Retiring as a World Champion?

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krusty

Joined Jun 2007

678 Posts | 0+

Tasmania

Discussion Starter
• Apr 25, 2008

• #1

We are currently at Assen ... round 4 of the World Superbike championship!

It's early days, and I'm (probably) being very premature here, but ... when was the last time a motorcycle world champion retired after winning a world championship (voluntarily)?

I have been following road racing for a long time, but I can't ever remember a world champion retiring with the #1 plate ... Troy Bayliss is odds on to do it in 2008!

 

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rgvneil

Joined May 2006

1K Posts | 0+

Jersey Channel Islands

• Apr 25, 2008

• #2

Good question







(Can you guess I put a dumb answer and tried to cover it up with an edit?)

 

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BigAl

Joined Oct 2007

2K Posts | 0+

• Apr 25, 2008

• #3

not WSBK i know, but Doohan did it, must be an aussie trait!

 

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Tom

Joined Feb 2006

9K Posts | 0+

West Yorkshire, UK

• Apr 25, 2008

• #4

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Apr 25 2008, 01:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>not WSBK i know, but Doohan did it, must be an aussie trait!

That was injury forced though

 

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rgvneil

Joined May 2006

1K Posts | 0+

Jersey Channel Islands

• Apr 25, 2008

• #5

That's what I put then realized the question said voluntarily.
Fogarty and Rainey could also have been put in the answer.

 

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frosty58

Joined Sep 2005

8K Posts | 1+

washington DC, USA

• Apr 28, 2008

• #6

well if he follows thru with the retirement it's gotta be a first. he might recieve an offer he can't refuse tho at the end of the season.

 

yamaka46

Joined Sep 2007

2K Posts | 60+

here

• Apr 29, 2008

• #7

The only person I can think of was Alain Prost and that was obviously 4 wheels not 2.

 

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mjpartyboy

Joined May 2006

874 Posts | 14+

UK

• Apr 30, 2008

• #8

I reckon Rossi would like to go out as champion when he finally decides to call it a day.

 

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DamnNinja

Joined Apr 2008

531 Posts | 0+

Highlands, Borneo

• May 19, 2008

• #9

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (krusty @ Apr 25 2008, 07:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>We are currently at Assen ... round 4 of the World Superbike championship!

It's early days, and I'm (probably) being very premature here, but ... when was the last time a motorcycle world champion retired after winning a world championship (voluntarily)?

I have been following road racing for a long time, but I can't ever remember a world champion retiring with the #1 plate ... Troy Bayliss is odds on to do it in 2008!

It's good to retire when you are holding No 1 plate..

 

C

Checa_7

Joined Jul 2006

282 Posts | 0+

Leeds, England

• Jun 4, 2008

• #10

Seems this topic could turn out to be premature after all..

 

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Tom

Joined Feb 2006

9K Posts | 0+

West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 4, 2008

• #11

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ May 20 2008, 05:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It's good to retire when you are holding No 1 plate..

I'm not so sure. To leave as the best would normally suggest that the reason for leaving lies outside of the sport, as someone currently the best at what they do almost certainly has the potential to achieve more.

 

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krusty

Joined Jun 2007

678 Posts | 0+

Tasmania

Discussion Starter
• Oct 7, 2008

• #12

I'm very happy that Troy has achieved this.

IMO there is no one more deserving of it. He is a champion on and off the track!

 

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baldylocks

Joined Sep 2006

3K Posts | 1+

Newcastle U Tyne ENGLAND

• Oct 7, 2008

• #13

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 4 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not so sure. To leave as the best would normally suggest that the reason for leaving lies outside of the sport, as someone currently the best at what they do almost certainly has the potential to achieve more.


So lets gets this right - Troy is leaving at the top of his game - "the best" as you put it. He's 3x world champion - Moto GP race winner but he has the potential to achieve more ?

What else can the guy do exactly ? Better to go out with a bang than simply fade away I say.

Personally - I think Troy can retitre a happy man and I for one will miss watching him race.

 

K

krusty

Joined Jun 2007

678 Posts | 0+

Tasmania

Discussion Starter
• Oct 7, 2008

• #14

What will be the icing on the cake is if he wins the 2nd race in Portugal in a few weeks time.

A last start winner in both MotoGP and WSBK would be a fitting end to his career!

 

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Hayden Fan

Joined Jul 2006

3K Posts | 0+

Big Rapids, MI

• Oct 7, 2008

• #15

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ Oct 7 2008, 08:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>So lets gets this right - Troy is leaving at the top of his game - "the best" as you put it. He's 3x world champion - Moto GP race winner but he has the potential to achieve more ?

What else can the guy do exactly ? Better to go out with a bang than simply fade away I say.

Personally - I think Troy can retitre a happy man and I for one will miss watching him race.

He needs the rest of those body parts to celebrate as well. Doesn't want to lose the other ball or another finger.

 

Arrabbiata1

Joined Apr 2008

7K Posts | 3K+

Out of Nowhere

• Oct 7, 2008

• #16

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (krusty @ Oct 7 2008, 01:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What will be the icing on the cake is if he wins the 2nd race in Portugal in a few weeks time.

A last start winner in both MotoGP and WSBK would be a fitting end to his career!

I bet inside he really wishes he'd stayed spray painting for a living in Taree

 

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M1fan

Joined Jun 2008

1K Posts | 0+

• Oct 7, 2008

• #17

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 4 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not so sure.

All your posts should be like this, no need to any more detail