Rossi, Doohan or Gardner?

[Aussie Assault]

Who is/was better?

 

[# 28]

Hmmm an interesting question?

Lets not forget Rossi did ride the 500's, albeit alot of years after Gardner and only 1 year after Mick, so the equipment was 'relatively' similar between Mick and Vale.
Rossi also has won championships in 125cc & 250cc.
He has natural talent, (as do Mick and Wayne) yet this question is a difficult question to answer due to era's of racing and who these guys raced against.
Based purly on charisma - Vale wins hands down. But that aint the question now is it!!

 

[DB10]

Doohan's era had better competition (Rainey, Schwantz, Gardner, etc.) but Rossi's won seven titles, so stats point to him.

 

[usedtobethin]

Doohan's era had better competition (Rainey, Schwantz, Gardner, etc.) but Rossi's won seven titles, so stats point to him.

im not sure rossi could have /would have ridden with the injuries mick carried. that leg of his was a disaster.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Rossi-Pure natural talent but also can destroy his nearest rivals.Sete & Max to name a few.
Doohan-Not to far behind Rossi IMO.Just didnt have the flair that Rossi has.
Gardner-More of being in the right place at the right time i feel with Gardner.Not as talented as the above 2.

 

[hey shorty]

I compare Doohan with Senna and Rossi with Schuey simply because of the guys they were racing against. Doohan raced against some of the real greats and beat them on 1 leg. Rossi is brilliant but hasnt raced against the real greats, therefore hasnt beaten them in a scrap. Thats just my opinion.... as for who is better.... Mick, Rossi then Gards. He won the championship the year I was born, gotta love that.

Note: I realise Schuey raced against the greats but none of his titles were won then.

 

[lookkg386]

Mighty Mick!!!

 

[Klyntonius]

I picked Doohan. I think that Rossi possibly has more talent but Doohans drive was insane. Rossi fans raved about how well he performed when he fractured his collarbone last year. Mick must've laughed. Had he not nearly lost his leg (no I'm not exaggerating) in 92, he would have had at least 1 more title to his name, probably 2 and if not for the way his career finished, he could easily have won another couple. Of course woulda, coulda, shoulda's get us nowhere but that shows just how good Mick was. Gardner never beat Doohan in any of the 3 championships he competed against him. Wayne was a terrific, hard charging rider but not quite of the calibre of the other 2. Incidentally, he and Doohan hate each other.

 

[hey shorty]

Yeah I heard that a while back, what happened between the 2 of them ??

 

[Klyntonius]

I think Wayne said that Doohans titles didn't mean as much because the competition wasn't as strong (forgetting that Doohan owned him when they raced together) and Doohans retort was that Gardner only won 1 title and was lucky to win that. Sadly, I think Gardners ego prevents him from paying other riders their due respect.

 

[# 28]

Rossi is brilliant but hasnt raced against the real greats, therefore hasnt beaten them in a scrap.

Is it possible Rossi has that much more talent that he makes hid rivals look second rate?

 

[hey shorty]

Is it possible Rossi has that much more talent that he makes hid rivals look second rate?

Possibly, but he seems to do it that easy sometimes I dont think so. Thats not to say these guys arent great riders, but not many of them, if any at all are in the Rainey, Schwanz bracket. We are only now seeing him struggle, the bike isnt great but hes been beaten easily by Stoner 3 times this year, and of course the title he lost last year.

 

[don vito of fitzroy]

Does Gardner even belong in this poll? Rossi and Doohan are up there with Hailwood and Agostini whereas Gardner wasn't as good as those guys.

Compare Gardner with someone like Barry Sheene then maybe I'd vote for Wayne.

 

[# 28]

Compare Gardner with someone like Barry Sheene then maybe I'd vote for Wayne.

You've just given me a head ache
If your going to compare Gardener with another try Christian Sarron, but not Barry!
Barry had a personality.

 

[likka]

Does Gardner even belong in this poll?

I'm sure Wayne would... arrogant tosser he is. I'd rate Barry Sheene above Wayne.

Rossi by a short nose from Mick. Both absolute legends of the sport so not really important. Like comparing Pele to Maradonna (without the cocaine).

FWIW Valentino would have benefited greatly by Mick mentoring him whilst at Honda.

Wayne Rainey would have been up there too with his tragic accident. He was one smooth, fast rider who may well have taken a couple of Mick's titles had he not been paralysed.

 

[Klyntonius]

I'm sure Wayne would... arrogant tosser he is. I'd rate Barry Sheene above Wayne.

Rossi by a short nose from Mick. Both absolute legends of the sport so not really important. Like comparing Pele to Maradonna (without the cocaine).

FWIW Valentino would have benefited greatly by Mick mentoring him whilst at Honda.

Wayne Rainey would have been up there too with his tragic accident. He was one smooth, fast rider who may well have taken a couple of Mick's titles had he not been paralysed.

Agree with all of that. There are many great riders who could be compared with them like Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts Snr, Ago, Hailwood, etc. at the end of the day, most of those blokes were the best of their generation, Wayne wasn't. That's all you can judge them on in my opinion.

 

[don vito of fitzroy]

You've just given me a head ache
If your going to compare Gardener with another try Christian Sarron, but not Barry!
Barry had a personality.

This isn't a personality contest. If it was, then Barry would kick his backside.

I've checked the two riders stats and Sheene has the upper hand. Therefore Sheene would be my pick instead of Gardner (if we were picking between the two).