Marquez’s weakness is his arrogance. He put himself out of this season when he didn’t need to at all.
The Goat is still racing. Or at least, the best candidate of the current lot.
But that’s racing. The best riders push it to the limit and it goes wrong.
I was at Phillip Island the day Mick crashed with a six second lead. No “need” for it, but he was making a statement that no one can go with me today. Shredded the field then lost the front end at turn 1. It happens.
The fascinating thing now is how does Marquez return, mentally? That’s a big injury to overcome.
Schwantz stated that he lost his competitive edge after Raineys crash. Doohan raced a month after having his legs stitched together to save an amputation. I have no idea how Rossi continued on after killing his friend Simoncelli. Completely different level, lol, but I binned a bike at Phillip Island and bloody hell does it knock you around mentally. It’s a harsh sport. They’re freaks.
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I will always hold Wayne Gardener in very high regard, riding the old 500’s and the calibre of the guys he was racing, outstanding.
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Yeah, I know. I was at the Island that day too. Crashes happen and you have to be a bit psycho to really compete. I just think Marc was pushing it too far long before that crash. It’s a very fine line but you don’t have to win every race.
Edit: obviously, part of being among the greatest or the GOAT is staying on the bike. I wouldn’t name a GOAT, personally, but I’d have Doohan, Rossi and Marquez as the top 3 that I’ve seen.
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Yeah, there’s so many things to judge them on.
I still give more weight to the 500cc two bangers , but that’s likely because I started following it - and riding- in that era.
Schwantz was my favourite, absolutely outrageous lines and moves but he crashed a hell of a lot, lol.
Rainey may have ended up the best, Glen McGrath style. Metronomic and smooth. He vs Mick long term would have been great.
Gardner just rode the wheels off everything, every time.
Stoner was an absolute gun. No one else could handle the Ducati frame, he just steered it with the rear.
Rossi is a living legend.
I never saw Ago. I barely remember Sheen. Or Hailwood.
Then there are the TT crew, who totally bonkers. Joey Dunlop…
I should stop. I can talk this stuff for hours.
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Good old days, they were all trying to habg on for dear life, yet Rainy looked in complete control, I was devo after his crash, will always love crazy Texan 34, was a big Lawson fan to.
Think at the moment its hard to go past Rossi as the greatest. 9 titles, and should have had a 10th had Marquez not got involved in 15’ (yes Rossi also lost his head but its openly admitted now that Marquez was playing with Rossi’s races to try and make him lose points). I also wonder how much more or less would he have won if he had of stayed on the repsol Honda his whole career?
But like any sport you could literally debate it for hours upon hours and there is no definitive “right” answer.
I just wish we could have seen prime Rossi vs prime Marquez. That would have been something.
Here’s a hypothetical for you guys, put Doohan,Rossi and Marquez on identical machines all in there prime who wins, I can’t split Mick and Vale and I don’t think Marquez could go with them.
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I’d give it to Rossi by a tenth of a second.
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Not sure.
Thats a great what if.
I truly wonder how much Rossi would have won had he stayed with Honda.
Could have been huge numbers, 12 titles +
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The GOAT is Giacomo Agostini. Long retired.
And I think I’d maybe give the runner up title to Rossi.
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I was 99 percent sure you’d go with Ago.
He’s like Fangio in the driving world.
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Yep. He was untouchable. An extraordinary talent. The classes were slightly different back then, but 8 world titles on the 500’s, and another 7 on the 350’s was an amazing record. So that’s 15 world titles in a 17 year career. The man is in a league of his own.
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Ago almost always had vastly superior machinery to his competitors and competed in 2 classes at the same time which inflated his win record, i.e if Marquez was still riding in Moto 2 today before the Motogp he would like still win both titles and races. So my opinion differs from yours. But like I said its impossible to definitely state who is the greatest.
Yep- was there in 2018. Another level of craziness. A very special place - especially at TT time.
Agree with all the guys you’ve listed. Could all do what others couldn’t - which is what Marquez is doing now. Hope he gets back this year but am enjoying the unpredictability of it all at present. Especially with Miller - the loveable larrikin putting himself right in contention.
anyone here follow AMA motocross?
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Nup. Never really been interested in the dirt trackers.
yeah its a bit too agricultural for me.