If every rider were a free agent, who would you try to sign first?
Monday, July 2, 2012 | 1:50 PM
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PrintIf every rider were a free agent, who would you try to sign first?
Ryan Villopoto 3309 votes - 36.3%
Ryan Dungey 2129 votes - 23.4%
James Stewart 619 votes - 6.8%
Chad Reed 755 votes - 8.3%
Trey Canard 217 votes - 2.4%
Justin Barcia 527 votes - 5.8%
Antonio Cairoli 106 votes - 1.2%
Ken Roczen 348 votes - 3.8%
Blake Baggett 190 votes - 2.1%
Dean Wilson 156 votes - 1.7%
Eli Tomac 473 votes - 5.2%
Mike Alessi 60 votes - 0.7%
Other 223 votes - 2.4%
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The top two RD and RV for sure!!!
I would sign both Ryans and dominate the sport!
Did you guys hear Milsaps to Suzuki for 2013?? Sounds like a done deal!!
The Dungenator, of course. He has the best reliability record of all the candidates, and, is only a fraction of a tick off of RV's speed.
Then RV, Cairolli, JS, CR, ET, KR, JB, BB......then the rest, I guess.
Choices are based on proven physical reliability, then speed.
Dungey, Cairoli, Tomac
Tomac DUH! his mom cooks at the races can't beat that!
Obviously, my first choice would be me, and at an obscene salary. But since I didn't make the list, either of the two Ryans would be a good start.
Either Ryan, then RC if you could get him back in the gym
Blake Baggett ---- The fastest guy in the 250 class right now. The ONLY guy that seems to be in shape in that class. Long future ahead of him. He also could be the fastest guy in this whole group.
RC could probably still finish top 5 in his 1st race back out of all the names listed
@Not4show ,, I certainley hope you are kidding??
Only if the GOAT were to loose a few pounds / inches would he be able to do 30+2 X 2 and give the top 10 racers a run for their money. He may still have the speed, but not the stamina............
Then again.........naw. @Not4show...much be some good stuff you've ingested to think that!!!!!!!!!
Did Mike Alessi's family place all the votes for him? bwaaaaahaha!
@not4show: Baggett is too much of a head case, I wouldn't touch him until he gets his cabeza straigtened out!
Ryan Dungey for sure....He has it all speed,consistency,stamina,race luck,and good looks.RV is good no way can he stay healthy as long as Dungey.Roger Decoster signed Dungey when few even knew who he was because he could see that he was determined to be great and put in the work...also he can ride to his potential without crossing the line into a crash.....This generations Jeff Stanton.
@mxpunker,,, hmmm, he is the points leader right now.. He must have something straightened out.
I didnt say RC would win, but have any of you seen his warm up races this year?
there are only 4 guys on that list who are on old RC speed level, if canard ever makes it a full season we might be able to add him
@mxpunker i didnt say anything about baggett, i actually agree with you, i dont think he will handle the big bikes as a top 5, i see him 10ish
@Not4show,,, "10ish?" hahahaha..
I think either Ryan would be a great first overall or any of the 250 up and comers but RD has the consistency and far fewer major injuries than RV. Gotta be Dungey 1st.
J-Law would be my first choice,,, never a dull moment besides, money can't buy the kind of PR exposure he gets,,,,,,,,
@BillC, Where did you hear the Millsaps to Suzuki rumor??
Millsaps used to ride a zook many years ago in the 125's.
I would sign Dungey because of his consistency and he doesnt get hurt very often.
For some of you I'd just like to add that the injury prone and inconsistent RV won 5 major titles in a year and a half! If I'm signing a guy it's gonna be RV.....with Dungey a close second.
anybody but james or malcolm stewart. how can you be fast if you don't finish ? what sponsor wants a guy like that? hes had his time in the sun. his best years are behind him. the way he's handled his career lately burns me up. he was a good kid when he first turned pro. fade to black.( not a racial comment )
Bubba ,Dean Wilson & J-Law! Media blowup Team^
Forget RV, Gregory Crater is my first pick. Scott Metz is a close second...
NOT RV. His knee is a concern and so is JS7 wrist. Right now Dungey or Reed and Blake bagget is the future.
If you were to take all the top active guys and take their salarys and divide it by wins, podiums and top 5s Dungey would be worth triple the amount of anyone else. Dungey has only missed 5 races in almost 6 years of pro racing and if he would have been in the points lead he probably would have raced through that injjury. My next picks would be Tomac and Barcia. I think Honda will have those two for 2014 and they will be tuff too beat for a few years. I'm a huge RV fan but he has been hurt so much that if it was my cash Dungey would be a no brainer! If you take what JS7 has been paid for the last 3 years and divide that by wins, each win would cost around 1.5 million or more!
Definitely Pourcel, would like to see him in the nat's again
@Ripdown-Hey man, are you gonna make it to Millville? Haven't heard from you in a while. Can hook you up, even at the drop of a hat, if need be. Just let me know what's up!
Oh,man! Just checked out the fan of the week. Nearly spit my coffee all over the laptop. That wasn't what I was expecting, view with caution! lol (you guys are funny, but you can do better than that!)
RC for the last couple nationals after Lorettas!!
Yes Bucky, the fan of the week is just so wrong... on so many levels!!
hey Bucky,
I'll be a gate drop decision! Started a new job since we last chatted. Was able to keep my one week holiday to go to Minnesota but not able to get the thurs, friday in advance off to sneak down early and get to Millville! Haven't given up completely but it looks doubtfull.
Enjoy......
Short-term investment vs long-term investment?
Contracts are rarely more than two years nowadays so, with that in mind, an RV or Reed could be a good decision.
While I do like his style a lot and think wins and titles are in his future, I would be affraid of signing Barcia because his aggression / wildness could be a big injury / down time (zero return on investment).
The next two years are going to be tough for the teams 'cause so much talent is coming up and there's only so many dollars to sign them with.
If Milsaps-Suzuki is true, that means Metcalfe is sitting on the couch with a broken leg and no contract next year.
The exodus from the Yamaha 450's continues...................
Stewart may not be the most popular guy right now with the 'true' moto crowd, but he still has way more fans than any other rider, and is easily the most recognizable name in motocross. That keeps his market value on par or greater than the obvious choice, Villapoto.
@MrMX-No kidding. Paddle faster, I hear banjo's! Hope I get the opporunity to meet BD25! Maybe next year we can get all you guys to come to Millville?!! I can handle it! BillC is even talkin' about it! BillC you always call it like you see it! EEEEWWWWW!!!LOL Was good for a laugh. And Ripdown- I thought something was up when I couldn't email you anymore. Well, like I say, I got your back. You can roll into town, find me, (everyone knows everyone in a small town) and I will find you a place to stay. For sure. Lotsa places within 12 to 20 miles from here. A big crew for next year would be cool! Come on guys, I'll rent a party bus(or two) and show you how to bar hop hillbilly smalltown style. Gauranteed good times, and you all wanna see Spring Creek, Right? It is where Alex and Jeremy grew up. Heck they went to preschool with my daughter. Went and saw a Christmas play once with those two and thier sister Jennifer, in it. Too cool.