For all of the GNCC fans on here, does anyone think that KR557 coming back this year, will hinder the remembrance of his greatness and dominance? He hasn't won a race with only two to go, and he has only been on the podium twice. I definitely understand that he is a dad now and he won't be as great as he was, but I feel like this season is pretty rough for him. It's awesome that he is showing his kid that he can still do it, but would he have been better ending his career with a title win with KTM?
EDIT: After reading everyone’s point, I think years from now, no one will really remember this Yamaha stint unless something changes soon and he goes back to his winning ways. Truthfully, I’m a huge KR557 fan, and to see him get beat around this season, after talking the talk this offseason, I am kinda letdown. He’ll definitely be remembered for all of the wins and titles he racked up, and this era most likely won’t be remembered unless he turns a corner soon.
Edit #2: Welp, he did it. Shoutout KR557!!!! Talk about ironic.
I think if you know, you know.
Only disappointment is that things didn’t pan out like they could have with the Nationals.
No not really, his records still stand.
Remember Rodney Smith? 5x GNCC champion and AMA Hall of Famer?
Does anyone remember he twilighted his career racing (and getting beat) in the XC2 class?
If Kailub races again next year he'll do much better. He was learning a new bike and getting the rust off after a few years being retired. I also think he didn't give himself enough time to recover after breaking his jaw and lost a lot of confidence racing when he wasn't physically 100%, and it takes time to get confidence back.
McGrath, JS7, Reed, etc didn't go out on top. Still remembered for being great.
Dungey came back and didn't win a title. Villopoto went MXGP and didn't win a title.
I think KR557 will be remembered more for greatness than the time he wasn't on top at the end of his career. In other sports many legends have come back and you don't hear about the comebacks as often when remembering them
Seems Kailub likes to push through his injuries instead of taking some time off to let them heal.
Probably not working out well now due to his age.
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I dont think so, KR's GNCC dominance is etched in stone and everyone knows it. I heard rumors that racing for yamaha was part of a package deal for Am Pro to use his facility to train. The way it was put to me is, "well pay you to use your facility but you race for us for 2 years". This could be completely off base but thats what I was told from a pretty reliable source. KTM was paying him to be an ambassador and to use his facility, and when that dried up is when this came about.
As long as he's enjoying himself, who cares how he does. He's earned the right to just go out and enjoy races like you and I do. The days of seriousness and stress are past. Myself, I'm glad he's out there having fun.
His record is set. He is just challenging himself now. New bike, 450 at that, he was dominant on the 350 and was much younger, with less responsibility and less injuries. Have you seen the stiff with his knee? He has been pretty impressive as an “old part time guy” racing XC1
I think his results arent being noticed more due to an XC2 rider beating up on the XC1 class...which is awesome.
True. Xc2 has been laying the ass whoopings on. Unreal!
His legacy is most definitely intact. He talked a bunch of shit coming in to the season though, so he maybe has a bit of egg on his face.....I think he will be fine.
I don’t think I’d say he’s out there having fun and enjoying the races. If you watch his YouTube he seems genuinely pissed he’s not doing better. I think from what he saw training the KTM team the years after retirement he thought he’d be fighting for wins. The new bike and knee injury probably didn’t help. At some point I think he did say he underestimated the current speed of the class. I think his legacy is safe. Not too many people remember Washington Wizards MJ do they?
Funny I was just wondering what happened with his comeback on the Yamaha….needs to get back on a pumpkin…300 or 350….450 is a tank in the woods….IMO…
Very good point, XC2 made things way more interesting this season. I didn't think about Davis when I was typing this up.
His dominant legacy isn’t tarnished. Still one of the greats in off-road racing. I’m curious if he feels humbled though. He seemed a little arrogant when he was on Pulp before the season, talking about how the guys that he was training were soft and he felt like he could still wax them.
It's not as though this year will be a shitstain on his career, call it a comeback.
He won 8 consecutive xc1 championships against some of the fiercest competitors ever. There's no way to tarnish that legacy. Some people might not care for his attitude or call him cocky. Eight in a row in the world's premier off-road chamionship IMO is plenty of reason to be cocky if he wants. To go the speed those guys go for three hours I definitely think you need to 100% believe you're the baddest dude out there. I also think in the last few years everyone has leveled up. Almost everyone has a trainer now. Didn't he have a pretty convincing win at Ironman one year on a 150? He's hands down the best off-road racer ever. I highly doubt there will be an 8 year run of absolute dominance like he had. Pretty sure there was a round or two this season where the top ten were all within a couple of minutes at the finish. That's insane.
Kailub is the man. His races against whibley and mullins were insane to watch in person. Bonkers how fast those guys went! 8x champ almost 9, lost that first one to paul at the last race. Kailub is the man. Coolest dudes to talk to in person.
One year at Sunday creek they were running a section of the moto track backwards and he was seat bouncing this big ass double, only guy to do it, in the lead by ten minutes just flying through the air for fun or for the fans, regardless. Kailub is the man.
Pit Row
Raised over 100 grand for Rory, no one asked him to, bought a bike and rode its tits off just for the hype of his people. Kailub for president.
His vlogs are good and keep you up-to-date if you have time to watch. Cool to see him and his kids racing on blue.
Based on his videos it almost sounds like he's riding a YZ250FX as you're right, the 450 is a tank, can anyone confirm that is or is not the case?
I did a GNCC last month and his bike sounded like a 450, I didn't look closely at it.
You are correct. He quit, trained these guys, and was beating them down during the week. Thats why he thought he could at least be towards the front more. His main point was no one was grabbing the title and dominating, everyone was getting hurt or something along those lines year to year. His podcast with Stu was all time, Stu said he likes drinking beer and playing that roll and Kailub said you will never win, and he’s not been wrong lol.
And to answer the OP question, absolutely not. MC did it more for fun, but was still insanely competitive, Dungey did it and didn’t even sniff a podium, but went all in. The difference is the way they did it, they changed the program up, different places to ride, etc. sort of how Kailub has done it, not grinding at Alden’s anymore riding with the top mx guys.
Most don't even know Rodney's accomplishments. He was a MXGP rider that won races, podiumed in series points, and won 5 Brazilian national championships BEFORE becoming an off road legend. The guy is a total BA.
Would you happen to be Wally Palmer?
Wild Wally Palmer! such a badass
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gEl_nTlYa1g&pp=ygURd2lsZCB3YWxseSBwYWxtZXI%3D
C'mon man. Somebody has to step up and make a Rosie joke. I can't always be the one.
I remember watching a video of him ripping some sandy s turns somewhere. Looked like it was on fast forward!
Dunge didnt sniff a podium? He was pretty close. Finished 4th in a bunch of motos.
Should have podiumed washougal but his bike broke
I'm sure he wants to win but also seems pretty focused on his kids racing as well. I enjoy his YT videos and I wonder if him and Cooper Webb are still pretty close friends.
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