Greatest Off Roader

My good friend and yours, Jumkie has been telling us all how Pastrana is the best guy ever to sit on a dirt bike.

I'm gonna start this thread with 2 words.

Stephane Peterhansel.

If you dont know a lot about him, go and google the name.

Let the party commence!

Pete

Stephane Peterhansel for sure.

God of off-roading on 2 and 4 wheels, how many times a dakar champ in both disciplines?

Carmicheal...his records speak for themselves.

Pastrana...great stunt rider, good rally driver, unknown road racer. But as I've said, I don't really like stunt riding so my respect isn't as high as it should be for them.

I don't really follow road racing, but as far as natural talent is concerned I'd say Pastrana. But it does take more than talent. I guess it's horses for courses, I mean Peterhansel's a Dakar legend, and an Enduro World Champ, but that dosen't mean he'd show Bubba and RC how it's done on the Supercross circuit.
I'm going with Pastrana because practically everything he touched made him fast. Peterhansel might be a damn good rider/driver, but what Pastrana has can't be learned or earned through any amount of experience and training. I'm not saying Peterhansel isn't talented, there's no denying that he is, but Pastrana's inhuman ablilities that just makes me think he'd be better than Peterhansel. Of course, until they go head-to head, it will be impossible to know.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jan 17 2007, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't really follow road racing, but as far as natural talent is concerned I'd say Pastrana. But it does take more than talent. I guess it's horses for courses, I mean Peterhansel's a Dakar legend, and an Enduro World Champ, but that dosen't mean he'd show Bubba and RC how it's done on the Supercross circuit.
I'm going with Pastrana because practically everything he touched made him fast. Peterhansel might be a damn good rider/driver, but what Pastrana has can't be learned or earned through any amount of experience and training. I'm not saying Peterhansel isn't talented, there's no denying that he is, but Pastrana's inhuman ablilities that just makes me think he'd be better than Peterhansel. Of course, until they go head-to head, it will be impossible to know.



Don't ever let RJ hear you say that word!

Sorry but it has to be David Knight.
He destroyed Everts in the western supermare beach race, everts the sand master that is.
He destroyed Pastrana in the erzburg enduro. finished 1hr ahead in 2006.
Soon the americans are gonna feel his force. GNCC 2007.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ Jan 17 2007, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sorry but it has to be David Knight.
He destroyed Everts in the western supermare beach race, everts the sand master that is.
He destroyed Pastrana in the erzburg enduro. finished 1hr ahead in 2006.
Soon the americans are gonna feel his force. GNCC 2007.


Knighter is amazing, but he's not doing the rally raids, and I dont think he intends to. I do think he will kick the GNCC up the arse, he's on a total high just now, winning whatever he touches.

I would like to see him go on the Raid circuit, you cant compare someone to Peterhansel until they have done that stuff. (On 2 or 4 wheels)

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jan 17 2007, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't really follow road racing
You certainly fooled me Richo.

Best off road rider? Overall, Carmichael. If he would have focused more, Pastrana. Supercross rider, Jeremy McGrath.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ Jan 17 2007, 09:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pastrana...great stunt rider, good rally driver, unknown road racer.
Hey, he beat Loeb in the ROC and was the overall winner!

Carmicheal is a name that rings a bell though.

Travis Pastrana

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...7170&q=pastrana

Enough said.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alex @ Jan 17 2007, 07:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hey, he beat Loeb in the ROC and was the overall winner!

Carmicheal is a name that rings a bell though.

You wanna check your sources on that mate, he didn't win it this year. It was Finland and Ekstrom.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jan 17 2007, 05:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Best off road rider? Overall, Carmichael. If he would have focused more, Pastrana. Supercross rider, Jeremy McGrath.

I don't know enough to really throw down an opinion on this, but surely there cannot be room for if in this kinda discussion.

I mean if i was actually blessed with talent, i am the greatest rider ever and my name is Traventino Rostrana

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ Jan 17 2007, 01:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You wanna check your sources on that mate
I think he ment the rally here in the US during the X games.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 17 2007, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I mean if i was actually blessed with talent, i am the greatest rider ever and my name is Traventino Rostrana
Haha good one.

