Who is / was the best rider?

Given certain individuals propensity to blindly support riders (and
machines) of a certain nationality above and beyond any reasonable
observation I wonder if a more sane and balanced discussion might be held
concerning this.

Agostini was a great rider, sheer numbers of wins attest to this. Still,
for the majority of his career, he held a significant machinery advantage
over his rivals which may have skewed the numbers somewhat. Still, to
comeback on an unfamiliar machine that had performance quirks quite at odds
to what he had ridden for most of his career and win a world championship
was quite an achievement.

Kenny Roberts was a gifted rider who built a talented support team around
him headed up by Kel Carruthers. The value of such support has been proven
time and time again and went to prove the concept of a true team sport.

Freddie Spencer was a talented rider who in one year won both the 250 and
500 world crowns. Unfortunately for him when the machinery wasn't quite up
to scratch he battled to work around it eventually dropping his bundle. On
his best days he was terriffic but those became fewer as his career ground
to a halt.

Eddie Lawson had a gift of being able to develop a bike. When his mounts
weren't quite up to scratch he was able to input technical support which
allowed his technicians to improve his bikes which eventually won him
titles.

Mick Doohan was, IMO, probably the best rider of the 80s and 90s.
Admittedly I'm slightly biased in my view but there you go. He could take
an ordinary bike and make it a race winner through input and riding ability.
He also had the support of a tremendous crew who worked wonders with his
machines. Were circumstances regarding his injuries somewhat different he
may well have gone on to win many more titles but as it was he did extremely
well.

Last, but by no means least in my candidate list would have to be Valentino
Rossi. He pretty well inherited Mick Doohan's support team and went forward
to become a masterful rider in his own right. With the move to four strokes
which, IMO, somewhat tamed the bikes and allowed riders of what I feel was
lesser ability to compete on a higher level he still managed to stay ahead
of the pack, even when he shifted camps to the less competative Yamaha.
Prior to his recent injury he had been lucky enough not to sustain any major
injuries and have a relatively unobstructed career.

It's difficult to compare riders from different eras as the machinery and
the circumstances change. There are many that could also be mentioned that
I have neglected to do so simply to try and keep this post short. Anyone
have anything to add?

 

There was a bloke in Melbourne years ago, in the late 60's early 70's, who
rode for Peter Stevens on a production ?? Honda 750
the motor had been blueprinted, but who could not tell that from the
outside..
His name was Vic Souson, or spelling near that, but that is what it sounded
like.
He was a crazy rider won almost every race he was in, of coarse, this was in
Melbourne and he may not be known anywhere else.
I was flag marshall a few times at Calder and saw him ride.
You could see him from the other side of the track
All you had to do was look for the shower of sparks coming from the foot
pegs as he went around the corners.
While marshalling, I was at Calder, when Agostini was out here,
Agostini overtook on corners where you wouldn't even think of overtaking on
the best of days,
He was a great rider on the International rank

 

I am the best rider ever.

 

and blokes like this who although not always on the podium were very
entertaining http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Molloy

 

One of the radio stations was jumping on the Stoner wagon today the
poll was Has Stoner passed Doohan as Aussies best ever rider
LMAO!!!!!!
Oh yea, hes won shit loads.

 

How do you decide 'best'?
Surely Hailwood and Sheene' name's should be included in the mix though.
Trials? Sammy Miller!

 

Have you asked her out yet ??

 

well I base my views on riders I have seen a bit of and I guess thats from
Lawson to Rossi


Without a doubt Doohan was my favorite rider but I think Rossi is the best I
have seen


Yamaha is number one mainly on the back of Rossi

 

remember Gardner dropping it in the rain ( Japan I think ) and getting back
on and the next 30 mins was the best riding I have seen

sadly...he pushed to hard and dropped it again but what a ride to watch

 

Gardner is a wanker,
I remember down at the island when Gardner was leading in the Championship
and looked like winning the race, even though he didn't need to as he had
enough points to take it out,
However, Doohen came around his outside and Gardner kicked out with his
right leg indicating to Doohan that this was his race and he wanted to win.

Something like some of the riders of today, who, when approaching a corner,
stick their leg out to deter anyone from overtaking

 

Well, you are talking as though you have the hots for your postie
and I take it the postie is a female

 

Kevin Schwantz.
Best rider in the most competitive era. (Tho' sadly loyal to a
manufacturer with an uncompetitive bike and no real interest in
competitivising it!)

Jarno Saarinen would be best through the span of his career; a career
cut tragically short.

 

Nigel, you know that is my job

 

Never use it Yeebs

 

ROSSI

Game Over

 

Gardner saved a mini-highside at Phillip-Island in 1990 and broke the
fairing-mounts but still won the race with the fairing flapping loose.

 

Is that keep up with the memes or the youyous?

 

Speaking of Gardner, I'd throw Mal Campbell into this discussion. Yes
I am biased as I know him personally, but every time they threw him
into GP (usually on an inferior bike - recall the Elf?) he proved his
skill. And constantly beat Gardner when Gardner had the superior
machinery and was world champion. Anyone recall the Surfers race with
Gardner on the full spec V4 and Campbell on the older V3? Gardner
dropped it from trying too hard to prove he could beat Campbell.

Campbell didn't get many rides as the teams thought he was too old.
But every time he got a ride he showed them what could be done.

I'm not saying he was the best rider of all time. But with the names
that are being thrown up here, I reckon he needs to be up with them.

 

My memory is that Campbell was already ahead of Gardner when Gardner
lost it (and had been for more than a lap).
Gardner blamed the crash on an experimental tyre that fell apart.

Yes; an Aussie legend indeed. Like so many before and since he just
never got the "break" (and didn't really want to sacrifice-all and move
to Europe).

 

Suzuki did that to more than one of their riders. Sheene eventually went to
a privateer Yamaha in an effort to become competative again and the less
said about the lack of support they gave to Paul Lewis the better.

Absolutely, a real tragedy that could have been so easily prevented.