The best rider never to win a world title since 1980???
 

The best rider never to win a world championship since 1980 is....

Any thoughts?

I think my money would have to be on Randy Mamola, but I've only just come up the question, so I may change my mind.

Here are some other reminders/suggestions...

Most successful WSB non-winners

Nori Haga - 155 races, 50 podiums, 19 wins, runner-up 2000 (drugs test robbed him of title)
Frankie Chili - 260 races, 61 podiums, 17 wins, finished 4th twice.
Giancarlo Falappa - 106 races, 30 podiums, 16 wins
Aaron Slight - 229 races, 87 podiums, 13 wins, runner-up 1996, 98. Four times 4th and went 7 consecutive seasons in the top 4.
Regis Laconi - 87 races, 28 podiums, 11 wins
Stephane Mertens - 154 races, 45 podiums, 11 wins, runner-up 1989

Most successful GP500 non-winners

Randy Mamola - 151 GPs, 57 podiums, 13 wins, FOUR times runner up and 3rd twice.
Alex Barros - 258 GPs, 31 podiums, 7 wins, five times 4th.
Daryl Beattie - 59 GPs, 14 podiums, 3 wins, runner-up to Doohan in 1995.
Frankie Chili - 102 GPs, 11 podiums, 5 wins, 3rd place in 1992 250GP title.

Other noteables include...

James Whitham
Steve Hislop
Ian MacPherson - runner up in WSS 1999
Vittoriano Guareschi - twice runner up in WSS 1997 & 98

The majority of the other championship runners-up etc. have won world titles in other catergories.

[Edited on 26-1-2006 by domski]

Randy Mamola

watched him at the british Gp a long time ago on a Cagiva.
I have one of his Cagiva Sweaters signed , got it when i met him at Brands Hatch one of my rare moments of hero worship

[Edited on 25-1-2006 by Nigel C]

Tough one, but for sheer attitude I'd vote for Haga :D

how about Chris walker ?


as for your list


HAGA

My list isn't the options, just some suggestions.

How about Matt Mladin?

It's tough to pick from outside of WSB or 500/MotoGP - although it could be a WSS or 250/125 rider.

Could do another thread "Least talented rider to win a world title" :lol:

Mamola, no question.

Kenny Roberts jr

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: and if Rossi hadn't fell off his 500 so much when he was learning, Roberts would never have won it - good one!

how about Max in 250 if he hadn't knocked his rival off track he would not have won :lol:

haga

That was Loris Capirossi taking out Tetsuya Harada in 1998, and Rossi almost won the title at his first attempt.

Argentina 1998.

Same meeting that Marco Melandri tried to take out Kazuta Sakata or Tamomi Manako in the 125 race - Kazuta Sakata won the title.

I hated Capirex for ages after that :o

nah that was not loris :D

I'm sure loris was just musceling his bike around :D

or he just wanted to get off his bike but had no where else to lean his bike against :D:D:D

Loris was about 50 yards back with a couple of corners to go and he just did not brake!!!!!

Totally wiped out Harada, and I believe he was badly injured, and Capirossi managed to get around to the flag and finish 2nd.

If Capirossi fell off - which he should have done - Rossi would have won the title.

As it was, Harada SHOULD have won the title as he led going in to the last race, and Capirossi knew the only way he would win was by taking Harada out.

At the time I couldn't believe what I saw.

Randy Mamola !

/ian

I know he's a giant knob, but John Koscinski (not sure of spelling). Definatly had the raw talent to win the 500. Sadly for him , he screwed up.

Defiantely John Kocinski,250 world champ,WSB world champ.Would/could have been GP world champ if:

1.He'd listen to KR
2.He wasn't an idiot

Now a multi-millionaire estate agent in California

Waste of an awesome talent.Only bloke i've ever seen going through the corkscrew,turning the bike(250) that hard that BOTH wheels were off the ground!!

In 500's

Christian Sarron
Daryl Beattie
Kevin Magee
Luca Cadalora

[Edited on 26-1-2006 by Steve M]

Could be argued that Steve Hislop - remember he lapped Donnington on a superbike faster than Rossi!!!

Apart from Haga and Mamola

It reminds me of Suberbike racing in Aus in the 80's had some talent...Gardner, Doohan, Beattie, Magee, Goddard! etc...

Same as fast GB boy's here, I'm sure the euro sponsorship has made it difficult for non euro's to get a WSB?GP? ride.

Money talks now...

Mamola-no contest!-and he's a fun guy who was/is always enjoying himself.
Kocinski-yeh,brilliant rider but the guy is just so dam weird.
Sarron-complete headcase.
Cadalora-another hardman in the Capirossi mould.

John

Chili.
Kocinski.
Mamola.

In that order.



Chris.:burn:

Mamola

Just consider how many times he finished as runner up or 3rd in GP's

[Edited on 26-1-2006 by BDG]

the 2 sarron brothers

christian sarron on the original gauloises yamaha was something else in the wet

what about naill mackenzie ???

I'd say Niall, along with Ron Haslam was one the best riders to never win a GP, rather than a world title.

Mamola, not a doubt. And he rode out of Silverstone on a VF1000R still with his race leathers on after he had just completed a 500GP ! !

And how about; Bubba Shobert???

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