Finest 10 bike racers of all time?

[BroadsRS6]

Take into account the junk with excuses for suspension, brakes and tyres the 60s / 70s riders and even 80s riders were manhandling around tracks. Who for you are the top riders of all time?

For me, although i couldn't do it 1 to 10 in order, it's Hailwood, Agostini, Roberts, Doohan, Marquez, Rossi, Stoner, Lawson, Nieto, Surtees. Just epic racers of their time.

[kingb]

Joey Dunlop
McPint
Foggy (maybe)

[QIOM]

Stoner doesn't get in for me and Joey Dunlop HAS to be there.

Hard to leave Foggy off the list too, probably drop Nieto just because he never won a WC on anything over 125cc, harsh though.

[sheepsplitter]

In no particular order, my top 10:-

John Surtees.
Mike Hailwood.
Giacomo Agostini.
Michael Doohan.
Valentino Rossi.
Marc Marquez.
Casey Stoner.
Wayne Rainey.
Joey Dunlop.
Tai Woffinden (nobody said it had to be road racers!!)

[Wacky Racer]

McGuinness, Dunlop, Sheene, Roberts, Hailwood, Ago, Foggy, Duke, Reid, George Formby.

[Steve Bass]

Me,
Bayliss
And a slow me on an off day

[Biker 1]

I was a massive Doohan fan. Not sure if he was the best, but he was a good watch.
Shaky Byrne I have time for - a real shame his nasty accident....

[sheepsplitter]

Biker 1 said:

I was a massive Doohan fan. Not sure if he was the best, but he was a good watch.
Shaky Byrne I have time for - a real shame his nasty accident....

I ummed and arrd about adding Shakey to my list.
To me one of the most under-rated riders of our times. The only reason he didn't make it in WSB and MotoGP was bad ride/team combinations, he has proven he can win WSB races (as wildcard rider) on a number of occasions. I think his MotoGP move was always going to fail, shame really.
I doubt we will see him ride competitively again, gutting, as he's a real class act, and a nice bloke as well.

[Muzzer79]

In no particular order

Valentino Rossi
Giacomo Agostini
John Surtees
Mike Hailwood
Marc Marquez
Jonathan Rea
Casey Stoner
Mick Doohan
Wayne Rainey
Joey Dunlop

[vetrof]

Biker 1 said:

I was a massive Doohan fan. Not sure if he was the best, but he was a good watch.
Shaky Byrne I have time for - a real shame his nasty accident....

He was a monster. His consistency over 5 consecutive seasons was incredible, he just suffocated all challengers.
I don't think he was ever in danger of not winning the championship. I know inuries are a factor for all racers, but his demolition of the field in the first half of 1992 was one of the best spells of career. Even with the crash and just competent medical treatment he could well have won seven titles in a row.

[hiccy18]

10 is a lot to come up with as it's hard to think of people who really stood out for their era. I can't include Doohan as his domination turned me off the sport for a bit and I didn't rate him much off the bike.

Sheene got me into the sport
Surtees I read about and how can you not think he's fab
Schwantz & Rainey battles were epic
VR46
MM93
Foggy

[mike-v2tmf]

[Stuart Fordyce]

If we are talking top tens there's one man nobody has mentioned so far: Jorge Lorenzo. Won titles against Stoner, Rossi in his prime, Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. His last year on the Honda won't be remembered fondly by anyone bar his bank manager but he has to be in there.

Also, I've been to three live MotoGP races and he's won them all!

Also have to have McGuinness, Marquez, Rossi and Stoner in there. Not seen the pre Rossi era - too young.

[Rob 131 Sport]

In no particular order:

Joey Dunlop
Carl Fogarty
Marc Marquez
Wayne Rainey
Valentino Rossi
Freddie Spencer
Casey Stoner
Mike Hailwood
Kevin Schwantz
Alan Carter

[vetrof]

Fast Freddie is a good shout. Last man to win 2 championships in the same season?

[anonymous-user]

kingb said:

Joey Dunlop
McPint
Foggy (maybe)

And Steve Hislop.

I also was a fan of Dave Thorpe, 3 times world motocross champion. Anyone who can tame a CR500 is worth a mention.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 17th June 18:58

[KurtFlew]

Depends if we're talking short circuit or roads.

The best on the roads is McGuiness no doubt. Circuits, I'd probably say Doohan. It's difficult to make a top 10 though as everyone has their generation they grow up watching.

[srob]

I think it’s really difficult to call era to era. I love all bike sport and have always followed it and been lucky enough to see most famous riders since the first big race I went to which was the 92 British GP at Donington.

There’s the obvious (Hailwood, Dunlop(s), Ago, Sheene, Rossi etc) but there’s some further back that were proper good but forgotten now. Stanley Woods, Freddie Dixon etc.

The other issue I have with claiming Rossi’s a GOAT (which he may be, and I know you weren’t claiming that OP but it’s connected) is could he cope with the very, very real chance of death riders in the 60s and before had? It wasn’t an outside chance for those lads it was statistically likely for a while!

Also Hailwood would race in the 125, 350 and 500GP races in a day.

Dunno, slightly pissed pondering a bit I think it’s an interesting question but a really tough one to judge!

[blade7]

Hailwood and Agostini out on their own. Rossi, Doohan and Rainey pretty equal. Roberts and Sheene equal. Riders than won one championship because the favorite crashed out, fine for one season, not all time. Superbike winners, also rans in the all time standings. Spanish riders, finest crashers. Stoner finest moaner.

[shurm]

Rea ?