Why is McGrath "The King" in the Current Era?

OwenJakes
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I made a single comment on a thread and was genuinely shocked by the +/- ratio but didnt want to derail the thread. This site is largely 45 and up dudes so I understand I'm going to be getting the golden era rage but I really want to know some opinions.

How is it that we equate 90's supercross to the ~2010 and onward era of full factory race teams, training facility living, and 15/20 riders on the gate being some form of past or current champion. Mcgrath did not line up against 17 factory bikes or whatever it is. I'm not saying the guy sucks but come on. A1 had the entire top 10 within one second of the lap times at one point.

I just don't see it. You cannot tell me that Tomac, Dungey, Stew, RV, etc, faced a similar challenge than Mcgrath did. I think the record is total apples to oranges and is tone deaf to keep comparing people to McGrath.

McGraths record is not relevant, change my mind.

Poll

72 Wins

Choices
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Falcon
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1/24/2024 11:18am

In.

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Johnny Ringo
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1/24/2024 11:20am

Was Roger Maris’ home run record still relevant?

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Johnny Ringo
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1/24/2024 11:21am

If anything it’s more relevant now because there were fewer races per season. Makes it more impressive IMO

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:24am

Was Roger Maris’ home run record still relevant?

I don't know who that is but it sounds like baseball so im not sure how that equates to motocross. I said mcgrath to tomac is apples to oranges, and you're providing vegetables lol

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The Shop

bvm111
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1/24/2024 11:25am

IMG 8289 6

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:25am

Lots of votes for relevant. explain your side for me.

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Tyler D
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1/24/2024 11:29am Edited Date/Time 1/24/2024 11:30am

you need a third choice in there really. of course he's relevant, but you have valid qualifiers. same in every sport though. it's even worse in F1. Fangio is still the best, but the cars were COMPLETELY different. it's just so hard to compare.

 

For me, Power ranking (i.e. competition level) crossed with win rate, it's hard to argue against RV. but MC ushered in something and represented something that is/was unprecedented.

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1/24/2024 11:30am

So we’re gonna pick and choose which wins or seasons count now? I don’t understand…McGrath had to deal with Emig, Lusk, DV etc then finally RC who dethroned him 

 

sure there wasn’t 18 factory riders but do you really believe that every one of those 18 riders could win a race at any given moment? 
 

also MC put supercross on the map and was one of the first big personalities which I think is worth mentioning  

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mxb2
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1/24/2024 11:31am

Record book says. 72.  The end of story

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:36am
mxb2 wrote:

Record book says. 72.  The end of story

tremendously low iq take

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NateDawg241
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1/24/2024 11:37am Edited Date/Time 1/24/2024 11:40am

Lol, do you understand that Honda used to have 5 factory big bike riders at a time? You're acting like factory rides are something new. Legit question, how long have you been watching Supercross?

Also, seems funny how you don't mention the list of greats that McGrath beat up on in his career. Dude beat Carmichael, Stanton, Lusk, Pastrana, Windham, LaRocco, DV, Emig, etc. And he didn't just beat them, he absolutely dominated them. In his prime nobody could touch him. 

You don't get to throw out records you don't like just because you're ignorant about the era in which they were achieved. 

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Buckland
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1/24/2024 11:37am

Who is equating 90s to 2010s? "The King" is a nickname, like Richard Petty. It doesn't mean he'd beat RV or Dungey head to head if you had a time machine. He beat his contemporaries, more than anyone else ever has. He deserves the respect and legendary status.

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mxb2
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1/24/2024 11:40am
mxb2 wrote:

Record book says. 72.  The end of story

OwenJakes wrote:

tremendously low iq take

Lol. So 72 means nothing   low iq opening post

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:40am
So we’re gonna pick and choose which wins or seasons count now? I don’t understand…McGrath had to deal with Emig, Lusk, DV etc then finally RC...

So we’re gonna pick and choose which wins or seasons count now? I don’t understand…McGrath had to deal with Emig, Lusk, DV etc then finally RC who dethroned him 

 

sure there wasn’t 18 factory riders but do you really believe that every one of those 18 riders could win a race at any given moment? 
 

also MC put supercross on the map and was one of the first big personalities which I think is worth mentioning  

nope. Maybe just draw a line between classic and modern era racing.

Yes, I do. I think malcolm stewart, craig, cooper, hunter lawrence, barcia, Ferrandis etc etc are genuinely capable of putting it together at any time. I think you do too.

