Best offroad motorcycle rider ever.

DadBod86
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Pittsworth, QLD AU
Fantasy
3/6/2024 11:28pm

Toby Price in his prime was getting decent mx results, add in his application to everything he does, he could have done well in something like this.

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cwtoyota
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3/6/2024 11:53pm
Ake27 wrote:

Ty Davis/ Rodney Smith 

When I read the OP's premise, I thought of both these guys and I thought of one I didn't see mentioned yet... Mike Brown

Ty was a decent SX/MX guy and so was Rodney long before they went off-road and Ty had some great rides in the desert too (around late 90s early 2000s if I'm not completely out of my element).

I bring up Mike Brown because he has shown his chops in MX/SX as a 125 national champion and perpetually tough SOB.  He was also great in endurocross and is still fast as hell at age 50+.

I feel like the guys from prior eras were more universal the farther you go back in dirt bikes, and just in racing motorcycles in general.   As the sport's many disciplines each progressed, they have specialized more and more in both equipment and rider.
 

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ama530
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3/7/2024 5:26am
Nairb#70 wrote:
Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever".  Doug Henry's resume: 1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ...

Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever". 

Doug Henry's resume:

1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ

1993 AMA 125 East SX champ

1998 AMA 250 MX champ

250 SX winner

Supermoto winner

GNCC winner ( held off Juha Salminen for the win)

Multi time X games winner

Snowcross winner

Multi time adaptive class winner on bike and sled

Clearly, and without a doubt, the best rider in tha widest variety of disciplines ever. End of story.

LungButter wrote:
Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration. I present to you Ty Davis.... 125 Supercross Champion National Enduro Champion...

Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration.

I present to you Ty Davis....

125 Supercross Champion

National Enduro Champion

National Hare Scrambles Champion

National Hare and Hound Champion

WORCS Champion

Multi Time ISDE Gold Medalist

ZipTy is the only racer to win an AMA National Championship in all off road disciplines... hare scramble, enduro and hare and hound.  

Doug Henry did one GNCC, in the sand no less, hardly qualifies him as the "the best rider in the widest variety of disciplines".  Not trying to be a hater, he's honestly probably my favorite racer of all time.

Ty Davis is probably the best candidate for all around. Most don't remember that his 125 SX Championship came from beating the "King", Jeremy McGrath. How many riders can say that? Once he went off-road, he was a beast. Shane Watts is a close second. He was a brilliant racer and amazing on a 125.

3

The Shop

Darrin Willis
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3/7/2024 5:47am
I've seen Trystan Hart race local moto and be competitive against 10th to 15th place canadian national guys. Hes arguably the 3rd best in the world...

I've seen Trystan Hart race local moto and be competitive against 10th to 15th place canadian national guys. Hes arguably the 3rd best in the world behind bolt and lettinbecher (sp) in hard enduro.  Sipes won the overall at the isde a few years ago. As did Everts about 20 years ago. I dabble in some hard enduro type shit and can testify how good those world class guys are. Its humbling to say the least. When a local pro who makes me look like a beginner competes in a national event and finishes half the race in 7hrs and Hart wins in 2.5hrs its hard to believe .

 

LungButter wrote:
Trystan is pretty damn fast even in non-extreme stuff for sure. He's actually one of very few of the world class guys that doesn't come from...

Trystan is pretty damn fast even in non-extreme stuff for sure.

He's actually one of very few of the world class guys that doesn't come from a Trials background, he grew up just racing normal off road from what I understand.  Having said that, off road races in his neck of the woods are freakin' gnarly.

Billy is just a more skilled version of him though. No disrespect to Trystan, but I don’t think there’s any discipline where he has the upper...

Billy is just a more skilled version of him though. No disrespect to Trystan, but I don’t think there’s any discipline where he has the upper hand on Billy

No argument there. I was just commenting on the  bike skills of world class hard enduro guys.

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3/7/2024 5:51am

If it wasn't for acting...Steve McQueen 🙂

s-l1600 27

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2
3/7/2024 6:07am

Tyler Medaglia is the most successful contemporary racer that actually races multiple disciplines and does well in them all. 

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Titan1
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3/7/2024 6:53am

Could Taylor Robert be in this discussion?  He’s won a lot of different types of races/championships…ISDE, Hare and Hound, WORCS, Hard Enduro, Endurocross, GP…

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Broseph
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3/7/2024 8:20am
Titan1 wrote:

Could Taylor Robert be in this discussion?  He’s won a lot of different types of races/championships…ISDE, Hare and Hound, WORCS, Hard Enduro, Endurocross, GP…

Absolutely. That guy is fast everywhere. He’s got some trials experience too, right?

