it's kind of like a street bike, but not, you And now if MotoGP getting coming down and power and it was all getting squeezed together. What are your thoughts on, it's a big question.

Angus Norton (49:34.79)
What are your thoughts on how... Yeah, the classes are changing now, Simon. so, you know, it's interesting to watch. There's obviously a difference between MotoGP and World Superbike, but they're all talented riders. What do you think is ride height and all these things? When you think about the MotoGP class coming down in CC, how are you guys, how's the industry positioning the two classes? know, it's World Superbike, Super Sport.

MotoGP, all kind of to the average punter, they all look the same. So, yeah. I'm glad you asked that one because it's come up a lot and I see it a lot on social media at the moment that, 850 yard, you know, they're making the bike slow. And the thing is, well, the reason I'm happy you brought it up is my response was the same when I first heard it. went, I actually said, shit to my colleague.

They're not going to make that same mistake again. They've already done 800s. That was a mistake. Then, like I do, Doug spoke to engineers and spoke to the people that put the ideas out there. I feel the opposite now that I've done my homework. They do know what they're doing. So when they did the 800s last time, they didn't restrict.

bore size. So, so the manufacturers went big bore, real short, short stroke, and then like an F, F one style engine, you know, real picky, but on a motorcycle that doesn't work, it gives you the most power, but you need a real good electronic package to help the thing work because it's not user friendly. It's not talking and smooth and like the rider hasn't got a good throttle connection. It's quite shit, you know, and the corner speed went through the roof. So.

They actually were faster through the turn. So the makes the walls closer, which they wanted to get away from. So their aim with this was to make sure to make the bikes accelerate less and have a less top speed because then the walls aren't too close. Cause right now the big problem is the bikes are getting faster and faster and faster over the last years that accelerating fast from faster. you're not just talking top speed talking second, third gear.

Angus Norton (52:01.612)
before they break in the next corner, they go so much faster that the wall when they crash, the bike goes up the wall at the air fence and they're going, we've got to move that wall back. And the tracks have done that over the last decade. Now they're saying, no, because there's millions, we've moved them far enough. We're not going to move them again, you know? And so the championship has to go, right. We can't come back here or we can slow our bikes down a bit, which is not a stupid thing. I mean, the bikes have already, they're already slowed down.

to what, if you left it open to what it would be, you know, so we're beyond, we're, we're beyond look to give you an idea why 850 isn't a worry is I spoke to the cleverest engineers, know, from the manufacturers and they're telling me that the MotoGP bike has 300 plus horsepower, crazy amount of torque. And we so much so that we cannot de-restrict the bike.

We restrict it. We restrict the talk, restrict the horsepower until fourth gear because it will either spin up or if it's got lots of grip, the track and tire and we're really, so the power is cut. So it doesn't spin up a wheelie all the way to fourth gear. So I mean, I'm saying I said to the guys, so you're talking it's he said before asking this question, he said, the one I'm thinking about now said,

The 850 will just be restricted less until fourth gear. It's not going to be slower. It's just going to be restricted less because it'll still have crazy amount of horsepower. They're 30 horsepower less than 850 will have than a thousand, but say they're, they're, they're over 300 and you see what I'm saying. So totally don't worry people. They're not going to be slow.

going to be a little bit lighter because they're allowed four kilos less minimum, sorry, yeah, minimum weight because the engines, you know, if you take off six mil per cylinder, 24 mil, that the, the bike can be narrower, you know, so they said, okay, it will work out smaller. Let's make it a bit lighter just to work it. So where the big, or save the big difference to last.

