So who is the GOAT

MotoGP Forum

Help Support MotoGP Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
He is on drugs only on Sundays, this is how his Sunday miracle works, has worked over the years. There is virtually no dope testing in MotoGP.
 
difazio said:
The best rider I ever saw was Mike Hailwood. He won in every class, on any bike, on every circuit. He normally won head to head with Agostini. (Ago won several of his championships when the major factories had retired from racing and he has a works MV. I remember the 1973 Ulster Grand Prix, when the rest had Manx Nortons and I had a home built Suzuki. Ago stayed with us a little while, then disappeared with his 30 hp more).

Mike went to cars, F1, and was fighting for the championship when he stopped to pull another driver from a burning car. Lost his chance of the championship, but won a George medal.

Retired, he was called by Ducati to ride in the Isle of Man. Won every race and broke records.

Take away electronics and traction control and which of the modern riders would survive a race on the IOM? The only one who impresses me is Marquez, but he falls off a lot, not advisable on a real circuit.
Click to expand...

If they showed the place proper respect they'd do alright provided they could mentally hack the fact that there's immovable solid objects all over the place, they'd seriously have to alter the way they ride though.

Barry Sheene once said "forget what you've achieved anywhere else, it won't work there, that was my mistake and I could have paid for it"

Look at Danny Webb for instance, he'd blow all of those TT guys away on a GP circuit but he's nowhere near the pointy end on the island.
 
Last edited:
difazio said:
The best rider I ever saw was Mike Hailwood. He won in every class, on any bike, on every circuit. He normally won head to head with Agostini. (Ago won several of his championships when the major factories had retired from racing and he has a works MV. I remember the 1973 Ulster Grand Prix, when the rest had Manx Nortons and I had a home built Suzuki. Ago stayed with us a little while, then disappeared with his 30 hp more).
.
Click to expand...



Did I read right? You competed in the '73 ulster GP?
 
I mentioned him, but how the .... are you people not talking about Eddie Lawson. He won on three different manufacturers including the Cagiva. Multiple world titles, smooth as silk.
 
JPSLotus said:
I mentioned him, but how the .... are you people not talking about Eddie Lawson. He won on three different manufacturers including the Cagiva. Multiple world titles, smooth as silk.
Click to expand...

He is very definitely right up there, particularly given how dangerous the bikes, particularly the brutal Honda he mastered to win a title, were in his era.
 
JPSLotus said:
I mentioned him, but how the .... are you people not talking about Eddie Lawson. He won on three different manufacturers including the Cagiva. Multiple world titles, smooth as silk.
Click to expand...

Lawson doesn’t get much notice with the average fan because he hasn’t been much honored in print. He was a stand-offish loner who was indifferent to the press and all that entails. Rainey wrote a bit about Lawson’s being cold and distant - not a quality that endears one to the public.
 
Keshav said:
Lawson doesn’t get much notice with the average fan because he hasn’t been much honored in print. He was a stand-offish loner who was indifferent to the press and all that entails. Rainey wrote a bit about Lawson’s being cold and distant - not a quality that endears one to the public.
Click to expand...

I actually like guys like Eddie Lawson who just go out there and race. All the media ........ doesn't matter, it's about winning. Sort of like Stoner who wanted nothing more than to race and be left alone when not on the the track. I know it doesn't endear he or any rider to the public when they have that attitude but when you're risking life and limb on monstrous 2 stroke bikes, I am willing to cut some slack.

Rainey's autobiography is a great read. I bought a copy awhile back and it was engrossing to see how difficult his career was. I liked reading about his take with the Schwantz overtake at Hockenheim 1991. I never realized how out of shape Schwantz was when he made that move to overtake Rainey till Rainey talked about it.
 
michaelm said:
He is very definitely right up there, particularly given how dangerous the bikes, particularly the brutal Honda he mastered to win a title, were in his era.
Click to expand...

The onboard of Lawson at Eastern Creek 1991 was when I realized how good Lawson was. He was smooth as all hell, and that throttle control was second to none. I think he would have bagged at least one more title had he not gone to Cagiva.
 
JPSLotus said:
I actually like guys like Eddie Lawson who just go out there and race. All the media ........ doesn't matter, it's about winning. Sort of like Stoner who wanted nothing more than to race and be left alone when not on the the track. I know it doesn't endear he or any rider to the public when they have that attitude but when you're risking life and limb on monstrous 2 stroke bikes, I am willing to cut some slack.

Rainey's autobiography is a great read. I bought a copy awhile back and it was engrossing to see how difficult his career was. I liked reading about his take with the Schwantz overtake at Hockenheim 1991. I never realized how out of shape Schwantz was when he made that move to overtake Rainey till Rainey talked about it.
Click to expand...

I followed Lawson closely from back when he raced Kawasaki’s in AMA Superbike and couldn’t help admiring him. He is as you say sadly unsung. I was fortunate to be close enough in the paddock at Laguna in 2011 to overhear a conversation between him and Roberts, and Roberts regard for Lawson was so unmistakable.

Schwantz’s collection of injuries was at the time a thriving topic of interest with the journalists,in particular Kevin Cameron who marveled at his capacity to be competitive - all of which very much fueled his status as a “legend”. As a young man he was very gangly, and like Sheene, not known for having any kind of work-out regimen. One tough Texan.
 
I think that's it with Lawson, he was so understated as a character that he kind of gets overlooked when it comes to discussions like this.
 
Keshav said:
Lawson doesn’t get much notice with the average fan because he hasn’t been much honored in print. He was a stand-offish loner who was indifferent to the press and all that entails. Rainey wrote a bit about Lawson’s being cold and distant - not a quality that endears one to the public.
Click to expand...

Don't you mean doesn't endear him to the media :)
 
G.O.A.T. = Marc Marquez

the current level of competition, machinery and rules set along with his age make this an unquestionable fact
 
Not only did Lawson win four ships, but he had to beat other Champions to do it. Like Marquez has to do, now. On top of that, he won ships with two different manufacturers and won on three different factory bikes. Quite amazing that there are no Americans in the series anymore, considering almost two decades of dominance. Shoei did a nice retro-Lawson lid with their X-14. I look just like Eddie in it.
;)
 
Last edited:
Iamapony said:
Not only did Lawson win four ships, but he had to beat other Champions to do it. Like Marquez has to do, now. On top of that, he won ships with two different manufacturers and won on three different factory bikes. Quite amazing that there are no Americans in the series anymore, considering almost two decades of dominance. Shoei did a nice retro-Lawson lid with their X-14. I look just like Eddie in it.
;)
Click to expand...

Wrinkly?

eddie-lawson-2.jpg
 
Theo said:
Wrinkly?

eddie-lawson-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Funny you post that.

I am currently looking at one of three bikes and do have a distinct soft spot for the old Eddie lawsom replica's of years gone by but that pic reminded me

big_464572_1501853675.jpg


42616_Kawasaki%20Z900%202018%20RS_001.jpg


And

24818347288_96ae83ffcb_b.jpg


I prefer the grey although the green does also look good in the flesh


Have ridden the first two and have a test ride possibly this Saturday on the Cafe
 

Similar threads

duc
  • Poll
Which MotoGP Legend is your favorite rider?
2
Replies
20
Views
7K
#22
#22
R
ROSSI'S TAKE ON 2008 & 2009
Replies
0
Views
1K
R-46
R
V
Achieved Records
Replies
2
Views
1K
VHMP01
V

Recent Discussions

Recent Discussions

Back
Top