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World Superbike
MOTO: 2012 Rookie Of The Year - Chaz Davies
Chaz Davies followed a long, unconventional path to World Superbike but certainly made his mark when finally given a chance.
Chaz Davies, 2012 SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing Rookie of the Year (Photo: Infront Motor Sports)
Still just 25 years of age, Welshman Chaz Davies followed a long and winding road en route to being named SPEED.com's 2012 Motorcycle Racing Rookie of the Year.
Ever since he first burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old prodigy in the ultra-competitive British 125 series in 2001, where he took the fight to future superstars Casey Stoner, Leon Camier, and Jason DiSalvo, Davies has largely chased his own potential.
Pushed almost immediately by Dorna as something of a Great British hope, the teenaged Davies cut his teeth on the global scene while doing his best to fit his increasingly lanky frame on a variety of minuscule 125cc and 250cc machinery.
Soured by paddock politics and uncompetitive equipment, he subsequently reinvented himself as a four-stroke racer in the States, where he competed for three-plus seasons. He even managed to claimed the most prestigious trophy available in those parts in 2008 -- winning the Daytona 200 -- albeit under less-than-ideal circumstances, having been named the victor only after close friend Josh Hayes was disqualified following what appeared to be a dominating triumph for the Mississippian.
Chaz made a hugely positive impression during his stint in AMA Pro, both for his solid riding and his friendly and mature demeanor, but never quite did enough on track to establish himself as one of the series' unquestioned top pilots.
Davies made some MotoGP substitute appearances along the way and was even offered a gig as factory Ducati tester at the behest of buddy Stoner, but instead returned to America for the 2009 season.
Davies saw the writing on the wall for 2010 and acted fast, putting in some late season World Supersport rides in 2009. When the music stopped during AMA Pro's silly season game of musical chairs, just about half the seats had gone missing. However, once again proving himself to be eminently adaptable, while some of his former competitors were forced into retirement or shuffled off to a lowly privateer ride, Davies slipped out the side door and made a seamless transition to WSS.
And there Chaz blossomed, scooping up podiums for Triumph in 2010 before scoring sixth wins (his first times standing atop the podium in a decade) and the title in 2011.
That performance earned him a slot on the World Superbike grid for 2012, however, that was no guarantee of continued success. Pit up against arguably the deepest, most cutthroat collection of riders, teams, and machinery on the planet, many WSS aces have tried and failed in their graduation bids. While World Supersport is notionally the premier class' feeder series, World Superbike more commonly attracts its new stars via the MotoGP backdoor or the world's various national Superbike series.
Ever since he first burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old prodigy in the ultra-competitive British 125 series in 2001, where he took the fight to future superstars Casey Stoner, Leon Camier, and Jason DiSalvo, Davies has largely chased his own potential.
Pushed almost immediately by Dorna as something of a Great British hope, the teenaged Davies cut his teeth on the global scene while doing his best to fit his increasingly lanky frame on a variety of minuscule 125cc and 250cc machinery.
Soured by paddock politics and uncompetitive equipment, he subsequently reinvented himself as a four-stroke racer in the States, where he competed for three-plus seasons. He even managed to claimed the most prestigious trophy available in those parts in 2008 -- winning the Daytona 200 -- albeit under less-than-ideal circumstances, having been named the victor only after close friend Josh Hayes was disqualified following what appeared to be a dominating triumph for the Mississippian.
Chaz made a hugely positive impression during his stint in AMA Pro, both for his solid riding and his friendly and mature demeanor, but never quite did enough on track to establish himself as one of the series' unquestioned top pilots.
Davies made some MotoGP substitute appearances along the way and was even offered a gig as factory Ducati tester at the behest of buddy Stoner, but instead returned to America for the 2009 season.
Davies saw the writing on the wall for 2010 and acted fast, putting in some late season World Supersport rides in 2009. When the music stopped during AMA Pro's silly season game of musical chairs, just about half the seats had gone missing. However, once again proving himself to be eminently adaptable, while some of his former competitors were forced into retirement or shuffled off to a lowly privateer ride, Davies slipped out the side door and made a seamless transition to WSS.
And there Chaz blossomed, scooping up podiums for Triumph in 2010 before scoring sixth wins (his first times standing atop the podium in a decade) and the title in 2011.
That performance earned him a slot on the World Superbike grid for 2012, however, that was no guarantee of continued success. Pit up against arguably the deepest, most cutthroat collection of riders, teams, and machinery on the planet, many WSS aces have tried and failed in their graduation bids. While World Supersport is notionally the premier class' feeder series, World Superbike more commonly attracts its new stars via the MotoGP backdoor or the world's various national Superbike series.
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