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The most memorable race of my life

Arrabbiata1

Arrabbiata1

Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Or those races that riders regard as their most important or significant.

Let's start as we inevitably must with a concession to the Valiban.

Phakisa Freeway, Welkome, April 2004. Despite a gazillion yen being hurled at the ailing M1 project, the option of four engines and a wealth of data yielded by hapless test pilot Alex Barros, Vale line up on the grid making his marque debut on a virtually unrecognisable iteration of the Yam but very much the underdog against the proven dominance of the all conquering RC211v. On a significantly underpowered but nimble motorcycle, what unfolded was remarkable testament to superior racecraft, finnesse and guile. A remarkable head to head dual with his nemesis on the superior Honda from the drop of the flag to the finish The block pass on Biaggi followed by a masterclass in defending a line robbed him of the necessary momentum to drag past the Yam at the chequered flag. Lawson became the first rider to achieve back to back championships or different factories in a season, Vale became the first rider to record back to back victories and titles on a different make of motorcycle. Aside from that, this was Valentino's finest hour - his favourite race - and to me encapsulated everything that what great about him at the time.
 
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No doubt, that was awesome.

Laguna 2006 Nick winning his home GP was fantastic and eventually very meaningful for the championship, even as Rossi apparently declined to actually race.

The 1991 German GP at Hockenheim was definitely memorable from a spectator point of view, though I don't recall if any protagonists considered it supremely significant. Also memorable for the oneupmanship on display in the post race interviews, classic!
 
Here's another obligatory but great example...

Crafar wins the British GP at Donington by an 11 second margin from Doohan. Riding the YZR for Peter Clifford's excellent WCM set up this was the only non-Honda win of the season and Dunlop's last victory in the premier class.

Crafar was a gentleman and a massively underrated rider who imo never quite had the machinery underneath him that his talent deserved.

It's a shame he christened his race school MotoVudu though.
 
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A Local race, Canada. . This was when Suzuki went to 16" wheels, the GS550 and GS750, at least. Canadian pro Michel Mercier on a GS550 against a load of 750's. He beat them all, he was around the last corner and down the straight to claim the checker and around the first corner before second place bike got to the straight. On a 550!

Kicked their ......

No, I don't expect anyone ever heard about it.

In conclusion, I imagine that very well might have been Michel Mercier's favourite race.
 
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One that sticks in my all time favorites is Donington 2005, I rode down from South Cumbria on my zx10r on a fairly nice morning...
On approaching the track the heavens opened, never mind full leathers and rain jacket so I plotted up to watch the race. What followed was a masterclass in riding in monsoon conditions , Rossi gapping the pack at will and crossing the line stood on the footrests playing his imaginary violin.
 
danski said:
One that sticks in my all time favorites is Donington 2005, I rode down from South Cumbria on my zx10r on a fairly nice morning...
On approaching the track the heavens opened, never mind full leathers and rain jacket so I plotted up to watch the race. What followed was a masterclass in riding in monsoon conditions , Rossi gapping the pack at will and crossing the line stood on the footrests playing his imaginary violin.
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Yes, I was there too and we’ve had this discussion before – didn’t you ride back the same day? The violin was to signify the fine art of riding – a virtuoso performance. Both Jnr and Barros – both themselves wet weather specialists, couldn’t believe what they were seeing – particularly when the telemetry revealed how early he was getting on the throttle. Technically, this is probably Rossi’s greatest ride ever and the best wet weather display I’ve ever seen trackside, but I think he regards Welkom as the ride of his life. The year before that, also at Phakisa Freeway, Gibernau also rode his most memorable race marking his first victory for Gresini but more importantly in tribute to his fallen team mate upon his factory machine.


This thread is about those rides that are most memorable to the rider – not us. I remember Pedrosa referring to the duel with Lorenzo at Brno as his greatest ever ride – the GP where he adjusted the TC mid race to get more drive up horsepower hill. That was before Aragon 2015 and his triumph over Rossi which was nothing short of spectacular and has probably resulted in a personal re-evaluation.
 
