We look back at 11 of the year’s best quotes from the who’s who and the not-so-who of motorcycling.
“The interviews with the naked bike riders are about to get under way, we’re just waiting for them to get out out of their gear.”
Lance Robertson’s words during a round of the Australasian Superbike Championship would have a very different meaning if taken out of their post-race context.
“You’d be cheap to keep.”
Jeremy Burgess was walking into the Island Classic gala dinner with former AMCN editor Kel Buckley. Gesturing to Kel’s hand he said, “At least you drink beer, Kel. You’d be cheap to keep.”
“Please be careful of elephants crossing the road.”
Just another workplace hazard here at AMCN, and is exactly what KTM’s press guy Thomas Kuttruf told editor Chris Dobie during the 2015 KTM range launch in Thailand earlier on this year.
“The impeller’s pumping capacity at full speed is an incredible 200+ litres per second.”
There wasn’t much that road tester Adam Child didn’t find incredible about the Kawasaki H2R during the world launch at the Losail Circuit in Qatar.
“Seriously? Google maps? I’d spend a couple of hours each night with the road book and a highlighter.”
Andy Haydon, the only other Aussie to stand on a Dakar Rally podium, discussing the difference 17 years makes with 2015 podium getter Toby Price.
“For Honda to say no to Casey is a big surprise for everybody.”
HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto stating the obvious after Honda turned down Stoner’s offer to fill in for Dani Pedrosa during his recovery from arm pump surgery.
“That’s my best friend.”
As the 2015 Troy Bayliss Classic drew to a close World Freestyle Trials champion Jack Field was walking through the paddock when the little tacker said g’day. “Hi mate!”, responded Field and gave him a high five as he walked passed. That was when the little fella turned to his mum and quipped, “That’s my best friend!”
“We ended up building 47 motorcycles in a converted bus terminal in Villawood in Sydney.”
Aussie off-road legend and film stunt coordinator Stephan Gall on the glamour and glitz of making the 2015 Mad Max film.
“Mike Hailwood was better than Rossi — he was f***ing incredible!”
Three-timer world champion Angel Nieto weighs in on AMCN’s Greatest Of All Time debate. Not a bloke anyone can really argue with.
“Normally I don’t cry, but at this moment I couldn’t avoid it”
2015 MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo on what was an enormously emotional year for, well, everyone.
“The unquenchable desire to crack the throttle earlier and jam on the brakes later at every opportunity is as still as strong as it has ever been.”
And that, dear reader, is why Paul Young does what he does better than anyone in this country.