Angus Norton (54:24.302)
The arrow, they've kind of tried to restrict that again, 10 % roughly, you know. So instead of 600 wide, they have a jig, a square jig that goes over the bike, has to pass over the bike. And they're just making that 50 mil smaller. Was 600, now it's going to be 550. So the bike will be a little bit narrower, a little bit less effect, you know, also for the person following. And then on top of that, it can't protrude in front of the axle. Now it's allowed 150.

can be 100. So the wing in the front of the bike that pokes out has to be pulled back towards the rider. I said, yeah, but can't you move the whole lot back? You know, it's closer to the rider anyway. Yeah. But then you have to move the rider and that changes everything, you know, and right now, if we don't move the rider, he things will hit his face. And so it's more complicated than that. The wing will be smaller, have less effect. Uh, the belly pan, they haven't changed. It's still allowed 600 wide. Uh,

the tail unit instead of being free now that Stegosaurus wings sticking up behind the rider, instead of being free, meaning you can update it as much as you want. You only get one update per season. Molligate the first one, you're allowed one upgrade during the season. just like the rest of the arrow. And it can't be 1250 high from the ground. It has to be 1150. So 10 centimeters.

down, that's a lot, 100 mil down is a big restriction. So they've tried to let the arrow have less effect, you know, just to repeat the belly pants the same because the ground effects, all the manufacturers wanted to keep that. They're saying it's a way they're working and the bike's turning better in the corner. So they're allowing them to keep 600 wide. They're not not narrow. The big difference, they're going to have GPS as well, by the way.

They have GPS now, but it's not accurate enough to use for data to know what the writer's doing, what lines and stuff. This one will be, and it will be available to the teams after the session's finished. So everyone can see what everyone else is doing. OK. Everyone. Yeah. It's available to, sorry, the manufacturers. All the manufacturers. Right. They can ship the data, right?

Angus Norton (56:46.67)
Yep. Share that info. But live it is to race control. And this, well, they're saying the manufacturers telling me they believe race control or to help with to know what riders have done if there's an accident, you know, or maybe goes to court about something he's done, you know what I mean? Protests and stuff, you know? Yeah.

To understand what if somebody's done something different than he usually does, you know, it's that accurate. And also to know for safety for flags, you know, red flag, got to stop him before he gets to that accident, blah, blah, because it comes up on the dashes anyway, safety wise, basically, the big change in the 27 regulations to me, well, is the ride height devices getting rid of them? Yeah.

Because that does allow the bike to accelerate harder. the thing that I like about getting rid of it is people will say, why you want to make them slower? People don't notice how much faster the bike went when, when visually, when we brought them, no, when motor GP brought the right devices, you're like, so what, you know, it just looks cool that it drops before it takes off. But the thing is it will slow that second and third gear acceleration from corners.

before the next corner. So less chance of it going up the wall, you know, that's a big, that's where they make the differences. It's the first, second, third gear corners, acceleration. and the, the thing that I love is it puts it back in the rider's hands more because right now off the start, they're allowed to use both devices to start front one, like the whole shock device and the rear, the bike is so low. And the, with the

launch control with the clutches that they're improving with both devices. Riders can pretty much nail the start within a, you know, bang bang every time everyone gets a good start and arrives at the same point at the same time going faster than they. And that's the crashes and the two corners. It's the crashes, you know, and if you take those devices away, they're going to arrive slower because the bike's going to really more.

Angus Norton (59:13.29)
But the thing I love is we are going to see the rider working harder, meaning he's going to, it's going to be like the old days, like he's trying to get his head over the front and trying to stop the wheelie doing everything possible. We're going to have those cool shots again where he's battling the machine, you know, and they're to go all way to the first corner with the front wheel off the ground there. They, during the lap, you know what I'm saying? Hey, here's an example. Here's an example. Second gear corners, like last turn at her, you know,

or last turn anywhere, you see them come onto the straight. Remember how the bikes would stay leaned over and swerve back across the track and then back up again. How I guess like that. And the small classes still do it, but the big bikes less it's because when you lean at the right angle, I was mentioned that before is a, there's a optimal angle to have the machine that goes forward. Cause you have good grip because you're up off the edge, but

It's low enough. It's leaned over enough that the engine is low. So it wheelies less. And that's the angle they try and get it. And they try to keep it in there as long as possible and end up swerving across the circuit. Yeah. Trying to keep it in that anti-wheelie so they can keep the power on. Because if they lift the bike up, it wheelies. And then you have to shut throttle or the machine does it electronically. So they're trying to find that angle and that will come back, you know, all that.

