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We haven’t seen jett at 101% yet. I think rc would push him to that then who knows
Fair point, Chad may have improved from memory RV had everyone covered at the Nd of his career which was his prime.
And no I don't believe RC would have let Chad win.
RC wouldn't let anyone win. He didn't for 10 years straight.
Jett wins.
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That’s a good one that would take a few beers to work through I reckon. But people forget just how good Reedy was outdoors because of RC.
Reed won at MXdN in 2001, but in moving to the US his focus was SX, however RC made him hate racing the nationals (his words). He won on his return to MX in 2009 well after RC retired, and was oh so impressive in 2011. Notably he won a moto again at MXdN in 2011, ten years after his first, which is impressive in itself. Why did it take ten years? RC.
My opinion is that RC and Stew in 06 & 07 were not going faster than present, but they’d be at the front in what ever era you put them in.
Vs Jett would be exceptional. Given what we know about RC you could never bet against him, but if anyone was ever going to best him outdoors, it’d be Jett..
How many seasons did it take RC and JS to get their perfect season in the premier class?
How many years did it take JL to get his perfect season in the premier class? 22-0 rookie season on the 450 outdoors is incredible. Who’s the next rookie that does that?
Too bad there haven’t been more RC | JS | JL equivalent riders. Just my opinion but I don’t think the average rider with average talent is willing to make the incredibly difficult decisions and commitments to become next level. Let’s face it - talent wise, there wasn’t anything special about RC. When he came on the scene on the PC125 with the #70 on the plate, it wasn’t incredibly remarkable. But he married an insane work ethic with a painful disdain for losing into something incredible. Sorry but most riders of today are just content with their sitch and not willing to put themselves through the equivalent of 1965 Parris Island Marines boot camp and then live like that 24x7 for 2 decades. Ever remember the unhappiness on RV’s face when he was being interviewed after winning a race? He looked miserable! Well, that’s because he had Aldon’s foot up his ass and he was running himself into the ground. I’m sure that wasn’t fun. I want to see a rider that looks like an alien and has a trainer that acts like Bobby Knight. And I want that alien rider to say to himself “I have no choice, I have to win, and I will make any sacrifice to ensure that happens”.
RC had this fire, this drive, that the others don't. Not even close.
Numbers don't lie, and Jett will never come close to the GOAT's...
I guess I "sped read" though the OP's post. My bad.
What a freak
At this point RC, but we haven’t seen peak Jett yet. At his current pace, I can see him surpassing RC.
But of course that’s why they line up, you never know might happen. JS7 was supposed dethrone the goat but that didn’t happen.
For those of you who forgot, or are too young to remember, I'll just leave this here and let you decide. Nobody has ridden a 450 faster, with the exception of ET possibly, than RC and James did back in 2006/07. This video serves as an excellent reminder of just how much grit and tenacity RC had. And remember, RC was partially retired at this point.
You dont think the top speeds of the sport has progressed in 18yrs?
When it comes to Ricky and James. Its a resounding no. Bikes arent that much better and may actually be worse in instances.
Its not the same as 1985 to 2005 where the technological advancements made the sport faster.
I still think the top guys from the 80s would have been top guys now too but the bikes and the style associated with them held them back
But no, the speed that Ricky and James carried is every bit of what we see currently, if not more.
There was a clip floating on social this week with some footage of RC in his prime. I really had forgotten how aggressive he was- he make Beast Mode Tomac look smooth and calculated. Not just body position and bulldogging the bike, but how hard he would get on the gas mid turn. He was pretty unreal- it would be very fun to watch this mythical matchup
RC chased, caught and gapped the “fastest man on the planet “ RC is incredible.
Nope, not in regard to RC and JS.
People need to go back and watch 06 and 07 outdoors. It was insane.
I'm not downplaying what was done that day these two were my favourite riders, but the guys look faster today, technique and bikes are better, the lack of efficiency is clearly displayed in this clip, even the setup of the bikes look wrong comparing to today, I believe around 2014 is when the riders surpassed this speed.
I've been watching since 1999 and at the time of such events I thought what these guys were doing was unbeatable and truly amazing, but things have progressed.
Pit Row
This is a tough one. I’d have to say RC. Jett would be pushed to another level that we haven’t seen him have to ride at yet.
Have to go with RC . That said Jett looks so effortless out there and it’s hard to say what it would look like with RC in front of him or behind him applying serious pressure and not fading away for the entire moto.
This video is actually a bad example.
Everyone knows RC brought ultimate fitness to the sport. He was clearly above his competitors when he entered and its why he overcame McGrath. In these years 0f 06' and 07' he was still the fittest out there. He clearly didn't have more speed in what this video shows. His pace to JS wasn't closing. In fact, in this editted version, James has opened up a larger gap, just before the next part showing RC pass JS.
What this video demonstrates is his fitness over James, when James drops anchor and finally RC is able to then make a pass. Fitness outdoors haunted James his first 2 years on the big bikes.
James It's also why, when RC retired in 07' James hired Aldon Baker and went 24-0 in 08' under Aldon Bakers training program. One that James wasn't willing to live with, and then RV picked him up and started his championship run.
I miss those two. Can’t imagine what it was like to be as fast as James was and then have RC run you down like that and then gap you. RC=GOAT
Sports evolve, technology evolves, people evolve, Jett would drop RC like a bad habit, just like he did with Tomac on the weekend.
I completely respect that opinion and have waffled back and forth myself on which side I'm on. Whenever I watch '07, RC and James seem otherworldly. But, I'm kinda kinda on the side right now we're seeing the highest levels of speed ever. Its a fun conversation, thats for sure
Let this old man have his opinion lol. Hills were steeper and we went up both ways back then
RC would drop Jett like a side a beef! Your turn……
Its not an outlandish opinion, by any means! I remember Dunge would talk about a retired RC practicing with him and he would keep up with him for awhile until his fitness held him back. Then we look at Reed giving the Ryan's all they could handle in 2011. Meanwhile RC and James would YARD Reed by 45sec. It was so bad Reed went sx only because he hated mx. The biggest difference I see watching '07 and now is how much they sat down back then.
Maybe, maybe not but he’s in a very good position to do it.
If Jett wins the title this year that will be four outdoor titles and he’ll only just have turned 22. Plenty of time to get another six to match RC if he rides to 30.
6 championships is a tall order, that’s 6 seasons with everything going just right, 6 seasons with no crippling injurys or health issues all the while fighting off the new younger talent. Not saying he definitely can’t do it , but it’s unlikely.
Still - Lawrence
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