As motorcycle racing fans, we live in an era of our sport where certain riders dominate at the top level of competition. Roadracer Valentino Rossi and motocrosser Ricky Carmichael are often considered to be the greatest racers of all time in their respective specialties. Both are currently in their mid-20s and are likely to continue racing for some time, adding to their already impressive accomplishments.
Ricky Carmichael has broken pretty much every record ever set in the sport of motocross, and created a few new ones that are unlikely to fall anytime soon. Carmichael has won a championship outdoors every year since 1997 (his first full season), and in the process has achieved what no other rider in motocross history had been able to: not one, but two perfect seasons. Representing Team USA at the Motocross des Nations, he competed against another rider often considered to be one of the greatest motocrossers of all time – 8-time World Champion Stefan Everts. The result was a sound victory for Carmichael. The career tally so far? Eleven National championships and well over 100 National victories . . . no one else comes close.
Valentino Rossi has developed a systematic approach to conquering world-level roadracing: one year to learn a class, and the next year to take the championship. He started with the 125cc GP class in 1996 and 1997, then the 250cc GP class in 1998 and 1999, and finally the premier 500cc GP class in 2000 and 2001. When the 500s were replaced by 990cc four-strokes in 2002, Rossi took it in stride and captured the 2002 and 2003 championships. Apparently winning these championships left Rossi feeling rather bored, so he took on a new challenge by moving to Yamaha to ride a bike most people considered uncompetitive. He found it competitive enough to carry him to the 2004 MotoGP championship.
So the question I ask our readers is this: in 20 years, which of these riders will be talked of as “the best ever”? Who do you feel is the greater champion, and why? Drop us an e-mail and let us know what you think.