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Titan1
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3/7/2024 8:34am
Titan1 wrote:

Could Taylor Robert be in this discussion?  He’s won a lot of different types of races/championships…ISDE, Hare and Hound, WORCS, Hard Enduro, Endurocross, GP…

Broseph wrote:

Absolutely. That guy is fast everywhere. He’s got some trials experience too, right?

Yes, I believe he does have trials experience…and didn’t he race Baja?

3/7/2024 8:46am

Lots of good answers. The people that come to mind for me have been mentioned. I've been fortunate enough to share a race track with some insanely talented people, seeing some of the things they do first hand is wild, especially when they pass you!

Taylor Robert and Colton Hakker are amazing at everything they touch. Billy bolt, same. Take a prime Shane Watts, that guy was a freak. I'm not sure how Rodney Smiths hard enduro skills would be, but a prime RS would be cool to see. I look at Kailub Russell the same way I see Rodney Smith. 

There's to many more to mention now that I think of it. 

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Rnewton632
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3/7/2024 9:04am

David Knight would be high on my list. He was a great trials rider from an early age, multi time world enduro champion, and 2 time gncc champion. I know he's dominated beach races and been competitive in mx races. He won the 2005 isde overall and nearly every "extreme" race at least once. 

5
chuckie108
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3/7/2024 9:53am
Nairb#70 wrote:
Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever".  Doug Henry's resume: 1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ...

Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever". 

Doug Henry's resume:

1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ

1993 AMA 125 East SX champ

1998 AMA 250 MX champ

250 SX winner

Supermoto winner

GNCC winner ( held off Juha Salminen for the win)

Multi time X games winner

Snowcross winner

Multi time adaptive class winner on bike and sled

Clearly, and without a doubt, the best rider in tha widest variety of disciplines ever. End of story.

LungButter wrote:
Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration. I present to you Ty Davis.... 125 Supercross Champion National Enduro Champion...

Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration.

I present to you Ty Davis....

125 Supercross Champion

National Enduro Champion

National Hare Scrambles Champion

National Hare and Hound Champion

WORCS Champion

Multi Time ISDE Gold Medalist

ZipTy is the only racer to win an AMA National Championship in all off road disciplines... hare scramble, enduro and hare and hound.  

Doug Henry did one GNCC, in the sand no less, hardly qualifies him as the "the best rider in the widest variety of disciplines".  Not trying to be a hater, he's honestly probably my favorite racer of all time.

ama530 wrote:
Ty Davis is probably the best candidate for all around. Most don't remember that his 125 SX Championship came from beating the "King", Jeremy McGrath. How...

Ty Davis is probably the best candidate for all around. Most don't remember that his 125 SX Championship came from beating the "King", Jeremy McGrath. How many riders can say that? Once he went off-road, he was a beast. Shane Watts is a close second. He was a brilliant racer and amazing on a 125.

Not to mention Ty has 17 top 10 National finishes(and some top 5's), 5 Overall Baja 1000 wins, Top American at ISDE many times, and did much of this on his own team!

JustMX
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3/7/2024 9:54am
Another thing to consider is, the era particular riders competed in and, the bikes plus mechanical aptitude to keep them running for the duration. For example...

Another thing to consider is, the era particular riders competed in and, the bikes plus mechanical aptitude to keep them running for the duration. For example, Burleson was first American in the Trans Ama (?) WAY back there before he won 8 national Enduro titles. He may have been an engineer? He carried 10lbs of tools on his bike and person to work on his bike on the side of the trail. Bikes weren't near as dependable in the 70s. Lots of motocross guys couldn't change a tire if their life depended on it. There are many angles to look at this debate through. 

And I will add,

He won all those Enduro titles wearing glasses, no goggles,..........glasses

And back when you had to do time keeping. If you burned a check it was twice the penalty of being late.

So put your choice on a mid 70s to mid 80s Husky, wearing glasses, with a roll chart, where you had to actually stay on your minute, on courses as narrow as 28" that never had any grooming done, in all kinds of miserable weather, and let's see how they match up.....

3
wreckitrandy
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Granite Falls, NC US
3/7/2024 10:08am
Another thing to consider is, the era particular riders competed in and, the bikes plus mechanical aptitude to keep them running for the duration. For example...

Another thing to consider is, the era particular riders competed in and, the bikes plus mechanical aptitude to keep them running for the duration. For example, Burleson was first American in the Trans Ama (?) WAY back there before he won 8 national Enduro titles. He may have been an engineer? He carried 10lbs of tools on his bike and person to work on his bike on the side of the trail. Bikes weren't near as dependable in the 70s. Lots of motocross guys couldn't change a tire if their life depended on it. There are many angles to look at this debate through. 

JustMX wrote:
And I will add, He won all those Enduro titles wearing glasses, no goggles,..........glasses And back when you had to do time keeping. If you burned...

