Is Pastrana overrated?

wide open wally
Profile picture for user wide open wally
Posts
543
Joined
1/10/2012
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
Fantasy
3834th
wide open wally
Edited Date/Time 2/4/2022 1:26am
My friends have a hard take that Pastrana was completely overrated in moto. While I agree the length of his career was a let down for moto fans, I do not think for one second all his hype/talent/career was overrated. I mean the way he was coming up in amateurs, turning pro as soon as he was of age and winning, the unreal stuff he was able to do on the track only solidified the hype, he was “the next guy”. People think Jett is mega talented for his age and he is, but Pastrana came in with another level and backed it up, props to Jett though. Yes he didn’t win in big bikes, but was he overrated? Or was his bad luck/self induced bad luck meant just part of what made Pastrana, Pastrana. I stand by the fact he’s the most famous dirt bike rider ever, not for us hard cores, but for the world. Xgames viewership crushed Supercross in the early/mid 2000’s and he was know as the moto guy, I mean you don’t get the nick name wonder boy for being a average Moto guy. Where he is at now is all because of dirt bikes and a kid with passion you don’t see in the sport these days. Overrated? Not a chance.


Ohhhh what could have been…..


Fyi- MC is the 👑 RC is the 🐐
17
56
|
Viking782
Profile picture for user Viking782
Posts
69
Joined
1/21/2022
Location
Ventura, CA US
Viking782 1/31/2022 7:50pm
1/31/2022 7:50pm
His old man talked about the year he was set to make his 450 (250) debut with factory Suzuki, and they were training at Castillo Ranch. And he decided to huck this insane jump for no reason, wadded huge and got hurt and tore up his knee among other stuff. His dad called it the million dollar jump, cus that’s what it cost him that year. if he would’ve mellowed out could’ve won more, but he did well and is a household name so
26
miserablebear 1/31/2022 7:55pm
1/31/2022 7:55pm
Pastrana is the goat of fmx. Whatever happened in his career led him to where he is. I doubt he has many regrets and neither should we. Watching that dude has been a privilege.
50
UpTiTe
Profile picture for user UpTiTe
Posts
7761
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
Fantasy
4109th
UpTiTe 1/31/2022 7:56pm
1/31/2022 7:56pm
Overrated guys dont win National championships at 16, then go on to win a regional supercross title at 17.

135
wide open wally
Profile picture for user wide open wally
Posts
543
Joined
1/10/2012
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
Fantasy
3834th
wide open wally 1/31/2022 7:57pm
1/31/2022 7:57pm
100%. It was a short career but man he delivered some epic stuff. Revelation 199 was on repeat in our house, his documentary he did was awesome. And the recent podcast with Ping was amazing
17
1

The Shop

See All »
wide open wally
Profile picture for user wide open wally
Posts
543
Joined
1/10/2012
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
Fantasy
3834th
wide open wally 1/31/2022 8:02pm
1/31/2022 8:02pm
UpTiTe wrote:
Overrated guys dont win National championships at 16, then go on to win a regional supercross title at 17.

That’s my exact point.
5
1
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6341
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Bruce372 1/31/2022 8:10pm
1/31/2022 8:10pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 8:11pm
I've only ever seen bubba and rc look as fast or talented when I've been to a national or supercross.
9
1
Moto Nomad
Profile picture for user Moto Nomad
Posts
786
Joined
1/19/2021
Location
Grass Valley, CA US
Moto Nomad 1/31/2022 8:28pm
1/31/2022 8:28pm
Dude won his first 125 outdoor championship in the last moto of the year by holeshotting and winning by one position. He's the ultimate clutch player. His riding technique is phenomenal, and there are many mx racers that could never have touched his level of skill and dedication. There is nothing about him that is overrated. Hell, he transcends the sport itself. You don't see that every day.
34
JJO741
Profile picture for user JJO741
Posts
2917
Joined
10/7/2010
Location
Orange, CA US
Fantasy
3037th
JJO741 1/31/2022 8:29pm
1/31/2022 8:29pm
I’ll tell you what’s definitely NOT overrated was the No Fear gear combo with RM bikes. Some of my favorite set up’s of all time.
22
tobz
Profile picture for user tobz
Posts
3900
Joined
3/5/2007
Location
Adelaide AU
tobz 1/31/2022 8:29pm
1/31/2022 8:29pm
"oh what could have been" (in racing) is right.

Overrated? Far from it. Just couldn't go the full potential in 250's, them damn knees!

Overrated is a terrible take. Were your friends following the sport when Pastrana was giving RC fits in 2002 sx?


18
bens152
Profile picture for user bens152
Posts
172
Joined
9/3/2021
Location
NZ
bens152 1/31/2022 8:41pm
1/31/2022 8:41pm
Listening to his whiskey throttle episode, sounds like he struggled with the training/health/fun factor a lot. Seemed to be very sick from over training, injuries every year.

