Is this era one of the greats?

In the future will we look back at this time and reflect on it as one of the great era's of riders? I am not referring to 800's or any of the other problems but am referring to the riders.

We have Rossi who is arguably the greatest racer of all time and then we have 3 or 4 hot young guns who are able to match it with Rossi on any given weekend and as proven by Stoner, match it with him over the course of a whole season. It is rare that there are so many quality riders in their prime at the same time. And we are yet to see the likes of Simoncelle and Bautista and Kallio make their way to the top.

Those of us who have been watching for a long time often reflect back on the Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan days and how great those guys were and how great those era's were.

Is now one of those times that for the next 10 - 20 years we and those that come after us will be looking back and saying - "those riders were phenominal and would kick the butts of todays riders"?

I for one think we are in or just beginning an era of unprecedented rider quality.

Only hindsight will answer that question properley, but we can all have a go at speculating. In terms of riders eras tend to be more highly regarded when no one man establishes himself far above the rest, when the championship changes hands more often than not. In the 90's all the people losing to Doohan may have appeared the next generation of young guns like they were a big deal, but now they are mostly forgotten. I think there is little doubt that the field is deeper now than it ever has been, and we are fortunate enough to have Rossi around for long enough for people to beat him fair and square, so i think the ingredients are there. But Gibernau and Biaggi are already fading to background characters, and people often need reminding the Melandri finished runner up once upon a time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 2 2009, 11:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think there is little doubt that the field is deeper now than it ever has been,
????????????????????????

500cc seasons from mid 80`s right up until 2001,thats the era I love,but with Moto 2 coming I can feel some excite ment for 2010 right now.

I say NO WAY !
The late 80's early 90's were imo. this era has some serious talent in no more than 3 of 4 riders and only about 6 in the past ten years.

I think a poll is in order for this topic ,could be interesting considering reasons why and suchlike.

There is no doubt (in my mind) that Rossi and Stoner are two of the greatest talents ever (please don,t refute this by referring to career statistics rog. etc) and 2 great riders is a good start..........one towards the end of his career, but still as strong as ever, the other at an early stage in his career, but already near the peak of his powers. This by itself sets up a potentially great year. Add to that, Lorenzo and Pedrosa, two riders that are both , in my opinion, better riders than Roberts jnr and Criville and probaly better than Biaggi and Gibernau, and who may still have a lot of improvement in them. These four make the current field stronger than any since the Doohan, Rainey and Schwantz era, and may in time prove even stronger. However , the lack of consistent close racing, seems to paint a picture of greater spread in rider skill. But also, the fact that all four can win races points to the strength of all four. If we can close the gap in the races , it will become more obvious that we are witnessing a great crop of riders right now.

Poll added.

I voted yes for the following reasons:

Rossi - the greatest motorcycle racer of all time. Still in his prime and hungry.
Stoner - very fast, won a championship from the still in his prime GOAT. Not scared to race elbow to elbow.
Pedrosa - very fast, able to win any race on any day by a margin.
Lorenzo - very fast, very gutsy and a personality liked by many fans.
Dovizioso - very fast and whe he gets a team that will work for him first he will be at the front.
The rest - many riders able to push for a podium on their best day.

When Rossi came on the scene Doohan was long gone so there wasn't anyone really able to challange a rider of Rossi's quality. It is rare for the reigning multiple champ to still be racing when the next potential multiple champ arrives on the scene and is competitive. The fact that there are 3 or 4 who could take a championship off the GOAT is unbelievable.

Also every great era needs a rider that the fans love to hate and this era has 2: Stoner and Pedrosa. If you don't hate one then you can find a reason to hate the other!!!!!!

The big shame on all of this is that Dorna have ...... the formula up so bad that the racing itself is not a true reflection on the competitiveness of the riders in the championship.

Definitely.

We have

The Goat ..... Greatest of ....
The Foat ....... Fastest of .....
The Mhoat ....... Most hated of .....
The Wroat ....... Wannabe Rossi of ....
The Float ......... Flukiest of .....
The unFloat ....... Possibly the flukiest wet rider of ...
The Croat ......... De Puniet.
etc. etc.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ May 4 2009, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The Croat ......... De Puniet.
etc. etc.


I never knew Randy was Balkan in origin

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ May 4 2009, 07:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The big shame on all of this is that Dorna have ...... the formula up so bad that the racing itself is not a true reflection on the competitiveness of the riders in the championship.

No because while the talent may be great the formula isn't.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ May 4 2009, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No because while the talent may be great the formula isn't.


oh you people

historically .... when was motogp just about a fixed capacity for the duration of its existence ?

This echelon of moto racing has always changed formula, doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, its about currency ...... you have to get used to it .... or move on if it really upsets you.

Whenever the formula changes there have always been "naysayers", just look at when 500's dissappeared everyone hated 4 strokes. But back then the worst of it was that they did a stupid changeover that allowed some riders on 500 2 strokes and others on 4 stroke 990's. That was a huge performance difference. At least they have all changed together this time.

