I reckon the current riders in the various international and domestic championships today would all have been on the same level or higher than these aussies and gobby yanks everyone seems to love so much.
I make this judgement based on what i see when i've watched them ride on TV. Gotta be honest, those yanks in AMA superbike display some of the most spectacular riding, but i think the track layouts have alot to do with it looking so impressive. See now Nicky Hayden is in GPs, you don't see the awesomeness in the same way anymore because of the layouts of the tracks he now races on.
From what i've seen Rainey (who has a big gob, but doesn't get bad press like Foggy because he's in a wheel chair) etc slung it often and hurt themselves alot. Rossi doesn't, but its clear he still has to push very hard to keep up front.
Its easy to say; "yeah, but the bikes were harder to ride". Based on what you've read in magazines but lets face it, magazines are full of sh*t... 100% of everyones opinions are based on what you've been told or read in the media. If the old 'greats' got bad press no-one would think so highly of them.
I also think its a bit like music, the guys who the 500 titles when you were 16 to 21 are gonna be your favourites and you'll find ways to shoot down current talents any way you can.
46 FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!
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After years of moaning about immigrants now i am one...