I know mention of this has been made in other posts, but someone at BT Sport has to either give Simon Crafar speech elocution lessons or simply get rid of him. The guy sounds like he's overdosed on bleedin' Methadone. He's incoherant and a pain to listen to. The guy's got bugger all of a score on the international board: one race win and a handful of podiums - he doesn't even DESERVE to be in the paddock, let alone commentate. I just hope they're paying him in New Zealand sheep and not British pounds because I think he'd even have difficulties explaining to a bank teller that he wants to make a deposit. I just wish someone would deposit him in the defunct commentators archive.
I know - where did they get him from ! He takes ages to say anything - I feel like saying snap it out mate - it is a motorcycle race not a gardening show
I didn't realise he was on the BT Sport commentary too. He also does the pit lane stuff on MotoGP's own commentary. I'm guessing it's probably the same feed (from him at least). I agree he's quite difficult to listen to but if I was in a locked room with him, Keith Huewen and an pickaxe handle, I know which one I'd go for first Also, I bought his Motovudu DVD and book and it was hands-down the best riding advice I've got so I give him a pass. Quite a likeable guy really. Just maybe not the best choice for this particular job. Hopefully he'll get better though.
Very interesting. I've seen the ads and Google references. I might look out for a used one on eBay. Cheers!!
Ok so I'm may be a little biased. My mum was English my dad a kiwi. Me and my elder brother born in nz my youger brother over here. We moved here when I was a kid. I used to sit with the old man and he shouted at the tv when ever crafar raced in support and as a whole we were dead proud of him. I went to the north York's road racing clubs night with him and he'l he has an interesting storey to tell. Breaking bones on those savage 500s knowing he was being paid a quarter of the rest of the grip because he was a kiwi and not a yank or European. His motovudu stuff is great and loads is free on YouTube . At least he isnt all hair care and biceps like toseland. Ok national pride rant over sorry.
Used to like watching Simon Crafar back in the day on his Green ZXR 750 in World Superbikes. Always thought he is a great guy.
Definitely worth a look. Simultaneously made me quicker through the bendy bits and a lot more relaxed while I'm doing it.
Interesting points of view to date. Perhaps the highlight, and a point to be considered is that a person can be a great guy or great chick, but not be up to scratch in certain aptitudes. To stretch the point it would be like saying, for instance, that Gordon Ramsay is a great chef, but falls short in communication skills. Some might relate better to cricket or football commentators who fall short of the mark. They might have been champion players, but that doesn't mean they have the 'manner' of interviewing or conveying their message to the public. Thanks for that. I got a feeling it will be a lot cheaper than Ron Haslam's Race School. Not that I'm enrolling - he doesn't have pensioner rates!
Further to above, I just watched a couple of the You Tube vids. First, he speaks fine, which suggests he must be a bundle of nerves while doing Pit interviews for BT Sport. Second, Impressed with the right hand off the throttle through a corner to illustrate entering at the correct speed and not using throttle or brake. Think I'm going to shave a few seconds off my 15-mile trip to Worcester!
He has the ideal voice and speed of delivery for a teacher - explaining things slowly and clearly so that it sinks into people's heads. People pay money to be taught by him. I would argue that those qualities are not the same as those required of a fast talking pit lane commentator. Being good at one might actually mean that you are rubbish at the other - imagine being taught by a pit lane commentator - can you run that past me again please .......
Yeah I agree I think the million world wide viewers would shit me up. As for the hand off technique all us kiwis can do that it's a trade off from all the sheep shearing .
I find most if not commentator rubbish. Why? because they don't know when to shut up and only say when there is something meaningful to say. They either suffer from verbal diarrhoea or get paid by the number of words they spit out per minute!! For my taste, I find x-racers turned commentators paletable as they normally make informative and entertaining comments. Although david coulthartd is loosing the plot trying to use terminolygies either nobody undertands (tyre under rotating instead of locking up) or totally wrong (a car tank slapper instead of fish tailing/ snaking). Strange fellow...
I had a track day session with him at Caldwell that was interesting to say the least. A little unerving watching him take Charlie's at quite a lick with knee down whilst looking backwards to see where I tipped in
How we differ! I always enjoy listening to David Coulthard. I understand him: an 'under-rotating' tyre is akin to the lock and release of an ABS system. I think from a racing perspective, but not necessarily from a viewer's perspective, there is a big difference. Take for instance the recent shunt by Ricciardo into Verstappen. That was a full lock up and not under-rotation, whereas many minor corner entry lockups are controlled 'under rotation'. Think I'll give up; I'm starting to SOUND like Coulthard!
Yeah I don' understand f1 or it' appal at all. You carnt round sheep in the off season with an f1 car .......
Well as a kid I used to use our dogs and kx500. No longer farm so blade safe from sheep shit . Well unless I go field bouncing again on it .
What possessed you to come over to the UK? I went to NZ when I was 16 and it still ranks as one of the most amazing places I've ever been nearly 30 years later. Beautiful place.
My elder brother was serverly disabled our farm was bloody miles from anywhere . Parents decided to come here and see how he got on with the great nger. They did great for him he had a happy life and made it to 23. Docs had said he wouldn't make his 1st birthday .
