Going to ignite an old debate that started on BT Sport. Who's the better bike racer - Jonny Rea or Cal Crutchlow? Is Jonny's 4 championships equal or better than Cal's 3 MotoGP wins? Jonny's been on far the best bike against average opposition. Don't get me wrong i'm a big JR fan (since his days on the Blade at Ten Kate). He made wins possible on that Blade. However the competition and rider quality in WSBK have been average to poor for quite some time now. Whilst Cal has won 3 races in "probably the hardest time" in MGP. Some of those wins were when better riders crashed out - but there were still quality riders on the grid who could of taken those wins. But - he does have a tendency to crash alot! So what do we all reckon? please no sitting on the fence replies. I know they are in different championships!
Really tough debate this one, I'd say honestly you would need to see them in the same championship to really gauge them against each other. When Crutchlow was in WSBK his ratio of wins to races run is greater than that in Moto gp. He won 3 races and got 11 podiums in the 2 years he was there. In Moto gp he's won 3 and got 16 podiums in the 9 years he's been there. But it was way more competitive back then from what I remember! He also finished above Rae in his 2008 season and only a few points behind in his 2010 season on the Yamaha. I think if Rae went to Moto gp now, he would never reach Crutchlows level or it would take him along time to get up there, both rider's will have retired before Rae gets competitive enough to get anywhere near him! That's if he even goes to Moto gp as well. But if they had entered Moto gp at the same time it may be a different story, we all know Crutchlow likes to crash and Rae is Mr consistent! I don't think we'll ever know the answer
I cant comment on WSBK as I don't follow it, but with the likes of Marquez, Dovi, Lorenzo etc to compete with in MotoGP, its no wonder he hasn't had more success. Put that along with being in a satellite team and not having the latest and greatest developments to ride with, and his fondness of hitting the deck... Still, he is still up there with one of my favourite riders in the series.
To me, Rea's accomplishments are not that spectacular, though I like him. Cal's wins are more impressive as they are against the best in the world. Rea winning 4 championships on the trot and dominating the field says more about the lack of talent in WSBK than anything else. The lack of true factory rides (aside from Kawasaki) also speaks volumes. Notice Kawasaki does not race in MGP? There's a reason for that. Cal crashes.A lot. But he is a more accomplished rider given the series he races in and the difficulty he is subjected to. It can't be too hard for Rea, when you think about it. Rea reminds me of Mat Mladin, lots of wins but no real competition in his series.
your not serious are you . Have you watched Rea he is miles ahead of the rest also point out his team mate sykes is a world champion and cant touch him . You put a gp rider on a superbike in wsk or bsb and he wouldnt be the same rider
I have watched Rea, and as mentioned, I like him, he is a talent for sure. However, I am not as impressed with him as I am with Crutchlow for the reasons mentioned. His dominance is a product of talent and a weak field, more so the weak field. I am not taking anything away from him, he can only race the people who are in his series.
Yes he's replaced Casey stoner on the Repsol Honda for two rounds. Finished 7th and 8th which is not bad at all !!
The 1,200cc Ducati Panigale has won BSB a few times - but not World Superbikes. I would argue that the reason for the 1,200cc Ducati Panigale not winning WSBK title is because of Jonny Rea in front !
In that case I would say that JR is better than CC. If JR was given equivalent machinery to CC he would beat CC on a regular basis. IMO.
Well i guess we will never know this answer until Rea and Cal are in the same team which ain't ever going to happen...
Precisely.......they need to be in the same 'league' as it were. I genuinely can't see him getting a ride in Moto gp. There is too much young talent coming up from moto 2 and moto 3. WSBK is not the stepping stone into Moto gp like it used to be for the likes of Hodgson Bayliss Xaus Toseland etc. His only hope would be if Kawasaki decided to come back to Moto gp and he gets a ride with them maybe?
Parallel to this 'debate' is the scenario of Leon Haslam joining Rea next year. For me, I think we will be seeing a very similar situation to the 2019 Marquez/Lorenzo battles in that there will be very intense rivalry. I cannot see JR with the same dominance next year. Further, a few more factory goodies for Cal and good 'off season' testing should see him as a consistent top 4 runner next year - barring mishaps of course.
so in your thinking when Scott Redding joins BSB next year he will walk all over everyone and have title won no problem
