Posts
2004
Joined
8/15/2020
Location
US
Fantasy
4049th
Edited Date/Time
8/29/2020 2:24pm
I’m not knowledgeable enough about MXGP (Average US fan level) to argue for or against, but, what does AC222 need to do to be the undisputed best ever GP racer and is it possible?
He’s an inspiration to myself. The way he rides this far into his career is unreal to me, and has to be an enigma. Has there been a rider this far into a career that arguably looks faster every year?
He’s an inspiration to myself. The way he rides this far into his career is unreal to me, and has to be an enigma. Has there been a rider this far into a career that arguably looks faster every year?
I will say that Cairoli's ability to adapt to the speed of the new gen like Herlings and Gajser has been pretty impressive, but it has come at a cost in injuries. He's taken more hits in the past 3 seasons than the rest of his career.
Everts might have the numbers but I think his wins/championships from the 1 moto year(s) deserve an asterisk.
The Shop
Events raced the series that were presented to him, he is the goat from another mother!
Which guys are racing that?
Seems to me most our top guys are racing the one with 2 motos, like real motocross. I could be mistaken though.
Cairoli 90 GP wins
If I'm not wrong Everts managed to do that for 11 straight years.
The debate would be the level of competition he faced early as opposed to late.
I shot this pic of Everts giving Stewart a cornering clinic.
Cairoli was there, he won the 2nd moto (MX2/Open) outright on his 250f.
Cracking weekend, it rounded out my wife and i's honeymoon nicely!
Pit Row
to me, numbers matter, and 1 more title and 11 more GP wins makes Everts the Greatest GP rider of all time, but AC222 is badass as well,
Not to derail the thread but Sipes is a damn American hero. I hope to one day shake his hand and tell him thank you. I shed a tear the day he brought that win home, one of the biggest accomplishments in all of US motorcycling. Generations of off road racers in America were waiting for that day. Not to mention my dear friend KC66 who’s life’s work was to see that happen, seriously a day I won’t forget when Sipes won the overall at ISDE.
As far as Everts, he put on a clinic at the Brazil ISDE on a staggeringly stock WR450. It was an all time performance that is maybe a little bit forgotten due to being pre-social media. I’m glad someone brought it up.
I still give the nod to AC, but admittedly with some bias.
One of my favourite ever races!
Things to consider too:
- A few of Everts's titles are in mx3, the big bore, where it was not as competitive as the current MXGP. (The mx1 and mx3 were splitting the top talents and the depth of the field. Btw I think it was a bit better, giving more rides and making GP more accessible. Plus it was much better because it was less costly to organize, without the need to have x acres of pits which has put out of the map some historical tracks, and the public was paying for only 1 class which was giving decent purse money.)
- Everts's most difficult competitors left to the US because they won world titles, while actually a few of Cairoli's competitors left europe because Cairoli was winning or would have won against them.
- The total number of GP wins is higher for Everts, although the seasons had probably 5 less GPs per year (most national championships were much more important and stacked back in the days, particularly because importers were not organized like "yamaha europe" but each country had its own importers who then were particularly investing in the sport. I know he won double or tripler headers, but I would count it more as exceptional performances than as an easy way to get more gp wins).
- Level of the field/difficulty to have consistent results: I think the difficulty to get to the "pro level" and to have consistent results back then was higher than it is now. Cairoli is still from the generation where MX was cool for all the kids so the level of talent to get was still about the same. Surgeries were more risky and could take a toll on a career. So the longevity of Everts compared to the riders of his period is really impressive.
- I know Cairoli didn't win in 09(?), but for me I count it as a win as he was leading the championship with like 5 rounds to go but had a ACL when bar banging at the start.
Overall, 2 exceptional riders, very much in the same ZIP code. Some could prove Everts is better, some could do the same for Cairoli. For me they are quite equal.
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