NZ's greatest track rider?

[lanci]

After watching the racing at Puke one Sunday and watching some youtube vids on NZ biking, I've wondered who's NZ's greatest track rider? Aaron Slight springs to mind as he was very successful in a very competitive field. Then the Crafars, Strouds and Harris' spring to mind. Thought's?

[Motu]

Go back a bit further......

[gatch]

Ivan Mauger FTW

dirt track..

[wbks]

Go back a bit further......

the boat racer? NZ racings highest achievement if you look at it on paper I guess!

[Big Dave]

http://www.kiwirider.co.nz/pastpolls.html

[woodyracer]

id have to with Aaron slight....its a poty he dosnt race anymore.....


Also andrew stroud is the man, its good he still makes the effort to race and show other riders how its done.

[merv]

Hugh Anderson - 4 world championships over 40 years ago and he's still quick today.

Graeme Crosby - 2 TT Formula 1 world championships (could be argued they weren't real world championships), but his significant wins at Isle of Man, Suzuka, Imola and Daytona plus his results in 500GP 2nd, 5th and 8th, put him at the head of the list of all time Kiwi achievers. I don't think any one has done more except perhaps Hugh because you can add all his Motocross achievements to his road race achievements.

So who really comes close to these two?

I reckon Geoff Perry could have if it wasn't for his untimely death in the air crash of '73.

I don't reckon any others have come close on the road race circuits.

Molloy, Turner, Newcombe, Slight, Stroud and Anstey etc all follow on after the two above. Probably because of the size of sponsorship money these days Kiwis just aren't cracking into the big time any more.

[wbks]

Hugh Anderson - 4 world championships over 40 years ago and he's still quick today.

Graeme Crosby - 2 TT Formula 1 world championships (could be argued they weren't real world championships), but his significant wins at Isle of Man, Suzuka, Imola and Daytona plus his results in 500GP 2nd and 5th, put him at the head of the list of all time Kiwi achievers. I don't think any one has done more except perhaps Hugh because you can add all his Motocross achievements to his road race achievements.

So who really comes close to these two?

I reckon Geoff Perry could have if it wasn't for his untimely death in the air crash of '73.

I don't reckon any others have come close on the road race circuits.

Molloy, Turner, Newcombe, Slight, Stroud and Anstey etc all follow on after the two above. Probably because of the size of sponsorship money these days Kiwis just aren't cracking into the big time any more.

But didn't Newcombe get second in the world GP? Maybe his list of achievements isn't as big as you listed for Crosby, but isn't second in the worlds premier road racing class the best NZ has ever done? And he even did it on his own developed bike from a fricken boat motor. THAT is the Kiwi ingenuity/spirit old farmers always rant about. If he didn't die early I'm sure his list would have been much longer

[merv]

But didn't Newcombe get second in the world GP? Maybe his list of achievements isn't as big as you listed for Crosby, but isn't second in the worlds premier road racing class the best NZ has ever done? And he even did it on his own developed bike from a fricken boat motor. THAT is the Kiwi ingenuity/spirit old farmers always rant about. If he didn't die early I'm sure his list would have been much longer

Yeah I certainly rated Newcombe and like Molloy, Turner and Crosby he did get second in the 500's (best by any NZer) and probably could have won that year. However,with his life cut short like Perry's it is hard to say just what he would have achieved.

Hugh and Graeme are still living legends and Hugh still races amazingly well for a fellah in his 70's. Hard to beat that really.

Have you checked out Croz's website here http://www.graemecrosby.com/index.htm

[wbks]

Yeah I certainly rated Newcombe and like Molloy, Turner and Crosby he did get second in the 500's (best by any NZer) and probably could have won that year. However,with his life cut short like Perry's it is hard to say just what he would have achieved.

Hugh and Graeme are still living legends and Hugh still races amazingly well for a fellah in his 70's. Hard to beat that really.

Have you checked out Croz's website here http://www.graemecrosby.com/index.htm

Yea, but I guess you always have "could have done better/worse if this or that". Kind of silly comparing riders from different eras of racing anyway, I guess?

[Kornholio]

Robert Holden for sheer mongrel

[gatch]

http://www.ivanmauger.com/totalresults/

[merv]

http://www.ivanmauger.com/totalresults/

No doubt Mauger was our best speedway rider if that's the track you want to talk about.

Yea, but I guess you always have "could have done better/worse if this or that". Kind of silly comparing riders from different eras of racing anyway, I guess?

That's why I just go by their achievement irrespective of era. They raced against the best of their time with the machinery they had at that time. Sadly our boys don't seem to be able to do it now - money??

[Motu]

Ginger still does pretty well for a guy in his '70's too....or he did.We'll have to see how his recovery goes.And he did come 2nd to Ago...who was a works MV Agusta rider.Ginger was a privateer on a Kawasaki triple that no one else could ride.

Geoff Perry had the greatest potential...we can only guess,but he was good,very good.

[Motu]

No doubt Mauger was our best speedway rider if that's the track you want to talk about.

Yeah but that's only going around in circles in the dirt....doesn't look very hard....