Now This Is How You Mess With A Fellow Competitor

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

Lost in the worldwide hate storm being spewed on Romano Fenati after he pulled the dumbest move in racing history, is this clip from the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Here we have the proper way to reach out and get the attention of a fellow rider.

This video is great for a few reasons. First is the sight of John McGuinness back on a motorcycle after suffering a gnarly accident last year. What’s even cooler is seeing him – at the front of the field – aboard a 1953 Norton Manx, riding it fairly quickly. Second is the sight of two-time World Superbike champion Troy Corser absolutely riding the wheels off a 1929 BMW R57 Compressor in hot pursuit of the 20-something time winner of the Isle of Man TT. I mean, just look at Corser riding that pre-war machine harder than its probably ever been ridden in its 89 years of existence!

It’s clear in this video Johnny McPint is going for a Sunday cruise (a brisk one, admittedly) while Corser – shifting with his left hand! – is riding like he committed a crime – though some might think torturing those 89 year-old valves qualifies. Nonetheless, Corser on the BMW is catching the Norton hand-over-fist, lap after lap, until he finally catches McGuinness. Once Corser catches McPint, he reaches out for a friendly love tap – a sporting move that lies in direct contrast to the brake grab Fenati pulled on Stefano Manzi. It’s fun and lighthearted, and definitely good for a laugh between the two (John even shakes his head in amusement).

From there Corser storms away, not relenting one bit on that poor BMW. Though Goodwood is supposed to be a gathering and showcase for wonderful machines from the past, racers will be racers after all, and seeing Corser (and McGuinness, for that matter) flogging their respective motorcycles is a sight to see.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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  • Alaskan18724 Alaskan18724 on Sep 15, 2018

    Cool, but mere mortals should keep their hands on the grips, lest they demonstrate their mortality.

  • Starmag Starmag on Sep 15, 2018

    Shaking one's head almost always means disapproval. Racers should just keep their hands to themselves unless it's a high five after the race is over.

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    • Born to Ride Born to Ride on Sep 15, 2018

      He was shaking his head at the ridiculousness of getting passed by a maniac on a depression era machine during a glorified high speed parade.

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