Missing McFarlane

Posted by Steve Matthes on Friday, October 24, 2008

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photo: Simon Cudby

Andrew McFarlane

 

I saw that we here at Racer X posted a Breaking News that Aussie Andrew McFarlane has secured a ride with a team in Australia, and I for one am sad to see him go. Sharky, as everyone seemed to call him, was an asset to our series and he’s the umpteenth rider to feel the sponsorship crunch that is going on in all types of motorsports racing right now. When dudes like Wey, Preston and Hamblin don’t have a ride, it’s tough to give one to a guy that has just put in a good ride here and there.

I always felt like Andrew didn’t get enough credit for what he could do if he was healthy and ready to go. When he first came here, he was fresh off a GP season in Europe where he won some races and was the championship leader for a while before eventually losing it at the end. Still, he finished second in the points behind Antonio Cairoli and won a total of four Grand Prix events in his career. It seemed like it was just a matter of time until the guy would break out over here and enjoy a good solid career like fellow countryman Michael Byrne. I never thought he would become a Chad Reed, but Ol’Sharky showed some promise at one time.

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photo: Simon Cudby

 

 

Remember in 2006 when he podiumed a couple of nationals? He was certainly in line to do pretty good and when I looked up his overall finish, I was surprised to see that it was seventh. I seem to remember him being pretty fast that summer for some reason. Andrew was one of those guys that always flew under the radar; he was always very friendly and professional the few times I did speak with him. The beginning of the end for Sharky in America was when he switched to the Rockstar/WBR/Suzuki team for 2007. That team was poorly organized, and to make matters worse, Andrew went out and broke something (wrist, I think) before the supercross season started. He missed SX and made his return in the outdoors, but by that time the team was struggling and trying to hold it together. He did go out and get a fifth at Red Bud, but that was about it for his season highlights.

This past year Andrew joined the Motorsport Outlet Kawasaki team and again, injuries bit him and he didn’t compete in many SXs and had a year in the outdoors where he would put in one good race and then struggle the next time out. I don’t know for sure but I would bet that Andrew, being an older, married-with-a-child kind of guy, probably didn’t want to hang it out and lose control of their mind like you seem to have to be able to do if you want to be a top 250 guy. I wonder if Andrew’s career would’ve been different had he secured a 450 ride over here. Don’t forget that Sharky can ride the big bikes, he first made his mark racing a 500GP in Aussie and followed that up with a season in the 500 class in Europe. Anyway, I just felt like America was losing a good guy that flew under the radar and probably had an interesting story to tell about his world travels. It makes me wish I would’ve interviewed him about his career at some point. Good luck Andrew and we’ll miss ya!

Flash trivia time. When Andrew first came to America, what team did he ride for and what number did he use? Email your answers (along with your full name and address) to online@racerxonline.com. The first five correct answers we get will win a pair of Oakley goggles! Good luck! 

 

 

Posted by Steve Matthes on Friday, October 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

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