fighting in. I feel like this preview into Simon Crafer, new season coming up because this is like awesome to hear. Yeah, cool. Because right now they hit the button, the thing drops. They don't have to lean it over and they just go off the corner. It accelerates. But also, I didn't know this, Mike Webb, the race director told me that because he goes to the safety commission meetings and the riders complain that the kerbs aren't long enough. It's because

the bike's not leaned over anymore because they don't have to use that anti-wheelie. So they stand the bike up on the fat part of the tire, drop the bike and then go brrraaap. And then they're running out of track. They run off the track, know? Yeah. The bike stood up, but so that's going to fix a whole lot of problems. But the big one for us is we're not going to notice that their accelerating slower. We're going to notice that the riders fighting it, which I want to see because the best rider does the best job at that. You know, so he'll arrive at the first corner.

Angus Norton (01:01:38.284)
ahead of the others that made mistake, they'll be more staggered, less chance of everyone going, you know, pile ups first turns. But during the lap, the person who works the most gets less wheelie, you know, and figures it out and goes faster. and we can continue going to the the old school circuits we love. because this is a great clinic. man. So many. God, we could talk for hours. I just finished building a V2 Panigale.

It's fully track-prepped. And I think I've learned, and you're talking about speed out of a corner, is that the roll-on has to be so much more precise versus the little bike. When I'm coming out of the corner and I can see the exit, I'm just right on the throttle, because a lot of my coaches are like, Angus, you're not getting on the throttle fast enough. So what I learned the most is trail-breaking for direction is amazing once you get it.

But then like the roll on, I the Caddy is, you've got to respect it. If you roll on too quickly, you're fricking wheeling. And so I suppose there's some correlations to MotoGP too, right? As terms of the amount of acceleration, the amount of torque that these bikes have out of, know, coming out of the corner has become untenable in the modern age of riding. And so we're trying to control that a bit. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, people say, you know, it's the ultimate which they should let them go, but

They haven't let them go for a long time and it's way past there. You know, they're, too fast. Like I was saying, like if they let them go completely, didn't restrict bore size and that that'd be more horrible to ride. That's the other thing about the eight 50 there. They're, um, they're going to be nice and talkie and rider friendly, good throttle connection because the engineer I spoke to who, you know, builds the engine said 75 they've restricted us slightly more than they have with a thousand.

at 81, you know? So it's going to be basically forcing them to go longer stroke and make a, they can't get the RPM then, which means they can't get the peak power, but it's brighter friendly, which is you need less electronics interfering, you know? So anyway, yeah, we're well past the point where we can let them go and let the engineers have whatever they want because

Angus Norton (01:03:58.318)
The bikes are too fast. This is so meaty, man. So got it. So one of the things you learn about me is that I'm totally ADHD. It's part of who I am. yeah, all over the place. So one of the things I was thinking is like, because you're a professional, you're an ex pro racer, you clearly have a level of respect from the riders that maybe not every commentator has, right? I they let you ride their bikes. For goodness sakes, it's pretty cool. Like, so you rock on down there, you're cruising along and chatting to people.

They know you're an ex pro racer. Do you feel like that's given you a connection to the riders and the community that that maybe others don't have? I mean, I love the fact that you're not a name drop and talk about how great you are, but I'm sure you have lots of mates that you can hang out with and it's all cool. It'll probably household names like what does it give you as an ex racer doing what you do now? it? Yeah, you you mentioned before and I didn't answer about the transition from

Yeah, my other careers, you know, so I raced for the biggest period then. let's technician after love that actually was easy to go from one person in that huddle, meaning a rider moving around. And I was a suspension technician in that huddle with the tire technician, with the crew chief, with the electronics guy, you know, that same huddle. I wasn't intimidated by it at least. And that helped. I loved the job, but it was right when babies turned up.

And it's the only reason I stopped doing that. Otherwise I would have continued the Oland thing more. Also awesome company to work for. They're Scandinavian and treat their staff really well. And the boss of the race department, Matt Lawson, I love him. He's super clever engineering wise, but he's also a real human. So it was wonderful experience working for them. And I learned lots. Then

the so basically I started the school and that taught me a heap because it taught me how to put into words what I was doing on the bike. And it took a long time. I reckon a couple of years of teaching before you get a good enough repertoire, is it, you know, of how to explain things, what you're doing on the bike. So I had to learn how to explain. I mean, for example, people would ask, I'd say, don't do that, man. It's dangerous. You Lamon Chican.