When He dedicate everything to training and being super strict, he just plain wasn’t enjoying it and his speed wasn’t there. With a looser program he was able to enjoy it more and riding faster.

I guess the years ran out pretty quick and he moved on.

I like how he just knew, if he needed to win, he knew he had the ability and willingness to send it more than whoever he was racing - and that’s his edge. Such a gnarly guy. To this day.
7
visser62
Profile picture for user visser62
Posts
2171
Joined
5/2/2013
Location
Seattle, WA US
visser62 1/31/2022 8:56pm
1/31/2022 8:56pm
I think in an alternate universe where Pastrana stays healthy, 2005-2009 are years where he's right with Stew/Reed/RC.
9
Roczoff
Profile picture for user Roczoff
Posts
208
Joined
1/23/2022
Location
Missoula, MT US
Roczoff 1/31/2022 8:57pm
1/31/2022 8:57pm
bens152 wrote:
Listening to his whiskey throttle episode, sounds like he struggled with the training/health/fun factor a lot. Seemed to be very sick from over training, injuries every...
Listening to his whiskey throttle episode, sounds like he struggled with the training/health/fun factor a lot. Seemed to be very sick from over training, injuries every year.

When He dedicate everything to training and being super strict, he just plain wasn’t enjoying it and his speed wasn’t there. With a looser program he was able to enjoy it more and riding faster.

I guess the years ran out pretty quick and he moved on.

I like how he just knew, if he needed to win, he knew he had the ability and willingness to send it more than whoever he was racing - and that’s his edge. Such a gnarly guy. To this day.
"...sounds like he struggled with the training/health/fun factor a lot... When He dedicate everything to training and being super strict, he just plain wasn’t enjoying it ..."

That's what it's like to have ADD. You need to seek new stimulation, not grind it out doing the same boring training day after day. The greatest racers(championships) tend to be type-A, goal-oriented. They don't get bored easily, and they enjoy type 2 fun, which explains why so many of them finally loosen up and become cool AFTER they retire.
3
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6341
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Bruce372 1/31/2022 8:59pm
1/31/2022 8:59pm
Forgot to mention, was any race more exciting without him?
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2500
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 1/31/2022 9:03pm
1/31/2022 9:03pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 9:07pm
He has definitely left his mark on the sport & is actually a legend in my book. Very naturally talented rider with skill that made it look easy riding a dirt bike. Big fan of TP199..
2
RonSkj
Profile picture for user RonSkj
Posts
2812
Joined
6/20/2008
Location
Radiator Springs, CA US
Fantasy
129th
RonSkj 1/31/2022 9:15pm
1/31/2022 9:15pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 9:17pm
I've heard of this Pastrami guy but he couldn't of been that good, I mean, 199 was the lowest number he had.
19
Rotaholic
Profile picture for user Rotaholic
Posts
1424
Joined
4/2/2013
Location
NZ
Rotaholic 1/31/2022 9:17pm
1/31/2022 9:17pm
His double back flip is forever engrained in my mind, I still remember it like yesterday. Racing is great but some moments in time are just so much more than that. Aka Dungey hand shifting at MEC
5
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2500
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 1/31/2022 9:23pm
1/31/2022 9:23pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 9:27pm
RonSkj wrote:
I've heard of this Pastrami guy but he couldn't of been that good, I mean, 199 was the lowest number he had.
Huh. It was a lower # than some other guy named Stewart that ran the two-five-nine. Tongue
2
4