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Arrabbiata1 said:
Crafar was a gentleman and a massively underrated rider who imo never quite had the machinery underneath him that his talent deserved.
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He and McCoy in that WCM team were brilliant (IMO) with that team over-achieving based on the level of equipment available and the hurdles they experienced

FWIW. last time I looked the WCM website was till up and very informative - yep, still up - WCM - WCM Group - MotoGP Team
 
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Gaz said:
He and McCoy in that WCM team were brilliant (IMO) with that team over-achieving based on the level of equipment available and the hurdles they experienced

FWIW. last time I looked the WCM website was till up and very informative - yep, still up - WCM - WCM Group - MotoGP Team
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Laconi won a GP too for WCM, in the wet at Valencia.

The later scandal over the R1 motor was infuriating.
 
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Arrabbiata1 said:
Laconi won a GP too for WCM, in the wet at Valencia.

The later scandal over the R1 motor was infuriating.
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The fact that CRT machines come in after these guys were virtually run out of the game is a disgrace and a black mark on those involved in developing the sport at the time.

Had not forgotten Laconi to be honest but readily admit that McCoy and Crafar are favourites.

Speaking of Laconi, has he recovered well enough after that sever crash (will google)

As for the site I linked, it is a good read (IMO) and would recommend it to many of the newer supporters as a guide on machinations and what teh sport once produced in people thinking outside a box
 
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Bilpin mx track. 5 way meeting. So many riders they combined classes. Got 1st in 250 and had no idea what position i was lol. I remember there were a couple of maicos in front of me but they were open class. It was such a hard track ( more like an enduro ) that it seemed the lappers started mingling immediately after the first lap. Such fun ... but a deadly track when I think back, even had a bridge with corrugated iron siding.
 
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Welkom 2004 was fantastic, but Catalunya 2009 wasn't bad either. That last corner pass for the win, after such a close battle, sliding on both wheels... that's the stuff riding dreams are made of... and it was Rossi's 99th win too :cool:
 
The Worst said:
Welkom 2004 was fantastic, but Catalunya 2009 wasn't bad either. That last corner pass for the win, after such a close battle, sliding on both wheels... that's the stuff riding dreams are made of... and it was Rossi's 99th win too :cool:
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I should have titled this as 'their most memorable race of their life"

It's about the riders perspectives themselves, not yours. Also it's a shame you weren't watching in the eighties and nineties, because you'd probably have a different opinion.

As I mentioned in the opening post Welkom 2004 was indeed Rossi's most cherished. Daniboy recalled Donington '05, which was also also significant to Vale - although I would contend that Marquez's ride last year at Sachsenring when he effected the early change to slicks was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen on two wheels on a wet surface.

Allow me if you will to give another example, then you'll understand...

Rainey recollects Suzuka '93 as an out of body experience. He's not literally referring to the metaphysical but more a zen like calm that descended on him and he felt that he was so in control that sliding out of the chicane it was as though he was looking down on himself from above. The power of visualisation. The battle with Schwantz and Beattie was spectacular, Rainey fending them off on a slower bike through guile, finesse and racecraft. Consequently he cites this as "the most memorable ride of my life".
 
Arrabbiata I'd like to hear in your words Hayden most memorable. He has a couple that stand out to me but I'd like to read it in your words.
 
Arrabbiata1 said:
I would contend that Marquez's ride last year at Sachsenring when he effected the early change to slicks was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen on two wheels on a wet surface.
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That was just a gamble while riding 8th with 14 laps to go in a drying track, with more to win than to lose, relative to his main opponents. There was a dry patch on much of the track by then, it was a great call in hindsight sure. Good judgement, good timing, careful riding in the first couple of laps and a bit of luck. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
The Worst said:
That was just a gamble while riding 8th with 14 laps to go in a drying track, with more to win than to lose, relative to his main opponents. There was a dry patch on much of the track by then, it was a great call in hindsight sure. Good judgement, good timing, careful riding in the first couple of laps and a bit of luck. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Bollocks.

Careful riding? - he went balls out from the off. Also, far from a gamble this was very calculated in many respects.

I concede his off track excursion may have hastened his decision to come in earlier but this had much to do with the fact that he initially made the wrong tyre choice uncharacteristically opting for the extra soft observing that Valentino and Jorge had also made the choice.