Angus Norton (01:06:24.654)
The guy was going to crash, you know, and he goes, well, what do you do? And I went, can you just give me a session out there and I'll figure out what it is that I'm doing different to you. it was a couple of years of that. And I was spending 100 days on track a year to learn. The transition from that to commentary was the hardest because it is not the same trade. know, I didn't I'm not a natural speaker.

I couldn't read a book in front of the class, you know, like there's no way I would want to. But it's kind of different when you understand the subject so well. That was what motivated me to want to do it and wanting to learn more. I love learning whatever they're doing. And you're right. The connections like the team managers, I do have respect from a couple because I used to race them. And then I've earned the respect from the others over the years, you know, so now

I get told stuff that they shouldn't tell me, but at least I can guess what's going on, you know? And they know I'm not going to burn them and say they said that or. But learning how to put it across and learning how to have kind of two brains, know, two things, the thing you're talking about and get the other one ready. I didn't know how to do that. I was a disaster and I was shit at it to start with, you know, happily admit that.

But it's like learning a new trade. I had no training. Don't want to stuck me out there with, gave me the overline, you know, which is like a pack with all these buttons and channels and the aerials and, a microphone and a headset. And I was nervous going from my first session. went, if you got any advice for me, and he went, I'm just the sound man. Apart from times to turn up, I didn't get any advice or instructions. And it was hard. got.

burned on social media. had to turn that off. It was not a nice experience, but it was two years of learning. think like any trade that you learn any profession, two years of learning and making mistakes. And then the third year I thought, Hey, I've got this. I started to enjoy it. And I'd made all the mistakes, how, you know, you learn how to avoid them and, um, which is no different than being a mechanic, you know? And then

Angus Norton (01:08:48.27)
The next three, the third, fourth, fifth, even sixth, I really enjoyed. Now I'm starting to get bored. you are? Yeah, I'm not learning enough. I'm learning about the but so I'm asking if we can mix it up like as in do some different stuff because I just do. I mean, I've done how many years of the same thing. And so I'm not bored of learning what's in Bitlane, but.

being in Petaline commentating is so hard from there because the timings never arrive and the bikes come past and it's much better in the box. And so, but I don't want to do the races. They've got another skill, know that? Yeah, sure. Sure. But I mean, it doesn't come across. Maybe in the box, for example, in the box, in the box with the commentators. So during the race, I could go, Hey, this is happening, I think, and actually explain what I think is happening and what I'm seeing, which you can't do from Petaline. It's too hard.

So yeah, anyway, time to mix it up. I think we've all seen that relationship really grow though with the commentators. Like it doesn't, it feels like you're really in sync, even though it's really hard. Like, and it's amazing. You know, the people I talk to you now here, you know, the track days, I do a lot of track days when we were talking about people and everyone loves your commentary. So keep at it, man. Even though you're bored, find something, you know, people love it. you know, I to have a challenge. That's it. You know, so I want to, I want another challenge, another thing to learn and get better at. That's basically it.

What do you think it is about Kiwis in motorsport? Because I know it's been a while since we've produced names like McLaren, but Scott Dixon still the best, the most winningest IndyCar champion in the history of the sport, Kiwi. I remember watching him on TV in New Zealand in the 90s and his dad had mortgaged his house to New Zealand to the US. Sorry. I remember watching that story. think Paul Holmes or someone had it on. anyway, what is it about Kiwis like you that

You know, you think there's something there or you think it's just luck or what is it? Well, when it comes to the mechanical side, I know we have something because at least my generation and before me, we grew up with pretty much nothing. Yep. And to you, if you had machinery, you had to fix it, you know, because New Zealand's so remote that you learn how to make do.

Angus Norton (01:11:13.526)
You learn, I think there's a real generation of that. People learn how to make things work or repair things without the proper parts, because you've got no choice. You got to wait months for it to turn up or let's make it, you know? So there's, there's that for sure. I'll give you that. I've noticed some countries grow up, soft because it's like where I am here in Andorra. Wow.

