Today Swizzle and I debate how would now 5-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli do if he raced the AMA nationals.
Today Swizzle and I debate how would now 5-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli do if he raced the AMA nationals.
How would Antonio Cairoli do in AMA Series?
Matthes- There was a bit of buzz a while back that five-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli was coming to America in 2012 to race the AMA nationals. This proved to be false, was shot down by a press release and the plan is to make sure that the #222 is on the line to go for six next season. But make no mistake about it, when MX Sports releases its 2012 schedule, there will be a set of eyes from Italy looking closely at it. I know from talking to Antonio myself that he is anxious to race a national or two in America and wants it to happen sooner than later. The whole season? Maybe down the road but for now, in my opinion only, we’ll see Cairoli next season at a race if the schedules work out.
So how would he do? Without knowing what Swizzle is going to say, I’d say that it would be tough for Cairoli to come over one time only and win against Chad Reed, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey but I think he’d be in the running for a podium, no doubt about it. The Italian is a winner, pure and simple and if he hadn’t torn up his knee he would’ve beaten Christophe Pourcel in the MX2 title in 2006 and collected a sixth World Title.
Americans here haven’t seen Antonio at his best at the two MXDN’s held here at Budds Creek and Lakewood either. At Budds he almost didn’t race because of a customs snafu with his bike and then a broken wheel held him back in one moto. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t beating Ryan Villopoto on that day but he was better than what he showed. At Lakewood, Cairoli was off the bike as he didn’t even think he was going to be racing due to a dispute with the Italian federation. Then he hurt his ankle and at Lakewood, he still challenged Dungey for a little bit in one moto. He wasn’t at his peak there either. I’m not making excuses for the guy but it’s a fact.
He’s an incredible rider, one of the worlds best no doubt about it. He’s got heart, speed and determination every time he lines up. A one-race shot? I’m calling podium and what about a whole season for Cairoli? I think he could win races and stand on the box more times than not. So there. Suck it Swizzle.
Swizcore- I’m gonna be very honest, I haven’t seen A.C. race many times but the times I have seen him, he’s the real deal. Obviously, a multi-time world champ like Antonio’s shot at success in America is elevated. His easy going personality and free spirit would serve him well in his transition to the US series also. Cairoli strikes me as having some of that Chad Reed “it” going on too. What is “it”? ACTUAL confidence. Not the pendulum swinging assurance’s from the outside. That stuff comes and goes with race wins and struggles and it’s a nasty routine to fan the flames of. As soon as you start buying into the sunshine blown up your ass, you also set yourself up for miserable days when your finishes suffer and the back patting disappears. Chad Reed is one of few who have found solace and peace from within, that’s right; actual confidence. And so has Antonio Cairoli. Even when he does run into adversity in racing, he seems to maintain his positive outlook and forge ahead, letting the struggles fall to the wayside.
Coming to America (great flick BTW) will require exactly that of Antonio if he wishes to see success and not leave with bitter memories. I feel like I’m repeating myself from our Ken Roczen P/CP but it makes sense because this is very much a same case scenario aside from the fact that Ken’s goal is sustained success in America whereas Cairoli’s is abbreviated. Although Ken’s resume is shorter due to his age, the talent level is very similar.
Yes the GP’s are worlds apart from racing in the US Nationals but if anyone has a shot at making the transition a smashing success, it’s the 5-time World Champion coming off that fifth title. It will probably take a few rounds for him to feel comfortable and see the results he expects but you’d be a fool to doubt him.
Well, in your case, you’d still be a fool so it’s a wash.
Matthes- The idea for these point/counterpoint stories is for Swizzle and I to debate one another on a certain topic but lately it seems that we’re in agreement more times than not. We need to get some ideas that will fire us up and make for a good debate. Any ideas?
