Motorcycle-Hating Top Gear Host Jeremy Clarkson Explains Vespa Riding Photo
Monday October 20, 2008
I'm generally fairly patient with people who don't like motorcycles-- after all, bikes aren't for everybody, and who am I to impose my two-wheeled passion on every living creature I encounter? But Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson strays beyond the norm by spewing bike-hating diatribes seemingly tailor made for the sole purpose of incensing motorcyclists. So imagine my puzzlement when MCN publicized a photo of Mr. Clarkson riding a Vespa GTV; it seemed the boisterous Brit was a bit of a closet bike fiend, after all!
Well, not so fast... his Sunday Times column featured an explanation of his two-wheeled involvement, not to mention a scathing but admittedly funny slam on all things motorcycle-related. Oh, and Mr. Clarkson, intent on driving home his point that bikes are evil, dangerous things, refers to death or dying no fewer than 13 times, slamming motorcycles and their riders in the process-- all while even slipping in a backhanded insult aimed at Americans. Nice.
So while I direct attention towards Clarkson's rant with mixed emotions, his column is nonetheless worth reading-- if only for sheer amusement's sake.
Photo © Paul Hennessy/Gorilla Pictures
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Comments
Hilarious!! A must read by anyone.
Once you get your wrapped around the fact this guy is not a complete idiot, it is quite funny….unless of course…he really is a complete idiot.
He hasn’t just insulted Americans; he’s had a go at Asians, Italians and motorcyclists in general.
He’s very funny, if a little, (ok-alot) misguided.
Typically dry, ironic English humour. Either that, or he’s a complete Nancy-boy!
If you can get your hands on the Top Gear episode where they drive to the North Pole, check out the bit where a British commando pushes Clarkson into the frozen sea as part of the survival training. It was the best reponse to the self-aggrandizing twaddle that spews from his head that I have ever, ever seen. I laughed for a week, and it still cheers me up to remember it.
I agree with Mr. Clarkston, he probably would die. The rest of us however are having a great time.
They actuallynamed a motorcycle after Jeremy. It’s called the “Nimrod.”
Witty and hilarious - and very true. As a motorcycle safety instructor, I see many car drivers switching to two wheels. Many of them should NOT be on a motorcycle!!!
The only part I disagree with Mr. Clarkson about is the “dim” part. As we motorcyclists experience every day, it’s the dim-witted car driver who pulls out in front of us and causes two-thirds of the crashes involving a motorcycle. Even in Europe, where formal driver training is mandatory, the MAIDS study (published in 2004) came up with 63 percent caused by car drivers. Other motorcycle crash studies (”Hurt Report”, USA, 1981; University of Auckland, New Zealand, 1994) prove that worldwide, dim-witted car drivers out-number dim-witted motorcyclists 2:1.
Since operating a motorcycle takes higher skills (both mentally and physically) compared to driving a car, car drivers considering buying a motorcycle should definitely read Mr. Clarkson’s article.
Get trained and ride safer!
I thought the article was hilarious. Just goes to show you, not everyone has what it takes to be a motorcyclist!