New Entry in Motorcycling Alltime Greats

Until yesterday, if asked about who were the greatest riders in the history
of motorcycling, the answer would have been simple.
Four names: Geoffrey Duke, John Surtees, Michael Hailwood and Giacomo
Agostini. Those were the only motorbiker who won at least 6 World
championships of which at least 4 in the top class.
But today one immensly talented two-wheeled daredevil accomplished that
goal while at the same time reaching another one that none of them ever
managed to achieve. In winning his 6th overall, 4th consecutive in top
class title, Valentino Rossi won two consecutive top class titles on bikes
of different brands.
When the Iron Duke passed from Norton to MV he did it because Norton wasn't
the best bike anymore, so much that in his last 500 Championship on the
Brit bike he only ended in 6th place overall.
Surtees and Mike the Bike won all their 500 titles on a bike from Count
Agusta's home and when Ago passed from that machine to a Yamaha, before
winning a title on the new bike he lent the reigning sceptre to his former
teammate Phil Read for a couple of years in the meanwhile.

This year Vale left the top bike in the circus in a bet that most
considered insane, to go riding the machine that last year was the 3rd
choice. Against all odds he improved its performances so much to win a
title taking home more than half of the GPs too.

Since October the 17, 2004, the pantheon of the MotorBiking Gods is made of
5 superhuman beings.

 

Gilera, of course.
My mind was going faster than my fingers.

 

Rossi is truly great.
However, to emulate John Surtees, with the *biggest feat* ever:
World champion on bikes, AND in F1 GP cars, he would have to switch
to Ferrari next year

Didn't he take a F1 car for a spin this year?
If he can pull that off, he could still be legendary a 100 yrs from now.

Bram

 

Instead of insulting for free, why don't you write about what you think was
wrong in my post?

 

It may be, where you're sitting.

 

Yea, brilliant feat by Valentino, totally proving the guy is a star. What
have Yamaha done for the past 10 years Mark? Sweet FA, apart from the odd
win here and there. But I guess they weren't trying, as how else could could
you explain winning the championship with Rossi eh? Yea, they didn't care
when Biaggi was riding for them, but suddenly they decided to 'pour
everything into it' this year, so no surprise in your eyes. Yea, right,
utter cobblers m8!
tim