That would depend on how one looked at it, did he retire or quit? If he retired on top, I suppose it would look legendary. But if it was perceived as quitting, then it would be infamy rather than fame. Who likes a quitter? A legend yes, a tainted legend.
Its an interesting argument. So if a rider retires so as not to lower his winning ratios, his Goathood would better be in tact? I guess Doohan was luck to leave so suddenly then. (I'm being a sarcastic .....) I'm not so sure my friend. I'm still grappling myself with it. I'm a bit conflicted with this idea that if you hang around much after you've won a but of titles, that those titles are any less bright. I've argued something entirely different about Rossi's titles (something lost of a few neobops), but I don't think I've made the case any tarnishing from hanging around after said titles.
I guess it has some neat cool factor that I don't quite understand. But its very tricky my friend. If it looks like one quit, people generally don't have kind feeling about quitters. I just hope that if he does hang up the boots, that he thinks about a good reason to tell the public or they will publish some negative words about it (rightly or wrongly). If he says he is leaving because of the rules, bikes, tires, I personally wouldn't have much respect for it (sorry if I disappoint my remaining Stoner fan friends). If he were to say, I just want to hang out with the family and go fishing with my daughter, I would say, man, this guy is to be admired and respected.
