It’s over! #46
Discussion
For me the GOAT, the Corkscrew, Gibernau on the last lap, last lap against Lorenzo, taking Stoner out in the wet at Silverstone....
I cannot see another rider who will come close to what he has achieved, the way he evolved from 125/250/500/800/900's etc. Add to that his brand management and profile, he's a legend. A total legend.
I cannot see another rider who will come close to what he has achieved, the way he evolved from 125/250/500/800/900's etc. Add to that his brand management and profile, he's a legend. A total legend.
Can't single out one, so my favourites from the last 26 years (in no order):-
> Giving Biaggi the finger halfway 'round turn 1 at Suzuka
> Last lap at Barcelona vs Lorenzo
> The battle vs Stoner on the Ducati at Laguna Seca
> Claudia Schiffer
> The portaloo
> Philip Island 2003 : Gets give a 10 second penalty for an overtake under a yellow flag. Proceeds to break the lap record, lap after lap, to win by a margin where he still wins even when adding 10 seconds to his overall time
> Welkom 2004 : First race on the Gauloise Yamaha vs Biaggi (now on a factory Honda after bleating about not having one for years). Wins. Stops half way 'round his cool down lap, gets off the bike, sits down and looks to burst into tears. Reading his book, 'What If I Had Not Tried It?', he was pissing himself laughing
For me, a motorcycle racer that the word, "legend", was invented for.
> Giving Biaggi the finger halfway 'round turn 1 at Suzuka
> Last lap at Barcelona vs Lorenzo
> The battle vs Stoner on the Ducati at Laguna Seca
> Claudia Schiffer
> The portaloo
> Philip Island 2003 : Gets give a 10 second penalty for an overtake under a yellow flag. Proceeds to break the lap record, lap after lap, to win by a margin where he still wins even when adding 10 seconds to his overall time
> Welkom 2004 : First race on the Gauloise Yamaha vs Biaggi (now on a factory Honda after bleating about not having one for years). Wins. Stops half way 'round his cool down lap, gets off the bike, sits down and looks to burst into tears. Reading his book, 'What If I Had Not Tried It?', he was pissing himself laughing
For me, a motorcycle racer that the word, "legend", was invented for.
I'll add one time at Donington, practice went from wet to dry. He stayed out on wets for ages, sliding all over the place, destroyed them showboating. Only for the fans, we watched it in the pit garage and it was hilarious. He's always been about having fun. He was always the first to come and tell a rider if they'd done well.
As a display of racing talent Catalunya 2009, last few laps vs Lorenzo.
EDIT - Thought this video by the Monster Energy Yamaha crew was very good. Nicely worded.
https://www.facebook.com/yamahamotogp/videos/18221...
EDIT - Thought this video by the Monster Energy Yamaha crew was very good. Nicely worded.
https://www.facebook.com/yamahamotogp/videos/18221...
Edited by Condi on Sunday 14th November 22:42
Very happy he has retired in one piece.
Every moment listed above, plus in the wet at Donington, coming across the line side saddle playing the violin. A virtuoso performance.
I’ll never forget being at Mugello in 2007 to see him win with heart on his helmet, dragging my 1yr old daughter along the banking in her pram with my wife to see him on the top step at Phillip Island in 2014 and to see his last race win at Assen in 2017.
There are others at other circuits, but they stand out.
He has done more for our sport single handedly than any other racer before or likely will do in my lifetime.
Grazie Vale.
Every moment listed above, plus in the wet at Donington, coming across the line side saddle playing the violin. A virtuoso performance.
I’ll never forget being at Mugello in 2007 to see him win with heart on his helmet, dragging my 1yr old daughter along the banking in her pram with my wife to see him on the top step at Phillip Island in 2014 and to see his last race win at Assen in 2017.
There are others at other circuits, but they stand out.
He has done more for our sport single handedly than any other racer before or likely will do in my lifetime.
Grazie Vale.
Can’t add much. Absolute legend and it’s a bit surreal realising that’s it.
I loved all his battles and always wanted to see him come out on top, bar one. Nicky Hayden. Rossi went down in the deciding race and I was gutted for him, but happy for Nicky.
Gibernau at Jerez 2005 was great with a hard fight.
Stoner, Marquez, Jorge, you name it. All epic battles.
I’ll never forget the fact Marc robbed him of his tenth title but so be it.
Glad I got to see him win in person (only at Silverstone mind) and that I’ve been to his home town to have lunch at his restaurant.
I wish him all the best in his post racing life. Newborn on the way, Moto GP team and cars to race will keep him busy I’m sure.
If he ends up driving at 24hr Lemans I’ll head over!
Ciao to the Doctor.
I’ve posted these before but tough
I loved all his battles and always wanted to see him come out on top, bar one. Nicky Hayden. Rossi went down in the deciding race and I was gutted for him, but happy for Nicky.
Gibernau at Jerez 2005 was great with a hard fight.
Stoner, Marquez, Jorge, you name it. All epic battles.
I’ll never forget the fact Marc robbed him of his tenth title but so be it.
Glad I got to see him win in person (only at Silverstone mind) and that I’ve been to his home town to have lunch at his restaurant.
I wish him all the best in his post racing life. Newborn on the way, Moto GP team and cars to race will keep him busy I’m sure.
If he ends up driving at 24hr Lemans I’ll head over!
Ciao to the Doctor.
I’ve posted these before but tough
A few points from someone that watched him from the start.
I believe on a better setup bike or tyres he would not have retired, not sure whether having a child may have sped that decision up or basically being on a bike that doesn't work did, I get the feeling he would have stayed if he was still on the podium now and then.
Best ride, always a few spring to mind, Barcelona THE pass, PI in 2003, pulling out basically a penalty in the lead, Welkom 2004, he knew, Yamaha knew, Brivio and the team knew he could do it as he told them he was not signing unless the bike could win at the first round, but to pull it off!!
And finally his face in his helmet when he came back from his first few laps on a Ducati at Valencia, you knew then it was going to be tough!
Bad stuff, for me the crash with Gibernau was poor, the Stoner at Laguna stuff was too, and the way he treated Lorenzo when he came back after injury and rode into him with no chance of the title at Motegi was poor, but over 26 years to only have those things, and win as much as he did is astonishing.
The sport will suffer for his loss, he changed it beyond all recognition, and that is all he neds to be remembered for. But in himself, he was fast, that is what counted to him!!
I believe on a better setup bike or tyres he would not have retired, not sure whether having a child may have sped that decision up or basically being on a bike that doesn't work did, I get the feeling he would have stayed if he was still on the podium now and then.
Best ride, always a few spring to mind, Barcelona THE pass, PI in 2003, pulling out basically a penalty in the lead, Welkom 2004, he knew, Yamaha knew, Brivio and the team knew he could do it as he told them he was not signing unless the bike could win at the first round, but to pull it off!!
And finally his face in his helmet when he came back from his first few laps on a Ducati at Valencia, you knew then it was going to be tough!
Bad stuff, for me the crash with Gibernau was poor, the Stoner at Laguna stuff was too, and the way he treated Lorenzo when he came back after injury and rode into him with no chance of the title at Motegi was poor, but over 26 years to only have those things, and win as much as he did is astonishing.
The sport will suffer for his loss, he changed it beyond all recognition, and that is all he neds to be remembered for. But in himself, he was fast, that is what counted to him!!
I think there will still be plenty of yellow in the stands, it won't put me off going having no 46 racing but I don't see who will get the following in his place, the number of shirts/merchandise available this year at silverstone was poor if you excluded VR46 gear. I wanted a 43 shirt but couldn't find anything
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