 

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motomike137
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1/24/2024 11:41am

I see where you are coming from... 25 Bears Doing People Things - Cleverpedia

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early
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Bikes were harder to ride, tracks had more variability, teams were basically rider and mechanic, injury recovery was archaic.

He put it all together and no one has had a cooler vibe while being on top, everyone has been chasing his ghost since.

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:43am
Lol, do you understand that Honda used to have 5 factory big bike riders at a time? You're acting like factory rides are something new. Legit...

Lol, do you understand that Honda used to have 5 factory big bike riders at a time? You're acting like factory rides are something new. Legit question, how long have you been watching Supercross?

Also, seems funny how you don't mention the list of greats that McGrath beat up on in his career. Dude beat Carmichael, Stanton, Lusk, Pastrana, Windham, LaRocco, DV, Emig, etc. And he didn't just beat them, he absolutely dominated them. In his prime nobody could touch him. 

You don't get to throw out records you don't like just because you're ignorant about the era in which they were achieved. 

records i dont like? What are you on about? I think its a great record. I love it. wish it was larger. Just dont think it compares today. Thanks for the emotional post lol

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1/24/2024 11:46am

This shouldn't even be a question. 72 wins son....

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Johnny Ringo
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1/24/2024 11:48am

I guarantee you Jett Lawrence has never had a jetting issue or have his bike bog on an on/off. Dudes are on F1 equipment now. 

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Magoofan
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1/24/2024 11:52am

Subscribed....

image-20240124115223-1

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:54am
Magoofan wrote:
Subscribed....

Subscribed....

image-20240124115223-1

I knew you'd be in here.

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ThatOneMXGuy
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1/24/2024 11:54am Edited Date/Time 1/24/2024 11:56am

The one thing I would say that you could possibly argue against MC is that he went SX only from 98 onward and racked up a lot more wins and three more championships in that time. He was 26 when he went SX only. The two that pop into mind immediately for me are Carmichael and Villopoto. Their win totals were racing MX also and instead of going SX only to extend their career, they retired. At the same age MC was when he went SX only. With 4 more years of SX only, would Carmichael get at least 2 more championships to tie MC and at least 20 more wins to nearly equal his win record? Same questions for Villopoto. Would he? I would not bet against either one of them being able to do so. But at the end of the day, they didn’t. They called it a career. MC will forever be the King of SX unless someone can come in and at least get really close in both championships and wins. I’m talking minimum 6 and 60. Then we can have a conversation. 

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slowgti
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1/24/2024 11:55am

Jay Leno and mainstream commercials (1-800 collect)

He is still the king and still relevant today 

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RACING
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1/24/2024 11:56am

 Is this poll irrelevant today?

YES 100%

NO   0%

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1/24/2024 11:57am

It is a title of respect and you don't lose it in retirement. Even when his record is beaten someday, McGrath is and always will be The King.

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:57am
slowgti wrote:

Jay Leno and mainstream commercials (1-800 collect)

He is still the king and still relevant today 

how old are you?

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OwenJakes
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1/24/2024 11:57am
It is a title of respect and you don't lose it in retirement. Even when his record is beaten someday, McGrath is and always will be...

It is a title of respect and you don't lose it in retirement. Even when his record is beaten someday, McGrath is and always will be The King.

That's fine. My question was about using his record as the gold standard not his nickname.

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NateDawg241
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1/24/2024 11:58am
Lol, do you understand that Honda used to have 5 factory big bike riders at a time? You're acting like factory rides are something new. Legit...

Lol, do you understand that Honda used to have 5 factory big bike riders at a time? You're acting like factory rides are something new. Legit question, how long have you been watching Supercross?

Also, seems funny how you don't mention the list of greats that McGrath beat up on in his career. Dude beat Carmichael, Stanton, Lusk, Pastrana, Windham, LaRocco, DV, Emig, etc. And he didn't just beat them, he absolutely dominated them. In his prime nobody could touch him. 

You don't get to throw out records you don't like just because you're ignorant about the era in which they were achieved. 

OwenJakes wrote:
records i dont like? What are you on about? I think its a great record. I love it. wish it was larger. Just dont think it...

records i dont like? What are you on about? I think its a great record. I love it. wish it was larger. Just dont think it compares today. Thanks for the emotional post lol

You have no legitimate reason why McGrath's record shouldn't apply today so yes, you only brought this up because you don't like the record. Either you don't like it because of ignorance or because you know no one will ever beat it. 

MC was on bikes that were much harder to ride in an era where injuries were way tougher to come back from. He beat several all-time greats including the fucking GOAT! Oh and he had less races per season to get the record. You have no clue what you're talking about kid

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