Look back at when two strokes came in they were pitched against like capacity 4 stokes ...... talk about spreading the field out.

there's still 990cc racing out there, why don't you all follow that if its so great?. Instead of following a formula you don't find suits you?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ May 4 2009, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>oh you people

historically .... when was motogp just about a fixed capacity for the duration of its existence ?

This echelon of moto racing has always changed formula, doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, its about currency ...... you have to get used to it .... or move on if it really upsets you.

Whenever the formula changes there have always been "naysayers", just look at when 500's dissappeared everyone hated 4 strokes. But back then the worst of it was that they did a stupid changeover that allowed some riders on 500 2 strokes and others on 4 stroke 990's. That was a huge performance difference. At least they have all changed together this time.

Look back at when two strokes came in they were pitched against like capacity 4 stokes ...... talk about spreading the field out.

there's still 990cc racing out there, why don't you all follow that if its so great?. Instead of following a formula you don't find suits you?
I don't necessarily object to the 800cc 4stroke part of the formula in itself, but the point others have made that currently racing is "one line" for whatever reason seems valid to me, as does valentino rossi's that the relative pace of the leading bikes is pretty well established and unchanging after the first few laps. As you and some others have said if the formula was allowed to settle down we might get back to more cut and thrust, but dorna's frequent and seemingly capricious rule changes make such a maturation of the formula less likely and are my other reason for objecting to the current state of affairs.

I still take pleasure in watching rossi, stoner et al pushing these bikes to their limit, and as I have said previously whilst the best riders remain in motogp it will likely continue to engage my interest more than wsbk.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ May 4 2009, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't necessarily object to the 800cc 4stroke part of the formula in itself, but the point others have made that currently racing is "one line" for whatever reason seems valid to me, as does valentino rossi's that the relative pace of the leading bikes is pretty well established and unchanging after the first few laps. As you and some others have said if the formula was allowed to settle down we might get back to more cut and thrust, but dorna's frequent and seemingly capricious rule changes make such a maturation of the formula less likely and are my other reason for objecting to the current state of affairs.

I still take pleasure in watching rossi, stoner et al pushing these bikes to their limit, and as I have said previously whilst the best riders remain in motogp it will likely continue to engage my interest more than wsbk.

The top capacity has always been relatively "one line", its the nature of the beast. With all the steps to change it recently, has it changed? I think the only real fix would be to have as many starters as they do in the lower capacities, should "close racing" really get your rocks off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ May 4 2009, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>oh you people

historically .... when was motogp just about a fixed capacity for the duration of its existence ?

This echelon of moto racing has always changed formula, doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, its about currency ...... you have to get used to it .... or move on if it really upsets you.

Whenever the formula changes there have always been "naysayers", just look at when 500's dissappeared everyone hated 4 strokes. But back then the worst of it was that they did a stupid changeover that allowed some riders on 500 2 strokes and others on 4 stroke 990's. That was a huge performance difference. At least they have all changed together this time.

Look back at when two strokes came in they were pitched against like capacity 4 stokes ...... talk about spreading the field out.

there's still 990cc racing out there, why don't you all follow that if its so great?. Instead of following a formula you don't find suits you?

A currency which has been shamelessly devalued...we've been sold out.

Much as I mourn the demise of the two stroke 500cc machine, the 990's went a long way to becoming a worthy successor. The fact that there were 500cc machines racing against the new four strokes, as I remember McWilliams and Van De Gurburgh in the KR garage, Capi and Barros at Pons, and the WCM squad, was all about the transitional phase between the two, and to allow certain teams to continue participation. (They are pursuing the same policywith the strokers for the introduction of Moto2). That the gulf between the two was so large was unanticipated, but no one be it organiser, plaudit, pundit or racefan at the time seriously expected a satellite 500cc bike to seriously contend for the championship.

Like I say, the move to 800cc was ill conceived, the bikes by their very nature do not produce close racing. We've been short changed. Interest is falling.

Make no mistakes, people are deserting this series...fans and sponsors alike..even factories! The current economic climate isn't helping, but far from pushing the self destruct button with their meddling micro management, Dorna should have concentrated on keeping this series bouyant given that it was once a burgeoning and resurgent series.

No...why doesn't Dorna find a formula that suits their endangered series before it becomes extinct. It begs the question - is there life after Rossi?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ May 4 2009, 12:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Make no mistakes, people are deserting this series...fans and sponsors alike..even factories!
Even on here the amount of interest and comment after what would seem to me to qualify as a fairly classic rossi win seems muted compared to 2 years ago.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ May 4 2009, 11:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No because while the talent may be great the formula isn't.

Exactly. The riders are there, but the bikes are not that exciting any more.
As Rossi once put it, racing the 800cc's is like having ... with condoms

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ May 4 2009, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Exactly. The riders are there, but the bikes are not that exciting any more.
As Rossi once put it, racing the 800cc's is like having ... with condoms
great analogy

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 5 2009, 12:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>great analogy

well why don't you try putting a woman over the condom too next time Rog.