And I will add,

He won all those Enduro titles wearing glasses, no goggles,..........glasses

And back when you had to do time keeping. If you burned a check it was twice the penalty of being late.

So put your choice on a mid 70s to mid 80s Husky, wearing glasses, with a roll chart, where you had to actually stay on your minute, on courses as narrow as 28" that never had any grooming done, in all kinds of miserable weather, and let's see how they match up.....

I remember reading that he practiced for when his glasses would be covered in roost and water by not using his windshield wipers when he was driving!

TeamGreen
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3/7/2024 10:11am
TeamGreen wrote:

Me thinks an MXON trip is in order…?

Bearuno wrote:
That, is Always in order! I'm trying very hard (desperately, basically) to get a company I do work for in 3 countries, to schedule my itinerary...

That, is Always in order!

I'm trying very hard (desperately, basically) to get a company I do work for in 3 countries, to schedule my itinerary to be in Britain in early October. It would, be, I'd say, my last MXDN.

Might have to be happy with just getting to the Indonesian GPs this year, on my own (well, hopefully, with "She who Must be Obeyed", on Her dime - she really likes Indonesia now, and has more money than Zod) 'dime'. The place we stayed at in Sumbawa was suitably exotic and upmarket for her, and, the track is Magnificent. Lombok - less so, on both accounts, but Indonesia is a Hoot. And they are Motorcycle crazy!

 

Let’s stay in touch on this…this years MXON feels like a good one. 

Elliot
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3/7/2024 10:13am
Rnewton632 wrote:
David Knight would be high on my list. He was a great trials rider from an early age, multi time world enduro champion, and 2 time...

David Knight would be high on my list. He was a great trials rider from an early age, multi time world enduro champion, and 2 time gncc champion. I know he's dominated beach races and been competitive in mx races. He won the 2005 isde overall and nearly every "extreme" race at least once. 

Good shout. He also won the '07 AMA Endurocross championship.

 

3
Elliot
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3/7/2024 10:17am

....oh and he won Last Man Standing.

 

 

 

2
aoko
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3/7/2024 10:21am Edited Date/Time 3/7/2024 10:24am

 I feel like some of the best ever in their specific mastery, Ricky Carmichael, Juha Salminen, Travis Pastrana with proper focus and training could have mastered any of the above.

Ricky and Juha for their training and discipline alone.

Juha made the GNCC pros look like they were standing still when he won the series on his first try. 8x world enduro champion, 2x gncc, 7x ISDE.

Ricky is Ricky

Travis for the mere agility and willingness to push the boundaries.

5
kunk
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3/7/2024 1:14pm

Guy Cooper would be able to compete with anyone in this type of scenario. He was giving David Knight a run for his money the year Knight won last man standing. Knight screwed him over. Coop also has a couple of ISDE gold medals. 

2
BryceO766
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3/7/2024 1:19pm
Nairb#70 wrote:
Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever".  Doug Henry's resume: 1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ...

Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever". 

Doug Henry's resume:

1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ

1993 AMA 125 East SX champ

1998 AMA 250 MX champ

250 SX winner

Supermoto winner

GNCC winner ( held off Juha Salminen for the win)

Multi time X games winner

Snowcross winner

Multi time adaptive class winner on bike and sled

Clearly, and without a doubt, the best rider in tha widest variety of disciplines ever. End of story.

LungButter wrote:
Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration. I present to you Ty Davis.... 125 Supercross Champion National Enduro Champion...

Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration.

I present to you Ty Davis....

125 Supercross Champion

National Enduro Champion

National Hare Scrambles Champion

National Hare and Hound Champion

WORCS Champion

Multi Time ISDE Gold Medalist

ZipTy is the only racer to win an AMA National Championship in all off road disciplines... hare scramble, enduro and hare and hound.  

Doug Henry did one GNCC, in the sand no less, hardly qualifies him as the "the best rider in the widest variety of disciplines".  Not trying to be a hater, he's honestly probably my favorite racer of all time.

Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he was hundreds of feet away from the course cutting it too. Not just taking an inside “cheater line”. He also cheated in Baja. Of course the old fucks at D37 who worshipped Ty at the time still allowed him to win without any penalties. 

1
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LungButter
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3/7/2024 1:21pm
BryceO766 wrote:
Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he...

Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he was hundreds of feet away from the course cutting it too. Not just taking an inside “cheater line”. He also cheated in Baja. Of course the old fucks at D37 who worshipped Ty at the time still allowed him to win without any penalties. 

Everyone cheats in Baja, that's what I was getting at when I was mentioning Johnny Campbell only winning down there.

I'm not discrediting what you're saying, I'm sure it happened.  But Ty won too much at too many races to have always been cheating, he woulda got caught a lot more.