I think you should get out of the MotoGP rut and go dirtbike riding and some supermoto. You seem a bit constrained. Once you go out on the dirt I think you will appreciate more fully what these guys do.

yes i agree, i have brifly ridden dirt bikes and i'd be lying if i said it wasn't heaps of fun. Also, i don't know how similar you would consider them to be, but i do a considerable amount of DH mountain biking, the kind of Acoustic, or organic version of motocross, and that is a serious blast.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jan 17 2007, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Best off road rider? Overall, Carmichael. If he would have focused more, Pastrana. Supercross rider, Jeremy McGrath.
Agree, if Pastrana wasn't in everything, I'm sure he would have been the king of any racing series. But in his short stints, he usually was the fasts man on the track in both Supercross and Motocross.

I was privileged to see Ward, McGrath, and Carmichael race. I would have to give the nod to Carmichael since he dominated much more than McGrath or Ward, moreover, Ricky did it both in Motocross & Supercross. McGrath reluctantly never really participated in Motocross and stayed only in Supercross while they raced together. Has anybody ever had a perfect season at the highest echelons of a racing series? Well Carmichael did in Motocross; and he did it after dominating Supercross and winning the championship that same year. Now anybody who follows these sports can say, wow, that's fantastically marvelous. But watch out for Bubba. (Short note: he has been the fastest but not consistently, and usually ends up in a crash). But with maturity, watch out.

So who is the best ever? I think for what he has accomplished in extreme sports (though you may notice some posters around here don’t think these qualify as “sports”, and to that I say, foowie). My vote is on Pastrana.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Jan 17 2007, 01:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Stephane Peterhansel.
Haven't ignored you pete, I didn't have time to respond because I was busy watching the 2006 Dakar highlights where Steph was roasting his competition.

Who is the best ever? Well you know my answer. But incase you missed it: Travis Pastrana.

I could waste my time putting up all his accomplishments and reasons why I think they are unmatched, but it will end the same. When you see I have a point, you will revert to making jokes like you did about Mamola, when you thought he was the anti-Christ and I showed you that was not correct.

McGrath was a full time MX rider until 1999 or 2000, he has a MX Championship to his name as well, 1996 I believe in addition to his SEVEN SX crowns.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Jan 17 2007, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Agree, if Pastrana wasn't in everything, I'm sure he would have been the king of any racing series. But in his short stints, he usually was the fasts man on the track in both Supercross and Motocross.

I was privileged to see Ward, McGrath, and Carmichael race. I would have to give the nod to Carmichael since he dominated much more than McGrath or Ward, moreover, Ricky did it both in Motocross & Supercross. McGrath reluctantly never really participated in Motocross and stayed only in Supercross. Has anybody ever had a perfect season at the highest echelons of a racing series? Well Carmichael did in Motocross; and he did it after dominating Supercross and winning the championship that same year. Now anybody who follows these sports can say, wow, that's fantastically marvelous. But watch out for Bubba. (Short note: he has been the fastest but not consistently, and usually ends up in a crash). But with maturity, watch out.

So who is the best ever? I think for what he has accomplished in extreme sports (though you may notice some posters around here don’t think these qualify as “sports”, and to that I say, foowie). My vote is on Pastrana.
Haven't ignored you pete, I didn't have time to respond because I was busy watching the 2006 Dakar highlights where Steph was roasting his competition.

Who is the best ever? Well you know my answer. But incase you missed it: Travis Pastrana.

I could waste my time putting up all his accomplishments and reasons why I think they are unmatched, but it will end the same. When you see I have a point, you will revert to making jokes like you did about Mamola, when you thought he was the anti-Christ and I should you that was not correct.


Well Jumkie, its not often I disagree with you, but, it will be a few years before we see if Pastrana measures up to Peterhansel.

Bye the way, I only make jokes when its obvious youre not gonna listen to anyone elses arguement I got to wind you up somehow.

You cant deny that the Dakar is on another level from other off road sport, and I think to show that you are the ultimate all round off roader, you gotta do it.

The best moment in the X games rally was McRae rolling his car and still coming second!

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jan 17 2007, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>McGrath was a full time MX rider until
I was trying to make the point when McGrath and Carmichael raced against eachother.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Jan 17 2007, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Bye the way, I only make jokes when its obvious youre not gonna listen to anyone elses arguement I got to wind you up somehow.

