I am also a loyal follower (I haven't missed a 500 / MGP race since 1994!).
Traditionally, Spain and Italy have had several advantages which together have produced a flood of young talent. Firstly, the climate means that motorcycles are a bigger market than in most northern European countries. This means more sponsorship from major companies.
Also, the national championships have ben better organised, cheaper and more suited to developing talent. Did you know that you can start raing in Spain at 6 yrs old, and that there are series in which for around 3 - 4k you can enter every race (4 or 5 per year) with a loan bike?
Also, small bike manufacturers in southern Europe were more dedicated to competition bikes, Polini, Metrakit, Derbi etc....
There are other factors, which also spurred things on, Angel Nieto being largely responsible for getting racing onto national TV at a time when there weren't many international Spanish sports stars.
The UK had Barry Sheene, then when he retired we forgot all about it until Foggy came along!
Traditionally, Spain and Italy have had several advantages which together have produced a flood of young talent. Firstly, the climate means that motorcycles are a bigger market than in most northern European countries. This means more sponsorship from major companies.
Also, the national championships have ben better organised, cheaper and more suited to developing talent. Did you know that you can start raing in Spain at 6 yrs old, and that there are series in which for around 3 - 4k you can enter every race (4 or 5 per year) with a loan bike?
Also, small bike manufacturers in southern Europe were more dedicated to competition bikes, Polini, Metrakit, Derbi etc....
There are other factors, which also spurred things on, Angel Nieto being largely responsible for getting racing onto national TV at a time when there weren't many international Spanish sports stars.
The UK had Barry Sheene, then when he retired we forgot all about it until Foggy came along!
