Greatest Grand Prix Motorcycles and Riders of All Time

[JohnBM01]

To enhance the scope of motorcycle racing on GTPlanet, this is a thread to discuss some of the best road racing motorcycle racers as well as some of the greatest racing bikes in history. Do you think Valentino Rossi is the best motorcycle racer of our time? Do you think Yamaha makes the best grand prix motorcycles? Is there is a team owner that is to motorcycle racing as Joest is to sportscar racing? What are some of the greatest motorcycles in grand prix motor racing? All-time legends, greatest bikes ever, this is a thread to chat about the best grand prix motorcycle racing has to offer past and present. Anyone care to kick this thread off?

 

[Duke of Pendle]

The Guzzi V8 - Just because they dared to try.

The Ducati 990GP.
Because they took their traditional philosophies and made a bike that was competitive out of the crate.
90 deg V (Not ideal for packaging)
Steel trellis frame (ancient engineering?)
Desmodromic valves (because they could)
They build their bikes in a shed in Bologna.

........but then I'm biased.

 

[Motominded]

Yamaha YZR500 - Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey

Suzuki RGV500 - Kevin Schwantz​

Honda NSR500 - Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner

Honda RVF750 - Wayne Gardner​

Ducati 916 - Carl Fogerty, Troy Corsor

MV Agusta MV500- Giacomo Agostini​

 

[JohnBM01]

I've been reading a bit about how good the Honda RC45 was in motorsport, especially with the Castrol Honda RC45. All I really know about it was that it was one of the best bikes of the '90s, especially raced by Team Castrol Honda with Nick Jeffries (like in "Manx TT Superbike" for the arcade). It's a very cool racing bike from what I read.

 

[[empty space]]

i thought the bike in the picture was the rc30?

 

[GT Racer08]

I agree with Motominded, Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss and also you must not forget the legend that is Valentino Rossi

 

[zed300]

Barry Sheene

Barry Sheene
Nationality British

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing career
Active years 1970 - 1984
Teams Suzuki, Yamaha
Grands Prix 102
Championships 500cc - 1976, 1977
Wins 23
Podium finishes 52
Pole positions 19
Fastest laps 18
First Grand Prix 1970 125cc Spanish Grand Prix
First win 1971 125cc Belgian Grand Prix
Last win 1981 500cc Swedish Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix 1984 500cc San Marino Grand Prix


Not the best of all time, but worth a mention.