Top Rider

Hi guys

I would like to know your opinion on who´s the best rider you have seen racing.
I started to watch the "bikes" around the time Wayne Gardner was world champion (1987). So he was my favourite. But now I look back, and there are quite a few greats from that period onwards. Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi, for example. I didn´t watch Spencer racing. I know this subject as been debated, maybe over and over, but I would like to know, from the guys who saw them racing, who do you think was the best rider. If not asking too much, the reasons why.

Myself, I have a feeling that, as pilots, Lawson and Rossi were the best. Or Schwantz. Or Rainey.. You see, I find myself searching for the best one, for the one with more qualities, but It´s too hard. All of them were/ are supreme riders.
So maybe there are some guys in this forum who can validate with more knowledge who´s the top man.

Look at this year. I think from all the seasons after 1987, this was one of the strongest. Actually, all of Rainey´s titles were achieved with the strongest set of riders:


1990 500 World Championship final standings

Place Rider
1 Wayne Rainey
2 Kevin Schwantz
3 Michael Doohan
4 Niall Mackenzie
5 Wayne Gardner
6 Juan Garriga
7 Eddie Lawson
8 Jean Ruggia
9 Christian Sarron
10 Sito Pons

You have a very good point ..... I would have said Doohan ... but lets face it Doohan mainly won after the others had gone.

One things for sure ..... it was one hell of a playground to grow up in!!!

Still Mick Doohan for me.

1.Rossi
2.Bayliss
3.Toseland

there my top 3 that ive watched!

stoner, coz he whooped rossi's ... silly in 07

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(waterfire @ Dec 6 2007, 07:14 PM) [snapback]103638[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Hi guys

I would like to know your opinion on who´s the best rider you have seen racing.
I started to watch the "bikes" around the time Wayne Gardner was world champion (1987). So he was my favourite. But now I look back, and there are quite a few greats from that period onwards. Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi, for example. I didn´t watch Spencer racing. I know this subject as been debated, maybe over and over, but I would like to know, from the guys who saw them racing, who do you think was the best rider. If not asking too much, the reasons why.

Myself, I have a feeling that, as pilots, Lawson and Rossi were the best. Or Schwantz. Or Rainey.. You see, I find myself searching for the best one, for the one with more qualities, but It´s too hard. All of them were/ are supreme riders.
So maybe there are some guys in this forum who can validate with more knowledge who´s the top man.

For me

1- schwantz
2.- doohan
3.- rainey
4.- lawson

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(waterfire @ Dec 6 2007, 11:14 PM) [snapback]103638[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Hi guys

I would like to know your opinion on who´s the best rider you have seen racing.
I started to watch the "bikes" around the time Wayne Gardner was world champion (1987). So he was my favourite. But now I look back, and there are quite a few greats from that period onwards. Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi, for example. I didn´t watch Spencer racing. I know this subject as been debated, maybe over and over, but I would like to know, from the guys who saw them racing, who do you think was the best rider. If not asking too much, the reasons why.

Myself, I have a feeling that, as pilots, Lawson and Rossi were the best. Or Schwantz. Or Rainey.. You see, I find myself searching for the best one, for the one with more qualities, but It´s too hard. All of them were/ are supreme riders.
So maybe there are some guys in this forum who can validate with more knowledge who´s the top man.


In my memory I have, in chronological order, 5 really top riders - each one of them the best in his own way:

1. Hailwood
2. Saarinen
3. Spencer
4. Doohan
5. Rossi

I'm not THAT old but began watching races and riding bikes very early

I always liked Wayne Rainey, i guess i started watching around that time and he was my first rider.

but Rossi is the best ever since

It's hard to say who's the best, but I'm partial to Rainey and Doohan, it was the time I started watching GP and keeping up with what was going on..... the 1990 GP season was loaded for sure with so much talent trying to tame the two stroke beasts of the day.

Best I've ever seen in person is the 2006 World Champ when he was racing in the AMA

Me, its all you'll ever need.

He is not the rider I supported at the time, but lawson at his peak which lasted for a prolonged period is right up there.

Doohan vs Rossi on an NSR at Phillip Island to sort it out for me.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BarryMachine @ Dec 7 2007, 09:56 AM) [snapback]103647[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
You have a very good point ..... I would have said Doohan ... but lets face it Doohan mainly won after the others had gone.

One things for sure ..... it was one hell of a playground to grow up in!!!

Doohan raced and won against some of the very best and if that stupid ....... Dutch butcher hadn't screwed him in 1992, I believe he would of won 7 titles in a row.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michaelm @ Dec 9 2007, 12:59 AM) [snapback]103850[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
He is not the rider I supported at the time, but lawson at his peak which lasted for a prolonged period is right up there.



You know, I always had tremendous respect for this guy. He was considered in his time as a rider´s rider. I still remember one interview in the beginning of the 90´s, when he was riding for Cagiva. His mechanic was quoted as saying that he could tell the rpm he was going at anytime, and that the most he could miss would be 200 or 300 rpm...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Son of Doohan @ Dec 9 2007, 02:06 AM) [snapback]103857[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Doohan vs Rossi on an NSR at Phillip Island to sort it out for me.
Doohan raced and won against some of the very best and if that stupid ....... Dutch butcher hadn't screwed him in 1992, I believe he would of won 7 titles in a row.

There seems little doubt he would have won in 1992.

I didn't like Doohan's later years, no competition riding the factory Honda into the distance.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(an4rew @ Dec 9 2007, 05:37 PM) [snapback]103867[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I didn't like Doohan's later years, no competition riding the factory Honda into the distance.

You can only ride against the competition that's out there.

maybe it was doohan who made the competition look ....??? just like Michael jordan or Rodger federer, it looks like its Rodger first and the rest of them cant play for ....??

or is it coz rodger is that much better than the next best pro tennis player??

you dont get to ride in motogp if your a dud.

If you are talking 500cc/MotoGP my top four would be:

Doohan
Rainey
Lawson
Spencer

But I still struggle to really come up with an order amongst that lot (except spencer at 4).

But, if you are talking the best rider that I have seen in Road Racing it would easily be Anthony Gobert who sadly due to addiction, destroyed his own career.






Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gaz @ Dec 9 2007, 08:11 PM) [snapback]103879[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>





But, if you are talking the best rider that I have seen in Road Racing it would easily be Anthony Gobert who sadly due to addiction, destroyed his own career.
Garry

I've said before I think Gobert is the most talented rider I think I've seen, wasted talent at that, but who knows where he could of ended up? Sadly we never saw how far that talent could of gone.