VALENTINO ROSSI - THE BEST EVER?

WOW!!!

I've just watched the Spanish motogp from the Catalunya circuit - and as the commentator said "you don't get better racing than this ANYWHERE in the world".

The battle between Rossi, Stoner and Pedrosa was classed as epic by the aforementioned commentator. And he'd be right.
It started about lap 15 of 28 when after the race had settled after the jostling for position that occurs in the first few laps, the three riders could be covered with a bedsheet. Stoner and Rossi changed the lead many times from lap 15 until the end; Rossi diving up the inside, literally inches away, Stoner replying with a paint scraping pass of his own. Rear ends almost sideways under the outrageously late braking that saw the wheel break contact with the ground as they each tried to beat one another into the various turns.
The roar of the 125,000 strong crowd's approval could be heard over the howl of the screaming engines of the 800cc bikes.

All the while, Pedrosa lurked mere feet away.

This carried on for 13 laps, the lead changing time and time again as I perched on the edge of my seat.

Rossi, the 7 time world champion pressured the young Australian at every opportunity, with the lead changing multiple times per lap and eventuating with Stoner, the 21 year old Australian crossing the line .0026 of a second before Rossi.
That's two hundredths of one second just so we're clear.
Pedrosa was close behind.

My heart was literally pounding in my chest by the end. I even had to take deeper breaths. Like the man said - you don't get racing better than this - anywhere. Forget the snoozeville F1, nascar, V8's - nothing on 4 wheels comes even close.

A most satisfying win it must have been to hold off the doctor's attacks and Stoner should be proud of his performance under such pressure from not only the fastest but the smartest in terms of strategy, rider there is.
However, it has to be said, whilst paying all due respect to young Stoner, that his machine blasted past Rossi's on the straight every time. And still Rossi managed to pull something out in the turns - often.

This young man from Australia is one to watch, of that there is no question, but whether he can match the Doctor...?

This second placing put Rossi ahead of everybody ever in terms of number of podium positions - Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, even the world famous Giacomo Agostini. Add to this the fact he's broken virtually every record that exists in motorcycle racing (and a few that didn't) and you have a legend in his own time.

And in my book and that of most, that makes the 28 year old Italian and multiple world champion the best there has ever been in the history of the sport.

So to answer the question in the title...a resounding, unquestionable yes!