Paddock Press: Bishop on West´s 2008 season

Friday, 19 December 2008

motogp.com journalist´s verdict on Australian´s year in MotoGP.

Anthony West´s 2008 season was one to forget for the Australian, as he tried to follow up an impressive half-year with Kawasaki in his first full campaign with factory machinery. Like `Team Green´, Paddock Press goes `in house´ for today´s installment of the review series, as motogp.com´s Duncan Bishop analyses West´s performances over the past twelve months.

`2008 was a `make-or-break´ year for West, but he started on the back foot when teammate John Hopkins got injured in testing. The bike wasn´t ready for the opening races, and their were continual grip problems from then on,´ says the motogp.com journalist.`The year did neither West nor Kawasaki any favours, and both take their share of responsibility for the results. West is undoubtedly a talented rider, but he may find another MotoGP ride hard to come by.´

Also featured in Paddock Press today is Mat Oxley´s review of Nicky Hayden´s final year as a Honda rider.