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RichieW13
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3/7/2024 1:22pm
Nairb#70 wrote:
Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever".  Doug Henry's resume: 1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ...

Maybe it was a few years ago, but the title says "greatest off road rider ever". 

Doug Henry's resume:

1993 and 1994 AMA 125 MX champ

1993 AMA 125 East SX champ

1998 AMA 250 MX champ

250 SX winner

Supermoto winner

GNCC winner ( held off Juha Salminen for the win)

Multi time X games winner

Snowcross winner

Multi time adaptive class winner on bike and sled

Clearly, and without a doubt, the best rider in tha widest variety of disciplines ever. End of story.

LungButter wrote:
Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration. I present to you Ty Davis.... 125 Supercross Champion National Enduro Champion...

Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration.

I present to you Ty Davis....

125 Supercross Champion

National Enduro Champion

National Hare Scrambles Champion

National Hare and Hound Champion

WORCS Champion

Multi Time ISDE Gold Medalist

ZipTy is the only racer to win an AMA National Championship in all off road disciplines... hare scramble, enduro and hare and hound.  

Doug Henry did one GNCC, in the sand no less, hardly qualifies him as the "the best rider in the widest variety of disciplines".  Not trying to be a hater, he's honestly probably my favorite racer of all time.

BryceO766 wrote:
Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he...

Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he was hundreds of feet away from the course cutting it too. Not just taking an inside “cheater line”. He also cheated in Baja. Of course the old fucks at D37 who worshipped Ty at the time still allowed him to win without any penalties. 

If your dad was the ref, it was his responsibility to DQ the rider.

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1
BryceO766
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3/7/2024 1:26pm Edited Date/Time 3/7/2024 1:28pm

TP is hands down #1, SX champ, outdoor champ, finished Erzberg, super moto, best freestyle rider of all time, and let’s not forget he absolutely ripped in Baja on a DRZ400. Was time wise as fast as the top guys and back then Baja was stacked. 
 

second is Kurt Caselli, I’d like to see Eli Tomac try to hold it wide at 90mph over 3-4 ft tall whoops, multi NHH champ, multi WORCS champ, multi IDSE champ, has raced GNCC, Dakar stage winner his first year, rode hard enduro very well, excellent moto rider even raced Southwick pro national, best two stroke rider of all time… and let’s not forget 2013 Baja 1000 where he died. he battled JCR and PC Kawi in the most stacked pro moto class ever and passed away 50 miles away from the finish. Kurt was not only an amazing racer but a beautiful soul and great human being. 

4
BryceO766
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3/7/2024 1:27pm
LungButter wrote:
Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration. I present to you Ty Davis.... 125 Supercross Champion National Enduro Champion...

Well, nothing to do with snowmobiles is relevant so throw that out of consideration.

I present to you Ty Davis....

125 Supercross Champion

National Enduro Champion

National Hare Scrambles Champion

National Hare and Hound Champion

WORCS Champion

Multi Time ISDE Gold Medalist

ZipTy is the only racer to win an AMA National Championship in all off road disciplines... hare scramble, enduro and hare and hound.  

Doug Henry did one GNCC, in the sand no less, hardly qualifies him as the "the best rider in the widest variety of disciplines".  Not trying to be a hater, he's honestly probably my favorite racer of all time.

BryceO766 wrote:
Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he...

Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he was hundreds of feet away from the course cutting it too. Not just taking an inside “cheater line”. He also cheated in Baja. Of course the old fucks at D37 who worshipped Ty at the time still allowed him to win without any penalties. 

RichieW13 wrote:

If your dad was the ref, it was his responsibility to DQ the rider.

He did DQ ty. D37 specifically norm Stuart overturned it every time 

1
BryceO766
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Anaheim, CA US
3/7/2024 1:29pm
BryceO766 wrote:
Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he...

Ty Davis is a cheater… My dad was the ref for the Adelanto GP for years and caught Ty on multiple occasions cutting the course, he was hundreds of feet away from the course cutting it too. Not just taking an inside “cheater line”. He also cheated in Baja. Of course the old fucks at D37 who worshipped Ty at the time still allowed him to win without any penalties. 

LungButter wrote:
Everyone cheats in Baja, that's what I was getting at when I was mentioning Johnny Campbell only winning down there. I'm not discrediting what you're saying...

Everyone cheats in Baja, that's what I was getting at when I was mentioning Johnny Campbell only winning down there.

I'm not discrediting what you're saying, I'm sure it happened.  But Ty won too much at too many races to have always been cheating, he woulda got caught a lot more.

He did get caught a lot. Unfortunately at the time off-road with a buddy buddy kinda system and Ty was looked at as the golden child. 

1
kunk
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3/7/2024 1:37pm

Cyril Despres has won Dakar multiple times and Erzberg once and Romaniacs 3 times. 

3

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