Iconic Riders

[Bruce]

Well, we have a thread about iconic bikes, so I was thinking to myself last night, what about iconic riders. You know, your own personal hero's, people who have formed and shaped the way you ride today, and those racing stars you looked up to... The inspirational types

So here I go, in no particular order:

Firstly, my grandfather, Danny Vuillermin... He was the guy who supplied the z50 I got to ride.

Racing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_yPNyYaqqA

I first saw footage of Greg Hansford one year when watching the Hardie-Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst (yers that long ago, when they used to race real cars, like Camaro's and other exotic cars). They showed a clip of him racing in the world championship... I was blown away that this bloke was an international superstar, and here he was racing cars.

Freddie Spencer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj0UjUo5Jsw

What can you say about him? He shone so brightly for such a short period. He won the 1985 250 AND 500cc World Championships... An exceptional talent that burnt out

Wayne Gardner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChuyTfMaJKI

I was never a fan, but he was a bloody good racer. However in recent years my opinions have changed drastically. He did do it tough in the early years, but then I thought he got a bit full of himself, however these days, he is well self representing, and balanced with everything he seems to say (read his Rapid Bike articles)

Eddie Lawson





Kevin Magee

Barry Sheene

Michael Doohan

Noriyuki Haga

Gary McCoy

Ross Taylor

Ben Spies

I'll add to this post throughout the day as sadly I have to work...

[maestro]

Rick johnson in mx when i was a kid

Phil Lovett for enduro and desert racing (we're now good mates and i still race him in the motards. How cool is that)

Stefan Merryman sickeningly fast mate who went on to win 4 world enduro titles

Mick Doohan for obvious reasons

Troy Baylis for the same

The one man who energised me and altered the way i approached riding a roadbike and a racebike was also one of the most likeable blokes you could ever meet. He opened my eyes to what is possible. Impossible just doesnt seem that hard anymore. GARY McCOY #1

[Doug Home]

http://www.myvincent.co.uk/people/rfree.php
Rollie Free is a bloody ledgend!!

[zrex1200au]

THE Mr Motocross in my youth, Stephen Gall.