Beentwood- All little unfair

[Ed- the MG fan]

Has anyone else read hios comments on Ried + Hines. He's moaning about Ried defending his position in Oulton Park- has he forgot that he's racing. And he's also said that Hines has been disapointing. Not to be rude to Bentwood but he has proved nothing this season and always blames others for his poor race results

[Peter]

Yes, Michael certainly seems to be eating sour grapes on a permanent basis these days. Race after race I hear him complain about other drivers and saying "they don't deserve to be in touring car racing." So it is therefore somewhat ironic that the two drivers he has criticised in this interview have vastly superior records in the junior categories than young Michael.

I'm sorry, but I simply cannot see what was so "naughty" about Reid holding his position during the first race at Oulton Park. Anthony drove perfectly cleanly on that occasion and did not put anybody on the grass. Did Michael honestly expect Reid to let his rival for the Independents championship through? As the great Ken Tyrrell used to say, it is the job of the driver behind to overtake.

His comments about Luke, although valid, just show how bitter he feels about being beaten to the Production title last season. I bet he has his eyes set on Luke's seat.

Let your driving do the talking, Michael, and not your moaning.

[Craig Antill]

I'd not get too bothered by it - he's always been a whiner. Look at last year - it was everyone's fault but his that he didn't win the championship...

[Tim.Lad]

lol i remember now !!!

[Les]

I was just about to same as you Craig and I can't stand whingers

[Jamie P-E]

No wonder Bentwood never has a queue in the pit lane autograph session he complains about everything i bet he even tried to blame poor john george for the start line shunt.

well i cant stand him

[Thinlizzy101]

I think that Michael has done himself absoloutly no good with that stupid outburst. He's hardly the most popular guy out there at the moment, and to slag off 2 of the championships more popular characters was just typically dumb of him.

I liked him in 2003, but all I've heard from him is moan moan moan. He blames the old car, well Sureterm use the old Astra too, and Burt and Butler-Henderson have been quite impressive in some races.

I couldnt believe him after he got caught out at the start at Brands, he blamed all the other drivers for stupid childish driving, and that none of them should be in Touring Cars. He has a hell of a lot to learn if he is going anywhere.


And to defend Reid, it was great seeing several cars trying to get past him, he could have let the all by and the race would have been good, but there would have been no huge dice, if Michael cant beat Reid when Reidy has an engline problem, then he's got no chance when he is at full speed

[Toto]

I think Bentwood has a few valid points - Reid is devious and uses his experience - and we all saw that when the car is running right (Thruxton and Brands) he is very capable. At least he's a straight talker ... sure, he might moan about a few things, but wshat driver doesn't? He also praises several drivers.

[Knock-on]

I have enjoyed MB's driving in 03. He is fast, aggressive and a great potential for the future.

However, I am rapidly going off this young man because of his attitude. Straight talking is one thing but he just seems to be moaning all the time.

Then you take his ambivilant attitude towards the fans and think he really is a stuck up little "whatever".

I am sorry, I admire his driving and think he has the opportunity to be a good driver but unless he has a look at his attitude, then I can't see many people cheering him on which will be a pity.

[Les]

I am so tempted to just post 'and now look what has happened!' but I want to see the full coverage of the Bentwood/Huff incident.

I was gutted and I was not the only one

[Thinlizzy101]

From what I saw on Motors it was a nothingy first few corners collision, the Turkington Plato incident was a worse move, but Plato had the ability to keep full control of the car, and he didnt complain at all, and I'm guessing Bentwood wont have shut up until he got his way

[Alan]

Originally posted by Les


I was gutted and I was not the only one


Yep - me too Les - was a nice SEAT one-two there.

Now, can anyone tell me if that was the first non-Vauxhall one-two in recent years or not? Anoraks to the fore please!!

As for the actual incident I am sure they based their decision on more information than we have access too (the Motors TV coverage I saw didn't show it clearly at all), but I was wondering why MB went off to the right not the left.

And yes I know it's a long time since I did Physics but the laws of said science don't change (do they?).

[btcc-thunder]

1st race at rockingham in 03 was a honda 1-2, think there must have been an mg 1-2 at some point also

i agree that bentwoods doin too much moaning, i think hes also got a very high opinion of himself which doesnt match his actual pace. Both hodgetts and smith outqualified him with much less experience in the astra.

[Toto]

I'm neither a supporter of hater of either driver, but it seemed to me that Huff was to blame for the incident. Bentwood would not have turned right without assistance, and bear in mind he went into that corner (if my memory serves me correctly) on the inside! Huff must have turned left into the right rear of Bentwood's car. I've just watched the Huff/Collard crash again at Oulton and still reckon Huff was to blame for them going off. Huff had Collard beat but gave him no room on the outside (Huff at this stage had the whole circuit to use but kept coming across into the side of Collard).

There's nothing wrong with hanging people out to dry - as Alan Gow said in the highlights rubbing is racing - but smashing people off the track to make sure they can't come back at you is too much and should be punished.

[Tim.Lad]

Originally posted by Alan

As for the actual incident I am sure they based their decision on more information than we have access too (the Motors TV coverage I saw didn't show it clearly at all), but I was wondering why MB went off to the right not the left.

And yes I know it's a long time since I did Physics but the laws of said science don't change (do they?).

The way i see it Bentwod had the inside line for the left hander he probably tried to force huff wide but huff held his line caught the front of huff and went straight across him and off ...

Problem is look how many times Muller did it to Reid in the first race!! If reid held his line Muller would have been off then they would whine and reid will get points..