You cant deny that the Dakar is on another level from other off road sport, and I think to show that you are the ultimate all round off roader, you gotta do it.
Naw man, I'm always listening, even when people are making incorrect arguments, after all, I always listen to you.

As far as Dakar, man, that is a beast. I like it as much as I like Isle of Man. (Side question, but, do you sound funny like Archibald?) It’s just crazy what these guys do. Seriously, it seems to me that death can be lurking at every corner; and how they manage to evade ultimate demise is amazing. I wish they had 24 hour coverage of it. Having said that, if you notice, the Isle of man guys are not MotoGP champions (except for Hailwood etal, but different era and planet entirely), and the Baja 1000 guys are not Dakar champions. Yet both are similar to an extent.

Certainly Peterhansel is awesome and can’t make a case against that, though, if you look at R. Gordon, he has excelled in Baja, NASCAR, Indy, and for a while, there at the Dakar. So I think, fast is fast. This is of course relevant here if we are to debate who is the “best” driver/rider in relation to cross disciplines. So versatility is part of the equation. In the case of the Dakar, I think the greater part of that equation is equipment. But the Dakar, like nothing else, is not only a test of driving ability, but I would argue more a <u>test of equipment</u>, coupled of course with driver ability. If you notice, when the drivers that get lost the least or don’t encounter mechanical problems are usually the ones that win the stage. Not necessarily the fastest driver. C. Saenz is probably the best example of this, Carlos is super fast, but what happens when his navigator gets lost? I have much admiration for R. Gordon as well as Miller—who did pretty well in 06. In the Dakar, in an instant you can be leading or in the top five, but when you brush up against a tree, well, there goes your swing arm and transmission, and the leader board to boot. The American effort with R. Gordon was nowhere near the experience and equipment and teams brought by Mitsubishi and VW, and when it comes to the Dakar, equipment and team support count for a lot. So I’m not ready to say Peterhansel is the “best” off-road racer, but certainly, one of the best.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Jan 17 2007, 01:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm gonna start this thread with 2 words.

Stephane Peterhansel.
If we are to debate who is the “best” it would also seem relevent when these driver/riders faced eachother directly or indirectly in competiton. In the Race of Champions, Phleg pointed out correctly that Heikki Kovalainen and Marcus Gronholm won the cup for Finland over the US. But who was that US team? It was in effect Travis Pastrana, who drove the final round alone (his teammate Jimmie Johnson was replaced with Scott Speed, both of which were out on injuries and not replace). It was Travis in the last that conceded to the Fins on the very last round no less. S. Peterhansel did compete but did not place to challenge for the semi-finals along with his teammate Yvan Muller.

It may be interesting to note, Sebastien Loeb has twice been the “Champion of Champions” and Colin McRae once, and Travis Pastrana has beat them both in competitions.

Both Peterhansel and Pastrana have dominated their chosen sport/events, Dakar and Extreme MotoX respectively.

We seem to have got in a rut here!
For sure Jumkie, Travis Pastrana is a unique individual, and who knows what he's going to achieve.
McGrath and Carmichael are difficult to choose between, both superb in their fields. Peterhansel the undoubted endurance legend, and I've had the pleasure of being used by Knighty for grip!!!
Maybe this comes down to age, but I'd like to throw a few more names in the hat. If it comes down to motocross, I refer back to the 70's and 80's when 'scramblers' were real off roaders, racing on natural terrain on beasts of machines, rather than the high tech bikes and suitably manufactured circuits of today. Roger de Coster, Gennady Moisseev, David Thorpe, Heiki Mikkola, just a few of the great names of World Championship Motocross. More recently, surely Stefan Everts deserves a shout. Of course, the Americans always used to 'whip ...' at the Motocross des Nations, but that was a one off trip and very few American riders were able to sustain a successful championship challenge.
I'm also suprized that nobody has mentioned Malcom Smith. And if it comes to families, what about the Lampkin dynasty, with all their World trials titles ISDE's, ISDT's etc.
Many of these guys have also continued involvement with their sports after their racing carreers, which again I feel adds 'greatness'.
So my all time off roader is........Roger de Coster.