The Worst said:
There was a dry patch on much of the track by then
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Perhaps there was - from the perspective of your recliner. Aboard a 260bhp RC213v I would suggest that it wasn't so forthcoming. Definitely - by the end, but it was lap 18-21 that I found so remarkable.

He pitted on lap 17 well before the clear emergence of your supposed dry line and his decision to have the second bike on full slicks as opposed to intermediates was crucial. I am reminded of KRsnr's maxim, that if there aren't puddles a slick is as good as an imtermediate - hence Marc's comment that the intermediates "didn't exist". The track was drying quickly, as the Sachsenring is renowned for doing, but the racing line was still treacherous. Those first few laps and that charge through the pack on full slicks was unbelievable. In your previous post you were your pulling your pud over Valentino's "sliding on both wheels" so it's a great shame that you are oblivious to Marc's two wheel drifting...on full slicks...in the wet...at Sachsenring in 2016. Brilliant ride and I couldn't give two ..... whether you think it was

The Worst said:
careful riding in the first couple of laps and a bit of luck. Nothing more, nothing less.
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...Marc regards this as one of his most valued races, which is the essence of this thread.

Valentino on the other hand flagrantly disregarded his pit board and on the eve of this year's meeting with the announcement of the dashboard messaging which he bust a bollock to push through, I find this highly ironic. One wonders if in a similar display of petulance he will ignore his team's future electronic exhortations to pit in such a scenario.
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
Arrabbiata I'd like to hear in your words Hayden most memorable. He has a couple that stand out to me but I'd like to read it in your words.
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Sorry, just spotted this. As much as I loved his dominance at Laguna in '05 for me, Assen 2006. Pure grit, self belief and Colin pounding the gravel.

The most significant for me personally was his 2005 second place podium at Philip Island. Like Assen a true riders circuit and I remember post race Earl sounding as though his larynx had been torn out. To ride like that at the Island was a serious statement of intent and was huge for his confidence and self belief. That more than Laguna signified Nicky's arrival and that in the 990 class we beheld a future world beater.

That incredible battle at Sachsenring 2006 between Nicky, Rossi, Marco and Pedrosa - all on the top of their game. Remember the rubber on Nicky's leathers from leaning on Dani's front wheel around Omega?

Like I said this thread is about the most valued race from the rider's perspective, and I'm sure that Jum will confirm that in spite of Valencia 2006 -
Laguna 2005 was Nicky's personal favourite.
 
Incidentally Dubby, Jum mentioned that you may well again be presiding over the Annual PS awards for the year.

In the class of the "biggest load of bollocks" or 'the worst' post of the year, I think that not only do we have a winner...

The Worst said:
That was just a gamble while riding 8th with 14 laps to go in a drying track, with more to win than to lose, relative to his main opponents. There was a dry patch on much of the track by then, it was a great call in hindsight sure. Good judgement, good timing, careful riding in the first couple of laps and a bit of luck. Nothing more, nothing less.
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..but .... me, if we don't have a runner up as well -

The Worst said:
A rider with great skills and important flaws too. He could ride in a way that made a big difference in the Ducati, for which he deserves a lot of credit, but perhaps not so much on other bikes. Dani was closer to him, if not a match, than he's ever been to Marquez, even in his rookie season. There's an element of lucky coincidence to his Ducati story, similar in a way to Lorenzo's Yamaha story (I think Lorenzo has been lucky relative to say Pedrosa). Stoner had a signficant crashing rate and not the greatest mental strength though, relative to the "reference" riders, who have to be Rossi and Marquez, both extremely tough motherfuckers.
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It's like buses - you wait all day for one to come along...
 
Arrabbiata1 said:
Incidentally Dubby, Jum mentioned that you may well again be presiding over the Annual PS awards for the year.

In the class of the "biggest load of bollocks" or 'the worst' post of the year, I think that not only do we have a winner...



..but .... me, if we don't have a runner up as well -



It's like buses - you wait all day for one to come along...
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Haha I thought you'd be happier with Choppers return.
 
Seriously though, I'd donate a testicle to the Bob Champion foundation to lure the big guy back to this forum on a regular basis - even if he does talk bollocks about Rossi.
 
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