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6184
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Grass Valley, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/4/2019 10:07am
I just watched the Honda intro and Seely said "The highest point a rider can get to is to be a part of the Honda team". There was a point when that was a totally true statement. I don't think it is any more. I don't think there is a true top team any more. If I had to pick one I'd have to say Kawasaki or KTM based on the last 10 years. Is Honda still the goal?
2) Honda
3) Husky/Kawasaki
4) Yamaha
5) Suzuki
That's how I see it. Now, if I were the rider that list would be a totally different order.
Kawi is pretty elite. They had stew, then RV and now Eli. Doesn’t get much better than that. The only piece they were missing was Dungey.
The Shop
Yamaha-late '70's
Honda-through McGrath.
Yamaha-again for a bit.
Kawasaki- since rc, until now.
Defined: a place where you'd enjoy the people, the testing and develoment, the racing and hopefully winning...
As a Team.
Where's that team for you?
Hands down The top 2 would be Honda or Kawasaki.
If its on a global basis... over the past 10 years.. then yes, KTM has been at the top stepin regards to riders. but then yet again.. All the riders who are on KTM teams have been on them bikes for the past 10 years. Could be wrong, But i cant name a younger rider who has gone to KTM in the premier class and won.
Personally... I Don't feel like KTM has that history or champion feel to it like the factory Honda and Kawi team does. But hey, thats just me.
Pit Row
But if its about stock bikes for your average weekend rider, then get where your coming from.
But as far as factory 450's... the money in technology tomacs and roczens bike. well.. speaks for its self.
Kawi
Honda
Yamaha
KTM/ Husky
Zook
see but that's where i disagree. i feel like Kawasaki are at that point with tomac. if you look out the past 2 years where they went with sensors on the forks, rear shock, linkages and wheels just to monitor how its preforming. i don't see any other bike on the track that has that.
I’d say Honda and kawi are one and two. The rest I’m not really sure about
I kinda see what you mean in regards to KTM though. They dont have the history and nostalgia of a Yamaha or Honda in terms of remaining at the pinnacle of the sport for such a long time. Few could argue that in the last 10 years they haven't been putting up the best numbers.
Maybe in 20 years time when the kids who've grown up watching Dungey, Herlings, Roczen, Cairoli, Musquin, Jonass etc. are buying and restoring historic bikes they'll be building up a 2012 Factory edition or something instead of a 96 MC replica.
KTM for MXGP.
In the US here is the breakdown for the championships during the last 10 years (20 championships total (SX/MX).
Kawasaki - 8
KTM - 6
Suzuki - 4
Husqvarna - 1
Yamaha - 1
Motocross is mainly rider as proven by fast guys winning on different brands. RC - Kawasaki,Honda and Suzuki. MC - Kawasaki,Honda, Yamaha. Roczen - Suzuki, KTM, Suzuki and now Honda. Tomac - Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki. You could have the best bike, team and team manager out there, but it you don't have one of the few alien fast guys, you will not be winning much.
That said, I agree, Honda will be the top team for many as they were dominant during many of our formative years. The rest come and go.
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