I'm also sick of hearing this term. No one is the greatest of all time as until you get all the best riders from all eras and have a race on the same machinery no one will ever know.
The rest is just opinion. Commentators band goat around cos it's what some fans want to hear
The rest is just opinion. Commentators band goat around cos it's what some fans want to hear
Then why do they call Rossi the goat. I don't think he is but it gets rammed down my neck every time he wins
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
I think there is more to the term than wins and titles. Its about owning a sport on a whole nother level. Whether you like him or not Rossi does that. Ratings are higher when he is on track dorna makes exceptions to the rules for him. Thats goat ..... A complete dominance of a sport to the point you rule it. It doesn't happen often in any sport but he is most undoubtedly the goat of motogp. Being a goat is like being the godfather. Thats how I view the term at least.
Agree with godfather.
One who strikes fear into others so they blindly follow him like sheep and those who rebel get shot down
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
The goat(of any sport) will always be almost equally popular as unpopular.
Joined Aug 2009
1K Posts | 328+
Vancouver
Please remember that for 5 years he had double title years.
I wonder how many titles Rossi would have if he was riding moto3/[125), moto2/(250) and MotoGP at the same time.
He probably would have surpassed Agostini.
agreed. but "owning" in terms of good reasons.
Sepang 2015 was absolute not
2013? he owns the sport, he's capable rides any bike available on the grid. you can convinced everybody his move to yamaha was without Ezpelata's help.
I don't know what else which not emerges to surface. you never know.. those two was enough to gives paranoia for me, his GOAT was questionable.
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
But I don't necessarily have to subscribe to the prescribed narrative and indeed, like yourself, I choose not to. When I meant following I meant in the sense of supporting as a fan.
Incidentally, however Rossi-centric his journalism may be, I love Oxley's books. I recommend 'Stealing Speed' in particular.
You can't compare eras, no-one is the GOAT.
I believe it is hard if not impossible to say anyone was better than Rossi, but my personal biases are towards Eddie Lawson and (mainly by reputation) Mike Hailwood.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
That has been my contention from the very beginning. Ago has the most impressive numbers, but i hold Roosi's achievements in higher regard, just like Rossi has more impressive numbers than Lorenzo and Stoner, but they have dominated him head to head. Lets say there is a boxer who is 40-2 his entire career, has won every alphabet title known to man,the world loves him, yet those 2 loses came convincingly to the same guy who retired with a record of 25-1, figured he had done enough, earned enough and wanted to exit before he ended up mumbling to himself. Who was the better fighter.
People talk about this all the time in MMA. "Styles make fights." You can have a dominant champ who has trouble every time he faces a strong wrestler.
Although at the moment I still think Rossi is the goat, I certainly understand how people would strongly disagree.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
If they have never faced one another, i would tend to agree, BUT, we have head to head comparisons between Rossi, Stoner, and Lorenzo and the proof is in the pudding. Both of those riders dominated Rossi. I wont throw Marquez into the mix since he came in so much later but he has dominated him as well. I think Casey Stoner is the best motorcycle racer we have seen, with Marquez a close second. Both would have been mega stars on any era of bike.
I wouldn't say Rossi is better than those riders as well as vice versa, but personally rate Lawson for winning titles on 2 bikes and races on 3 in the golden era when you competed against your bike as well as the other riders, which was when I became interested in the sport, also.
I think it is hard to ride better seasons than Stoner did in 2007 and 2011, but Marquez and Rossi have ridden similar seasons, Rossi several.
Stoner could be a 5 times world champion right now if he didn't leave. Mentally he doesn't have.
OR
He's smarter than the rest of us and is living a beautiful life with his family.
OR
He's smarter than the rest of us and is living a beautiful life with his family.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Has nothing to do with mental strength. He saw what a sham GP racing had become and personally thought his career was being hindered for the cause of another. He had millions in the bank, a gorgeous wife , a new baby and no ego to feed. The mental strength was walking away from a championship bike and a 20 million dollar offer. I admire him for it.
I think along similar lines, but also think after being ferociously motivated to win the second title to prove people wrong, he decided this was not a sufficient motive to continue further in view of the factors you mention.
