Once in a generation?

[pritch]

Giacomo Agostini won 68 victories in the 500cc class, his record number of wins has been untouchable since the 1970s. Until a week or so ago, nobody had even come close.

To provide some perspective, Mick Doohan amassed 54 victories in the premier class before his injuries precluded his continuing.

Mike Hailwood won 37, Eddie Lawson 31, Kevin Schwantz 25, Wayne Rainey 24, Geoff Duke, John Surtees and Kenny Roberts Snr all won 22 premier class victories.

At Misano a couple of weekends ago one Valentino Rossi equaled Ago's long standing record of 68 wins. Next weekend at Indianapolis, maybe at Motegi, perhaps even Philip Island, but barring accidents former GP pilot Graciano Rossi's lad is probably going to become the most winningest rider the sport has ever seen.

As BIKE puts it, albeit with somewhat purple prose, “prepare to pay homage, for you are about to witness the crowning of a great king”.

It's a shame about those of us who don't appreciate what Rossi is in the process of achieving. They're going to miss something very special, something that is unlikely to happen again before another generation has passed. Assuming that there are no oil shortages which precipitate social changes that curtail motor sport...

Me, I'm going to buy a bottle of something appropriate to special events and put it aside to toast the occasion. Quite possibly I won't need to store the bottle very long at all.

[Devil]

Yep, what an awesome dude and an awesome achievement.

[ElCoyote]

You couldn't have put it better. "Once in a lifetime" Legend springs to mind and with his age and lack of serious injuries who knows. If he continues with bikes that is. Rossi for Prime Minister or whatever the Italians have.

Ps: Why not Prime Minister of New Zealand and officially open Hampton Downs

[awa355]

You have to remember that his team was the only factory backed team running for many of Agostinis racing years. Most of his competors were running privately developed machines. Or so I understand, someone else maybe able to verify this. Cheers,

[awa355]

And I aint a L plate rider as it says under my nickname. Dunno how to change that .

[hayd3n]

well done and good effort you wont need luck

[puddytat]

He has been amazing to watch these last several years ,ever since watchin' him thrash Biaggi in the 250 class he's been my hero .
Very well put Pritch & aint we lucky that Valentino is such an all round good guy

[Motu]

You have to remember that his team was the only factory backed team running for many of Agostinis racing years. Most of his competors were running privately developed machines. Or so I understand, someone else maybe able to verify this. Cheers,

Which factory backed team - MV Agusta or Yamaha? And remember that in 1970 2nd place on a privately developed machine was Ginger Molloy - how many Kiwi's have got that close to Rossi with no factory backing?.But certainly Rossi is the rider most worthy to surpase the great Agostini.

[martybabe]

Brilliant on and off the bike.I'm not quite sure what makes him such a successful rider over his peers,I'll leave history to decide that, whatever it is,total respect to him but it's his persona that won me over, his love of bike riding and his interaction with the fans.

I've been up close with Doohan, Mamola and some others, great fellas but Rossi has an electricity, a kind of Elvis thing, star quality that follows him everywhere, marry that to his indisputable achievements on the track and you do indeed have a once in a lifetime legend.

[dwnundabkr]

well said
KING Rossi i will pay homage

[Pwalo]

IMHO Rossi is the best of the lot, especially when you consider the depth of his opposition. The last few years have probably seen the best, and most competitive fields. To rack up the number of wins that Rossi has in this time is incredible.

[Okey Dokey]

Me, I'm going to buy a bottle of something appropriate to special events and put it aside to toast the occasion. Quite possibly I won't need to store the bottle very long at all.

Excellent idea- hope you don't mind if I copy you. I might jump around in my Rossi rep helmet, too!

[wysper]

Rossi is a superb talent. Seems to be a great guy. Good loser and an even better winner.

I have just the right wiskey waiting to celebrate the breaking of the record.

[EJT]

I think that to judge greatness in a sportsman (or woman) is how they transcend their particular sport and move into general public awareness such that members of the public automatically begin to associate the person with that sport.

Examples are Michael Jordan with basketball, Tiger Woods with golf and Lance Armstrong with cycling.

I think Rossi's greatness was confirmed when I was speaking to someone who knew nothing about motorbikes yet they knew his name and they knew he raced bikes. Awesome talent and it is a privilege to watch his skill and talent in action both on and off the track

[R6_kid:Me]

I'm in awe of the guy. For a lot of last season and most of this season it seemed that Stoner was the one guy that Rossi couldn't crack, the one that had him beat fair and square. Then at Laguna Seca, Rossi found the weakness, exposed it, and Stoner has been crumbling ever since.

The two of them, but Rossi especially, are on another level to the others out in MotoGP, to the point that the races tend to get a bit boring after the first ten or so laps!