Who's Your Favorite Rider Of All Time

[Mad On Triumphs]

Thought that I'd ask this question, I don't think it's been asked before, if it has my apologies. We all have our favorites don't we, well for me it would have to be Barry Sheene, I grew up about 4 miles away from Barry, he was born in Holborn London and me Highbury London.
We moved to Crawley in Sussex, and after Barry left Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, he moved to Charlwood in Surrey about 6 miles away. I used to go to Brands Hatch for races like the King of Brands, and the brilliant Transatlantic races, between the US and Britain, which later expanded to include Commonwealth riders. Sadly the Transatlantic races no longer exist. Barry was sometimes controversial but he always had time to sign autographs, and would have a chat with you whilst signing your books or whatever you wanted. Many times whilst riding around the country lanes around Charlwood I'd see him in his Rolls Royce, or landing his helicopter. I know a lot of people will say Mike "The bike" Hailwood was the greatest British rider of all time, and I couldn't argue otherwise. But that was another time. But for me my interest in racing started when I bought my first bike ( Moped ) way back in 1976. and that was when Barry was at the height of his racing career. He rode a Suzuki, and I later rode a Suzuki GS 750.
I have many books signed by Barry, and doubt I'll ever get ride of them. To me Barry was down to earth and just a good honest bloke.

So who's your favorite rider then

 

[shanered6]

For me being in to dirt riding it was dave thorp ! My dad it was Geoff duke , in more modern times I would say for me it would nori haga .

 

[Doug]

I had the privelige of meeting Barry Sheene at Kyalami many years ago,let me sum him up this way.
There was a kid trying to take a photo of Barry's bike which was standing just inside the door at the back of the pit garage.
It wouldn't have made a very good shot as the lighting was a bit odd,sunlight outside,shade inside.
Barry sees this and hoobles over,"Hang on a mo' " he says.The kid gets a fright thinking he's done something wrong.
He calls Stephanie over,they wheel the bike out into the sunshine,he and Stephanie pose with the bike and he tells the kid "Now take the Pic" The kid was gobsmacked.
That is how you treat the public who make it possible for you to be a highly paid professional,not by being a reclusive prima donna like a lot of the top riders.

 

[Rocky]

I was off motorcycles from 1958 until 1992 so missed all the action during those years.
The Moto GP races only became available here on cable TV about ten years ago so my only exposure is modern racing.
I watch the races when I remember to, but don't really have a favourite rider.
But I subscribe to some British vintage bike magazines so I know who Sheene, Duke, Hailwood, Agostini, etc., are.

 

[The Seeker]

Of all time? ME of course!

-- Posted with TapaTalk

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Of all time? ME of course!

-- Posted with TapaTalk

My apologies I total forgot about you

 

[Rocky]

Of all time? ME of course!

-- Posted with TapaTalk

Well, if it's you, I must be second
To quote Dirty Harry, "A legend in your (my) own mind."

 

[bullet]

I am with you on Barry Sheene. I was a little boy of six years old in 1976 and my dad thought me to ride at the age of three, my dad and his mates will be in the garage/shed talking and discussing Barry's riding style and I will page through the magazines on the work bench. I think it was late 70's or early 80's that the racing was showed on TV and my dad will call me and I will stand in front of him between his legs while he is sitting on the lounge chair, and my dad will point out Barry's key technique's that made him so fantastic. My dad reckoned that Barry's best attribute to his success was his smooth and flowing riding style, that is whom I always try to be when out riding, like Barry Sheene, smooth.

Some other riders that has my attention was/is Hailwood, Dunlop, Pieterson SA, Grey SA, Kenny Roberts Sr, Mimola, Aggostini, Schwantz, Vermeulen, Stoner, Marqes.
I for sure have mis spelt some of the names, please forgive me.

 

[gumpt1oo]

Lots of great riders mentioned here, I got my first bike in 1976 and my favourites at that time were Barry Sheene, King Kenny, Johnny Ceccotto and Steve Baker. But my all time favourite has to be our local rider, the Morecambe Missile, John McGuinness.
Fastest man around the IOM TT, and has won 20 races.
You could not wish to meet a more down to earth bloke .
Have a look at the on-board video on his website and watch the walls and hedges go whizzing past!
John McGuinness

 

[CarlS]

My two favorites are Steve McQueen and Burt Munro.