Simple donÃ*t bother trying to get past the 12 foot wide Vauxhalls they will just complain...

[Sarah]

Maybe the punishment is not just for that incident. There must be a point where they say enough is enough.

[Toto]

What Muller was doing to Reid at the first corner was a totally different situation and totally fair. Reid was simply showing his nose and Muller, not being dirty at all, simply forced him to back out. I'm not aware of any animosity between the two drivers afterwards or their teams. It was racing (sorry all F1 fans). A driver 'clipping' a car's rear quarter/fifth to spin it out of the way is not acceptable.

[Freddie]

Muller and Reid have a lot of respect for each other. Obviously earned over the years. They both know that they are being watched very closely by the "powers that be" and any misdermeaners will be punished.
In the post race interviews they both complimented the other's driving. They at least have the right to comment on the quality, or lack of, of the rest of the field.
I for one will treat the moans of such an inexperienced driver with the contempt it deserves.

[Les]

If my boy did wrong then he deserves to be punished but what really really gauls me is the lack of consistency in punishments etc.

Turkington hit Plato - took him out from the lead. The powers went to JP and asked if he wanted to exclude him and JP says no - this is racing he says.
So is it right that one driver gets off and another excluded? Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled for Colin to win and no way would I want him to lose the win - I am just using him as an example.

And a question - can only the 'offended party' complain?

[Thinlizzy101]

I'm pretty sure that it has to be the 'offended team' that complains. It was saying on Motors I think, about the Formula BMWs I think, that something had happened and several teams had complained, and Carlin Motorsport put forward the appeal, but they werent directly involved, so they dismissed it

[Freddie]

Originally posted by Les
If my boy did wrong then he deserves to be punished but what really really gauls me is the lack of consistency in punishments etc.

Turkington hit Plato - took him out from the lead. The powers went to JP and asked if he wanted to exclude him and JP says no - this is racing he says.
So is it right that one driver gets off and another excluded? Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled for Colin to win and no way would I want him to lose the win - I am just using him as an example.



Got to admit Jason went 5 or 6 notches up in my estimation for that comment. It is a pity more drivers didn't follow his example instead of trying to win races in the stewards room.

I was at Silverstone where several cars were knocked off the track but only one driver came away with points on his licence. His crimes were nothing in comparison with others. In fact no-one crashed as a result so WHY? Perhaps it is just that if you don't complain then nothing is investigated.

But it would be nice to have some consistency.

[Toto]

Originally posted by Les
Turkington hit Plato - took him out from the lead. The powers went to JP and asked if he wanted to exclude him and JP says no - this is racing he says.

To be fair, the corner was already Colin's when they got to it. He was well alongside when the reached it. JP, experienced as he is, knew this was the case so didn't make a song and dance of it. He's been there before ...

I'm not sure the officials would have gone to him and asked if he wanted to exclude him. I think that would have been down to the aggrieved party to go to the officials with a protest.

[Freddie]

Originally posted by Toto
To be fair, the corner was already Colin's when they got to it. He was well alongside when the reached it. JP, experienced as he is, knew this was the case so didn't make a song and dance of it. He's been there before ...

I'm not sure the officials would have gone to him and asked if he wanted to exclude him. I think that would have been down to the aggrieved party to go to the officials with a protest.

The fact that he didn't complain about that and Muller's "leaning" which put him in the gravel has just shown what a difference a few years make.

All the stories I had heard about him from the past made me think he would be worse than a F1 driver. So far up his own self importance that he never gets a suntan. But what we have seen so far has really impressed. He even makes time to chat to an obvious MG fan like me.

Well done and thanks for being a gent, Jason.

[tsunami99]

bentwood hasn't done much thbis season and i thought that if anyone should have been disciplined in the huff/bentwood crash at mondello it should have been michael.

I thought it was a bit unfair huff getting excluded from the race just because bentwood swerved across his bonnet. Tim Harvey sums it up superbly in the commentary

[totalemg]

Maybe as Bentwood gets more experience he will think he has done the right thing by knocking people off track, all the others seem too.

[KPC]

I'm willing to give anyone a chance but Bentwood is fast getting on me nerves. Interviewed at Mondello before race 3 he was whining... "They say you make your own luck in motorsport. I don't believe that anymore." (Manuel cow gaze). Yeah sh** happens, show me one person who doesn't have a tough ole life? Grow up. At Brands he was nearly crying while being interviewed. Privateer team or no, he has an ex-works Astra with a modicum (I should imagine) of VXR support, yet where is he most of the time?

Huff just gets on with it and I think has a pretty mature attitude all round.

[KPC]

Originally posted by Les
If my boy did wrong then he deserves to be punished but what really really gauls me is the lack of consistency in punishments etc.

Turkington hit Plato - took him out from the lead. The powers went to JP and asked if he wanted to exclude him and JP says no - this is racing he says.
So is it right that one driver gets off and another excluded? Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled for Colin to win and no way would I want him to lose the win - I am just using him as an example.

And a question - can only the 'offended party' complain?

That just about hits the nail on the head.

Muller gets away with tons of dodgy little moves. Arrogant. Neal is fast getting there also. Too much stardom.

The thing is, why does everyone get so worked up about it all. Every driver has had his moment. Thommo took Burt at Croft and then Plato off OP, off in similar circumstances. Plato was very aggressive in the latter half of 2001 - Bennett at Snetterton night race springs to mind - yet now he is Mr Nice Guy. Punishment is a lottery. But that's life.

Swings and roundabouts.