You know, the the the grouts off because they don't because they have everything they need, you know, and when you have everything you need, I think it takes away some of your hunger, you know, and you'll see that a lot of the I mean, there's two examples right now. The best Spanish kids come through. mean, Jorge Martino, the new one, and Thurman Aldegaard, who's going to be the new kid turning out. They both grew up hard, you know, and they just grew up.

Their parents backed them. They didn't have money, but they had pocket bikes riding. Yeah. I saw them. I saw them when I was teaching, when I started out, they were riding every Wednesday night at Cartagena on their mini bikes, you know, around Pedro Costa as well. Yeah. Sorry. Pedro Costa. It was in there. I shouldn't. How could I forget him? those kids grew up not wealthy and, but with a real hunger, with a real passion. there's, there's that.

But it doesn't matter where you come from. It's the same thing. Um, it's just harder in the Anglo Saxon countries because we have the litigation problem, which stops the kids riding on the tracks. Do you ride on the street? Oh, not really. Not really. I don't really enjoy it. And I haven't, my whole race career, I didn't ride on the street and after, yeah, I've got a bike I have. And, well, we've got four bikes in the family, you know, between my.

son wife me we got four bikes but the dogs i mean i much more than going to the technical check each year yeah yeah man i don't do much more like i yeah i don't know i think i've one you know what i'm kind of over riding bikes i know that's really bad no i i'm not over the passion of the race bikes but i'm over the riding bikes and especially on the street and on the track but i think i've just od from doing all the 100 days a year

Angus Norton (01:13:39.786)
instructing. And one more thing, people say, you know, like, look at this. It's the new blah, blah, whatever it is, wings all over it. Production bike. Once you've written Pecos championship winning bike with the real electronics and the real tires on it and the carbon brakes, I got six laps in. I saw that. mean, else is exciting. You know, love watching you on that. That was so much fun. You're screaming it off. It's weird because I had to, go back and forth. I'm a serial motorcycle person.

And I'm like, so I'm not going to ride on the street anymore. It's too dangerous. It's boring. I've got a son. And then I get collecting more bikes over here. And then some like garage over here. I'm like, can they sit there doing nothing? Same as me. I love going out and polishing them and looking at them. You know, it's awesome to make to meet another Kiwi. And I was a total shot of a dark setting even note because I'm a big fan of your career and your intelligence and approach to the sport that we love. And

But I know you have passions for other things outside of motorcycling. I thought it'd be good to close on that because I've seen you talk a lot about your love for dogs and your love for their place in the world. So tell me a little bit about that. What's going on there? Yeah. So what happened? I've been worried about wanting to do something for the dogs. mean, certain countries don't look after them, you know, and you see maltreated dogs.

animals and many countries, but, there's, there's a few Southern Europe in general that it's not good enough, you know, it is, it's horrific. And I've been wanting to do something. And originally you start out going, what can I do to help dogs? But then with your workload, you know, and all your responsibilities, you can only do so much, which is not very much, but.

I was worried about this for a couple of years and feeling guilty that I hadn't done anything because I had two jobs. But then I gave away the instruction on track, which I told you I burned out and went, and that gave me the winter with my brain free. And then one day I walked into my workshop and went looking at all my letters from my career that I've kept in all my helmets. And then I went, I love dogs more than I love that memorabilia. I'm going to sell it and give it to the people.

Angus Norton (01:16:03.234)
that I know are doing good work to help the dogs. So that was the start of it. And I came home and told my wife, she went, I'll help you do what you want. You know, I'll help you. So I started it off by I sold a Scott Russell helmet and it said Red Bull Yamaha leathers, know, which were went for good money. Like, yeah. And this money, I think people

I've noticed they don't mind paying over the odds a bit because of where it's going. You know what mean? The money is going to help the people that buy them. So we either give them the money if we know them or if we don't, my wife asks them for a wish list and she buys it all online and has it sent to them. Meaning it's food, collars, cages, vaccination stuff.

chip readers, you know, whatever they need. What's the name of the organization? This one, Riders for Dogs. Riders for Dogs. Okay, got it. so you said, right? Yeah, it's on all the social media platforms. But what I didn't expect is I started off selling my stuff. And I didn't, I was already worried about what was going to happen when that stuff runs out, you know, my letters and helmets are gone. And I've got helmets from other writers that assigned them to me.

