Is it now fact? Rossi the greatest

No, still long way to go until he reaches 15 World titles. At least he's the best (statistically) of the modern era.

He will never reach Ago's 15 titles (probably not even Nieto's 13) if he doesn't compete in another category (250cc). But that's unlikely to happen, there's very little money to gain and a lot of effort required to succeed.

Though if he managed to win both 250cc and MotoGP in one season, he would become the greatest ever without doubt.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Sep 3 2008, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if he doesn't compete in another category (250cc).

I heard Freddie Spencer say recently that riders are no longer allowed to do this.

please

World Champ on 125, 250, 500, 990, and soon 800..... lets see that be beat

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Sep 3 2008, 04:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I heard Freddie Spencer say recently that riders are no longer allowed to do this.

I don't know any rule that prevents it, if someone knows if it's legal please enlighten us. I know he wouldn't be able to race 125cc because of tha age limit (28) but AFAIK he could do 250cc.

But anyway if Rossi told Ezpeleta that he wanted to race both, there would be no problem, rules would be amended, schedules modified and whatever is necessary, Dorna would probably double their income considering the rise in audience. For sure I would watch it.

I think it's doable, IIRC Everts raced and won all three categories (motoX) the same day a few years ago.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Sep 3 2008, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know any rule that prevents it, if someone knows if it's legal please enlighten us. I know he wouldn't be able to race 125cc because of tha age limit (28) but AFAIK he could do 250cc.

But anyway if Rossi told Ezpeleta that he wanted to race both, there would be no problem, rules would be amended, schedules modified and whatever is necessary, Dorna would probably double their income considering the rise in audience. For sure I would watch it.

I think it's doable, IIRC Everts raced and won all three categories (motoX) the same day a few years ago.

My only source was a passing comment made by Freddie in some AMA coverage, perhaps someone else heard it too? I think if an established and successful rider moved back down to 250 at the end of their career they would do the championship a lot of good in terms of coverage.

rossi will be considered the best.. because he moved from honda to yamaha and won.. i think this is the main reason.. has anyone else done that before? and rossi is among the fastest as long as he competes in the world championship, no matter what class. being the only rider that won in all kinds of machinery, and soon in 800cc.

also because of his fans and the fact that most people and the media love him.. that happened because of rossi's character and personality, and his actions on track, overtaking in the corners, overtaking in the last lap, making the hearts of people beat fast and providing spectacle, and thrills.. making the races not boring(at least in the 990 era)

i believe ducati last year might not be the best bike, but it had better tyres, and was way faster.. too powerful.. so we cant really compare it to the yamaha of 2004, a bike that was slower than honda and ducati that season. and had more hmm .. equal tyres..

plus, nobody really remembers ago racing, and the races that time didnt have the proper coverage, so it is normal that the gp's become more popular as time passes.. agostini in numbers is more succesful and that's not going to change i think soon, but when we refer to the greatest of some sports, we 'll say, jordan at basketball, maradonna at football, senna at formula 1 and rossi at motogp....

and in my opinion, from what i have read i mean, i consider mike hailwood maybe better than agostini, even if in numbers he is not. of course i cant be sure, as i have never watched any of them..

(and sorry for my english)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bill88 @ Sep 3 2008, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>has anyone else done that before?

Lawson also won back to back titles with a team change.

rossi will be remembered as the best because he can pass on the dirt through the corkscrew

Winning championships in every category and every machine available in your era is true greatness.

I think we'll still be 800 when Rossi retires hopefully

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 3 2008, 08:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>rossi will be remembered as the best because he can pass on the dirt through the corkscrew

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 3 2008, 08:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>rossi will be remembered as the best because he can pass on the dirt through the corkscrew

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Sep 3 2008, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>lol so the M1 2004 was the best bike out there ?

Had a quick squiz at the stats and 2004 was the championship with the closest points that Rossi won.

2001 1st - 2nd gap 106;
2002 1st - 2nd gap 140;
2003 1st - 2nd gap 080;
2004 1st - 2nd gap 047;
2005 1st - 2nd gap 147;
2006 1st - 2nd gap 005;
2007 1st - 2nd gap 125;

And the next 3 bikes were Hondas.

2004 1st 304 Rossi; 2nd 257 Gibernau; 3rd 217 Biaggi; 4th 165 Barros

I also noticed something amusing. Ignoring 2003 on the Cube, Edwards always manages approx 50% of Rossi's end of season total, even in 04 when he was on the Honda

2004 Rossi 304, Edwards 157 = 51%
2005 Rossi 367, Edwards 179 = 49%
2006 Rossi 247, Edwards 124 = 50%
2007 Rossi 241, Edwards 124 = 51%

However, I don't personally believe that those stats can be used to prove that the Yam was equally as good as the Honda in 04 (as Edwards has been on the same machinery for the other three years and achieved the same percentage of points) any more that the statistic that Rossi won the championship on it proves it was better than the Honda.

It certainly wasn't the quickest in a straight line all the 2004 season, being 6 kph slower in the 1st race than Biaggi's Honda and 8.5kph slower than Biaggi's Honda in the last.

I don't think that it just took him to tie ago to say he is the greatest. He is and most likely we will never see another acomplish what Valentino has in any of our lifetime.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Sep 3 2008, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He is and most likely we will never see another acomplish what Valentino has in any of our lifetime.

Dont know about you, but Ive got a lot of years of moto gp to watch yet!!!
Bet they said the same about Ago

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mr-brightside @ Sep 3 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Dont know about you, but Ive got a lot of years of moto gp to watch yet!!!
Bet they said the same about Ago

Yeah maybe, but I think it really does apply now. The bikes are too close in terms of developement and there are more up and coming riders that constantly challenge the title, making it harder to be World Champion several times in a row.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 4 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>please

World Champ on 125, 250, 500, 990, and soon 800..... lets see that be beat
Proves the point that you can't compare eras, therefore you can't compare riders from different eras.
In all likelihood, noone will be able to do this in a few years as there won't be 125's or 250's. Add that to the fact 500's are gone forever, 990's in all likelihood will never return so there won't be a chance for anyone to equal or supass Rossi in these categories.
It's going to be hard to beat when there's no chance of being able to do it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Sep 4 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Proves the point that you can't compare eras, therefore you can't compare riders from different eras.
In all likelihood, noone will be able to do this in a few years as there won't be 125's or 250's. Add that to the fact 500's are gone forever, 990's in all likelihood will never return so there won't be a chance for anyone to equal or supass Rossi in these categories.
It's going to be hard to beat when there's no chance of being able to do it.
i agree.
i think its fair to say rossi is the greatest 990 rider ever and doohan the greatest 500 rider.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 4 2008, 11:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i agree.
i think its fair to say rossi is the greatest 990 rider ever and doohan the greatest 500 rider.
My dream matchup - Rossi vs Doohan on a NSR 500.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Sep 4 2008, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>My dream matchup - Rossi vs Doohan on a NSR 500.
would have to be doohan on the nsr and vale on the rcv211v. handicap start to make it fair cos of power. rossi was pretty good on the nsr, won a wc and im sure could have won several. i think rainey was stopped short to and could have mabe equalled micks record in wc's.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 4 2008, 08:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>would have to be doohan on the nsr and vale on the rcv211v. handicap start to make it fair cos of power. rossi was pretty good on the nsr, won a wc and im sure could have won several. i think rainey was stopped short to and could have mabe equalled micks record in wc's.

If Rainey didn't have that crash, he would have handed Mick his ......Mick would've NEVER have had that many championships.. ...Schwantz would have kicked ALL their ..... if he would have got off that ....... Suzuki nail