Pit Row

See All »
NorCalRedRyder 1/31/2022 9:41pm
1/31/2022 9:41pm
His double backflip at X Games was one of the top 5 most amazing things I've witnessed in my life. Me and about 15 of my friends were silent, all thinking we were going to witness him get badly hurt or worse die. When he landed it we went nuts! Everyone in the neighborhood heard us, even my friends who don't follow mx said it was one the greatest things they've ever seen and became life long fans. I would've liked to see him race longer obviously, but the direction the sport was headed wasn't his thing. He got so bored doing practice motos that he would sing Chuck Berry songs out loud. Imagine Travis going to train with Aldon Baker lol. Overrated? No.
3
Dirt.Squirt
Profile picture for user Dirt.Squirt
Posts
1447
Joined
1/5/2022
Location
The Low-Dez, OR US
Dirt.Squirt 1/31/2022 9:48pm
1/31/2022 9:48pm
I really would love to see what he would have done had he stayed focused solely on racing.
2
FWYT
Profile picture for user FWYT
Posts
3310
Joined
5/25/2014
Location
San Diego, CA US
FWYT 1/31/2022 10:43pm
1/31/2022 10:43pm
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
I remember just being in awe of his pass on Roncada on the downhill at the MXDN.
https://youtu.be/YPxLz07ihNQ
I was lucky enough to be at that race and witness that move. The whole fugging valley just exploded. People were loosing their minds.
3
Rutgerpol 1/31/2022 11:05pm
1/31/2022 11:05pm
If I had friends who would think Pastrana is overrated, I would find new friends..
24
1
MyBobbym
Profile picture for user MyBobbym
Posts
725
Joined
11/23/2020
Location
Apache Junction, AZ US
MyBobbym 1/31/2022 11:08pm
1/31/2022 11:08pm
wide open wally wrote:
My friends have a hard take that Pastrana was completely overrated in moto. While I agree the length of his career was a let down for...
My friends have a hard take that Pastrana was completely overrated in moto. While I agree the length of his career was a let down for moto fans, I do not think for one second all his hype/talent/career was overrated. I mean the way he was coming up in amateurs, turning pro as soon as he was of age and winning, the unreal stuff he was able to do on the track only solidified the hype, he was “the next guy”. People think Jett is mega talented for his age and he is, but Pastrana came in with another level and backed it up, props to Jett though. Yes he didn’t win in big bikes, but was he overrated? Or was his bad luck/self induced bad luck meant just part of what made Pastrana, Pastrana. I stand by the fact he’s the most famous dirt bike rider ever, not for us hard cores, but for the world. Xgames viewership crushed Supercross in the early/mid 2000’s and he was know as the moto guy, I mean you don’t get the nick name wonder boy for being a average Moto guy. Where he is at now is all because of dirt bikes and a kid with passion you don’t see in the sport these days. Overrated? Not a chance.


Ohhhh what could have been…..


Fyi- MC is the 👑 RC is the 🐐
Absolutely, I've seen better Base jumpers on whacked out sports.
7
Hank_Thrill
Profile picture for user Hank_Thrill
Posts
4507
Joined
9/22/2008
Location
Arlen, TX US
Hank_Thrill 1/31/2022 11:12pm
1/31/2022 11:12pm
I always loved how he would come off the couch and race with the full timers. He had a great heat battle for the win at Daytona in 06 before cartwheeling in the whoops battling Tedesco.
3
tjnel
Profile picture for user tjnel
Posts
42
Joined
12/14/2019
Location
Portland, OR US
tjnel 1/31/2022 11:19pm
1/31/2022 11:19pm
Imagine if Jett Lawrence had won the outdoor title in his rookie year instead of his second season. That would have been incredible, right? Well that’s what guys like Pastrana, Stewart, and Carmichael did when they were 16-17 years old.

They were insanely hyped coming out of amateurs, like Jett Lawrence levels of hype or more. And they didn’t just live up to the hype, they exceeded it. So there’s a reason people in their 30’s and older aren’t quite as blown away by Jett as some of his younger fan boys, even though he is an extremely talented rider. But he isn’t on the Pastrana/Stew/RC level in terms of how impressive they were at the same age Jett is now.
21
1
yz25
Profile picture for user yz25
Posts
521
Joined
1/12/2011
Location
Trussville, AL US
yz25 1/31/2022 11:31pm
1/31/2022 11:31pm
Is it possible to put “Pastrana” and “overrated in the same sentence”?
10
Question
Profile picture for user Question
Posts
3083
Joined
6/26/2014
Location
FR
Question 2/1/2022 1:39am
2/1/2022 1:39am Edited Date/Time 2/1/2022 1:48am
I agree with the OP, not overrated, he is got a "legend" status in france too if that helps Smile He is the king of cool, and at the same time he is probably the gnarliest of all time, even before JS7. Of course he was taking chances, but I also think he moved up to the 250 a bit too early, at 17 part time then 18 full time, which didn't help for longevity, a bit like with Lechien or Bradshaw. I really like DeCoster but I am also not sure what his SX career would have been on YZ for instance, the RM at that time was not the fastest bike, the most fun maybe, but not really the fastest (less stable and a bit less power).
2
Rad76
Profile picture for user Rad76
Posts
332
Joined
7/17/2020
Location
Elk Grove Village, IL US
Rad76 2/1/2022 1:50am
2/1/2022 1:50am
FWYT wrote:
I was lucky enough to be at that race and witness that move. The whole fugging valley just exploded. People were loosing their minds.
I was also there, just behind those banners we see on the pic. Just for that race alone, he's not "overrrated". TP199 was and still is a legend, even in France like Question said.
2
teamddr
Profile picture for user teamddr
Posts
499
Joined
1/29/2019
Location
IE
teamddr 2/1/2022 2:48am
2/1/2022 2:48am
I remember Roger on a podcast saying his talent was up there with the best but he was just more motivated for the X games type stuff and the financial rewards where better than a pro life.
1

Post a reply to: Is Pastrana overrated?