It's all going to go. Scott Russ has got one's gone. I've got a go. He went, I've got a hug. I want to go anyway. So what I didn't expect is riders approached me after current writers, Remy Gardner first, cause he's got a dog loves his dog. Then John Mear now, you know, bears, they're coming to this dog. we love what you're doing. Here's something from me, you know, to sell to cool.

And then I thought, OK, this is really going to work. My wife went, God, we've got to do this properly. So she's done a heap of paperwork to make it official, association, which is what's holding us up right now. The government department that's handling that is really dragging their feet and doing our head. And we've got the handbrake on. But as soon as we can let that handbrake off, we've got all the paperwork and account. I've got a shitload of stuff. And I'm really excited. We're going to really help make a difference.

Angus Norton (01:18:25.581)
And what I'm doing is the rider that gives me the product, all of their money goes to the dog charity places in his country or her country. So that's what I'm trying to do. So Brad Binder, South Africa, Jack Miller, Aussie, Oliveira, Portugal, like this. So anyway. You'll be sure to let me know how we can all help with that when you've got things up and running and you can.

to do it more. I'll put some links up here. I love that because, know, I'm a bit of a, you know, I got this beautiful little LH knee pad here, right? Which I thought was pretty cool from, from his race. It's pretty modern that one. Yeah. But I'm like, it doesn't do anything for anyone else, but me, I would rather like give it to, you know, I'll pay for this with a percentage went to the dogs, you know, so that's, this is happening. It's guys, it's guys our age.

that have collected stuff over the years. get to this age and think, oh, I'd like to help and I've got this stuff that I don't need. And for example, Mike Watt, he's a Kiwi guy, Owlens, he's been with Owlens all his life. I know the name, yeah. He's with Krasini now, so Mark Marquez and Alex Marquez. So he's worked with so many writers and got so much stuff. He just came to me and said, mate, I got divorced a few years ago, all this stuff's in the shed.

I'm paying for it to be stored. I'm just going to give it to you to sell for the dogs. I'm like, yeah. So it's really working and I'm proud. It's going to take off. I'm proud of you as a Kiwi. And I actually have to run to my day job now because I actually have a day job. I know, funny, eh? But man, we had such a good chat and I really hope it was a good use of your time. I feel honoured to have met you. I love how humble you are and...

how real you are. I think that's definitely something that makes us who we are as Kiwis. And Kirsten, good one there, mate. Clearly she's... She's academic of the family. We all need that. with my wife. My wife's the same. She makes me look good all the time. And man, I would love to stay in touch with you. I know you're super busy. If you were ever in the States and you come, well, I know you can't have a stay, but if you're ever on the West Coast...

Angus Norton (01:20:49.677)
and you want to ride a really great track. This is like Mary Dobbs who is in the FIM, American Women I interviewed, it's her local track. And you want a bike, I'll give you a bike, we'll go riding. We don't have to talk to anyone if you want to keep it low key. I'll take you to the track. We'll hammer it. Okay, I'm thinking.

Angus Norton (01:21:14.668)
Dodge Hellcat or Demon or something like that. Something really American. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And with like, yeah, 800 horsepower, something and go see something. Yeah. That I've never seen. And I haven't seen much of the States, so I'd love a look around. I go to racetracks and all the time. And that's all I get to see. I'd love to see something else about that beautiful land. Oh, yeah. That's me being honest.

I'll take you for a ride in a big old truck and we'll be proper yanks. I'll take you to a gun range and shoot some guns. Yeah, sweet. Hey Simon, mate, so great. Thank you. And I'm definitely going to stay in touch if you don't mind. No, no problem at all. No worries at all. Yeah, I hope we haven't bored your listeners too badly. Well, I don't think you have. give your wife a hug from me. I feel like I know already she's been awesome.

Yeah, man enjoy hey, I'll see you at S and this Friday for P1 practice. Looking forward to it. Yeah, Bye for now buddy. See you mate. Bye. Thank you