Perhaps one of the greatest clips ever posted on this forum.
Well put. In '92 he was not only owning Rainey and Schwantz, but forcing them into errors. Interestingly, he was nonetheless and uncharacteristically racked with doubt. I remember him saying since that had he have become WC back then, he probably would have quit racing. Much of this was also to do with his injuries, Costa had saved his leg and a pre-season testing accident exacerbated that injury
Weak opposition - regardless of who it was he would have made it so. Best bike? - only in his hands...again he made it so - he made it his own. Many forget that he was originally coveted by Suzuki and were it not for botched negotiations would have signed or Yamaha in 1995 - but it would have been the same. The Champion is the one that beats the rivals at the time. Although he was often in a different race, I always felt that Doohan was racing himself - and as you say in the era of 500cc subduing a feral beast beneath him in the process. Besides, there was no indication that he couldn't run with tougher opposition - many of his race times stood for years after his enforced (and premature) retirement. The Foggy era coincided which together with Sky coverage propelled WSBk almost into the mainstream in the UK. GP was viewed as boring, dull and predictable in comparison - the 'born agains' could relate to the production machinery as opposed to the vicarious thrill of armchair prototype racing, could ride a 996 out of the showroom. Doohan's dominance had them turning off in droves. Mick's famous response?
"What do you want me to do? slow down?"
The greats always bring something new in my opinion. The King had introduced
dirt derived rear wheel steering perfected by the subsequent masters Rainey, Lawson, Gardner, Schwantz - Mick could do that too, but he added an insane mid corner speed - still lighting up the rear on the exit.
The other thing I'd suggest about Doohan is that he knew how to develop a bike, he knew what he wanted and what worked and woe betide any HRC tech that begged to differ. He was possibly the only HRC rider before or since to vehemently reject factory interference and flights of fancy which is why throughout the 1990s - from the introduction of the big bang the NSR remained fundamentally unchanged in it's concept to his and any successors advantage.
Returning to the qualifying link from Assen that Barry posted, to me this epitomises his approach. To him the Championship was a consequence of winning races which was his ultimate focus which is why he rarely if ever raced for points. He viewed the championship was not the goal - just a No.1 that you put on the front of your bike and can't even see when you race. Which is precisely why, when someone tuns up on a Thursday and throughout subsequent the three days dominates all the practice sessions, qualifying and wins the race, we still refer to it as "Doohan-esque".
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