Flung I think you're discounting the different skill set needed for a modern champ like RC. Today's bikes are far far faster than the DeCoster days, and need much quicker reactions. Seasons are much longer, and far more training is needed to be at the top and stay there like Ricky did.
Yeah? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Carmichael http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_De_Coster Read: http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/JODYS-THE-FASTEST-OF-THE-FAST--2639.aspx
That he is, however he does cause some interesting information to be posted while we're waiting for A1. .
well I didn't expect the topic to go unchallenged. I've spent an AWFUL lot of time at the tracks since 2008. Nobody is more amazed at the "modern" riders than me. I have my favorites past and present. I "hated" Lechien for years as his hay day was when I was in the service and married and the extent of my involvement with MX was grocery store magazine stands and I hated him for being a troubled star when I couldn't even afford a bike. But he was at MX Rewind at Unadilla in June and he was pretty cool and did one of the most amazing things I've ever seen done on a bike, a white tank Can Am no less. Plus his wife is pretty hot so now I like him. A day may come when RC's records fall and someone makes his acheivements pale in comparison. Not likely but I still hesitate to award ANYONE the status of Goat because it just doesn't seem fair to do. I'm not a big fan of RC but I don't dislike him. He's just another rider from another generation to me. At the end of the day as much as I hate to say it if you lined up a full gate of all the all time greats and had the ability to make them all magically equal I still think James Stewart would spank them all. To me his flame burns the hottest when the gas is turned on, all his faults and questionable stunts aside. Watching him ride (even if it's only on TV) when he's got it going is to me as good as it can get he just flys. Whoops. Triples. Scrubs. Whips. The guy is a machine. I'm not saying he's my favorite rider of all time, I'm saying if someone was chasing me with an ax and I had to jump on the back of someones bike to get away I'd probably get on his...
Interesting take. Especially since Ricky routinely spanked James. Especially outdoors. Stewart's claim to fame being that he was able to stay closer to Ricky than anyone. BTW, nice cast. :eek1 .
but given the intensity level these guys run at, is it even fair to compare those 2? We've got a 6 year age difference there. With experience and RC's skills I think 6 years (when coupled with the experience) is a huge edge. Someone mentioned earlier about RC beating everyone even McGrath. McGrath was winding down when RC was just getting started. I would like to have seen this. "Carmichael campaigned the 2006 Supercross season aboard an RMZ450; his first attempt at indoor competition on a four-stroke. It was the most exciting series battle in recent memory. There were multiple points lead changes and race winners, and Carmichael, Reed, and Stewart all entered the Las Vegas finale within 5 points of each other. With Carmichael and Reed tied for the lead, and Stewart only 1 point behind them, it was a close race. Carmichael rode to a safe second place finish behind Stewart and ended the series with 6 victories and his fifth Supercross championship"
Now there's a one hit wonder! Shows up for one season, blows everybody of the track, then hangs it up. Saw him in the Astrodome SX in Houston, amazing rider, smooth and FAST. I never quite decided wherther I liked him or not. .
I meant enough to stop following the sport. I've disliked several riders since I first found out about moto(1979) but never stopped following. My dislike list: Rick Johnson Jeff Ward Mark Barnett
Jeff Stanton didn't. I remember that season and thinking there must be some tension in the Honda pits. Didn't realize how much till I watched Stantons MX file, those two really didn't like each other.
Awe come on. I'm ready for some sparkling conversation. I remember Johnson and Lechien having some angst back in the day. RJ was my favorite back then.
I did like Leichein,maybe that's why the hate started for RJ. Or maybe the whole "Bad Boy" thing? Or later the Christian thing? Bomber it was defiantly the mustache.
