PNW Riders

Alpine 318is · 08-07-2008, 04:04 PM

Now I understand that he has 15 world championships. But from 1966-1975 he was able to compete in BOTH the 500cc and 350cc championships and 5 years in a row from 1968-1972 he won them both. Now if every rider in MotoGP had the option of racing in either MotoGP and 250cc racing wouldn't the likes of Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi have twice or close to as many world championships? Now i haven't been around for very long so i dont know what it was like back then but its just something i observed.

mnewell · 08-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Many would say that he was on much better machinery than his competition.

And not dying probably helped too...

But yeah, he was pretty damn good. Probably one of the Top 5 Greatest of all Time.

GixxerPete · 08-07-2008, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by mnewell

Many would say that he was on much better machinery than his competition.

And not dying probably helped too...

But yeah, he was pretty damn good. Probably one of the Top 5 Greatest of all Time.

Many would say he faced a weak field of competition as well.

I think it's safe to say the depth of talent in the 250 and 800 class, differences between the bikes and setup and development and testing to competitive is far too great now, and winning in more than one class all but impossible. Even the last person to do such a thing, Freddie Spencer, admits as much.

Still one of the all-time greats though fo sho.

Rippn · 08-07-2008, 06:48 PM

Heck ya.
Free and clean, Ripp'n

Blinky · 08-07-2008, 06:59 PM

"Is Giacomo Agostini really that good?"

Yes

gixxerjeff · 08-07-2008, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by mnewell

Many would say that he was on much better machinery than his competition.

And not dying probably helped too...

But yeah, he was pretty damn good. Probably one of the Top 5 Greatest of all Time.

sorry...off topic...

amazing avitar!

james1300 · 08-07-2008, 08:08 PM

Yup! He and Hailwood.

600bandit · 08-07-2008, 08:53 PM

Hailwood in 1960 three classed three brands

1960
125cc Ducati 10th

250cc Mondial 5th

500cc Norton 6th

dragracer1951 · 08-08-2008, 02:15 PM

AhhhGoooostiiiini!!!!!

MadManx · 08-16-2008, 11:16 AM

Yes.
In 1976 he was the driving force to get the Isle of Man off the World Grand Prix schedule because "it was too dangerous". Succeeded in 1977.

NoQuarter#121 · 08-26-2008, 08:03 PM

Oh c'mon... Questioning Agostini?

Giacomo was the greatest of an era.

You can say he didn't have competition, but you would be wrong.

Off the top of my head;

A couple of the greastest of all time
Mike Hailwood
Phil Read

and another notable

Paul Smart

Giacomo has the same problem Rossi faces.

The world couldn't provide competition.

Ciao998 · 08-26-2008, 08:58 PM

Yes. He was that great.

You can't compare the eras of racing. You just can't. It's a different time, plain and simple.

Any observations are just opinion, and should be noted as such.

Part of being great is going out and doing as much as you can. The fact that he raced 2 classes is great in itself.

IMHO he's top 3 for me...........Maybe #1

86'd · 08-26-2008, 09:53 PM

Yea, he's that good. I saw him do the "Lap of Honor" in 2006 on the Isle of Man on a vintage MV. I stalked him with a sharpie until I got him to sign my jacket.

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08-07-2008, 04:04 PM	#1
Alpine 318is Streetfighter Joined: Jan 2007 From: Bellevue, Washington I Ride: Looking for a 00-02 R6	Is Giacomo Agostini really that good? Now I understand that he has 15 world championships. But from 1966-1975 he was able to compete in BOTH the 500cc and 350cc championships and 5 years in a row from 1968-1972 he won them both. Now if every rider in MotoGP had the option of racing in either MotoGP and 250cc racing wouldn't the likes of Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi have twice or close to as many world championships? Now i haven't been around for very long so i dont know what it was like back then but its just something i observed.


08-07-2008, 06:00 PM	#2
mnewell MotoGP Contender Joined: Sep 2005 From: Bellevue, Wa I Ride: Aprilia Mille R, Gixxer 600, Yamaha WR250, Yamaha TTR125	Many would say that he was on much better machinery than his competition. And not dying probably helped too... But yeah, he was pretty damn good. Probably one of the Top 5 Greatest of all Time.


08-07-2008, 06:48 PM	#4
Rippn MotoGP Contender Joined: Apr 2007 From: soap lake wa. I Ride: 00kaw12r, 97 tls1000, 96gsxr1260 turbo freakshow, kz1300gt, 94 cbr1000f, 88gsxr1100, 86gsxr750, 82gsx1100ez, 79kz1300, 75 ducati750gts, 72 gt550 cafe	Heck ya. Free and clean, Ripp'n


08-07-2008, 06:59 PM	#5
Blinky Pit Crew Joined: Jun 2007 From: Olympia I Ride: SV 650, SUZUKI T200, YAMAHA YJ2	*"Is Giacomo Agostini really that good?"* Yes


08-07-2008, 08:08 PM	#7
james1300 Track School Dazed Joined: Oct 2005 From: CENTRAL I Ride: When I can	Yup! He and Hailwood.


08-07-2008, 08:53 PM	#8
600bandit Forum Leader Joined: May 2005 From: i don't remember I Ride: 2002 1200 bandit, 71 CB750	Hailwood in 1960 three classed three brands 1960 125cc Ducati 10th 250cc Mondial 5th 500cc Norton 6th


08-08-2008, 02:15 PM	#9
dragracer1951 MotoGP Contender Joined: Sep 2005 From: Bremerton I Ride: 06 R1 50th, 05 DRZ400SM, 95 FZR1040, 69 Combat Commando Roadster, 73 Commando Interstate, 67 BSA B44, 71 BSA B50	AhhhGoooostiiiini!!!!!


08-16-2008, 11:16 AM	#10
MadManx Superbiker Joined: Dec 2006 From: I hail from the wee town of Kirkland I Ride: for KaKaRacing	Yes. In 1976 he was the driving force to get the Isle of Man off the World Grand Prix schedule because "it was too dangerous". Succeeded in 1977.


08-26-2008, 08:03 PM	#11
NoQuarter#121 Pit Crew Joined: Sep 2007 From: 2nd star to the right and straight on 'til morning I Ride: I fall down	Oh c'mon... Questioning Agostini? Giacomo was the greatest of an era. You can say he didn't have competition, but you would be wrong. Off the top of my head; A couple of the greastest of all time Mike Hailwood Phil Read and another notable Paul Smart Giacomo has the same problem Rossi faces. The world couldn't provide competition.


08-26-2008, 08:58 PM	#12
Ciao998 MotoGP Contender Joined: Sep 2006 From: kennewick/wa I Ride: Ducati 998	Yes. He was that great. You can't compare the eras of racing. You just can't. It's a different time, plain and simple. Any observations are just opinion, and should be noted as such. Part of being great is going out and doing as much as you can. The fact that he raced 2 classes is great in itself. IMHO he's top 3 for me...........Maybe #1


08-26-2008, 09:53 PM	#13
86'd Newbie Joined: Aug 2008 From: Bend, OR I Ride: Ducati	Yea, he's that good. I saw him do the "Lap of Honor" in 2006 on the Isle of Man on a vintage MV. I stalked him with a sharpie until I got him to sign my jacket.