15 replies to this topic

[MtnBoy]

...I'll say it again. Many will disagree...

Kurt Caselli is the BEST American off-road racer right now period. (potentiallybest of all time)

Thoughts? Arguments? Am I completely crazy?

[tomktm]

It's tough to say in my opinion. He is definitely our best desert rider right now and our top ISDE guy which are two different riding extremes.... so, I guess I'd have to agree with you. BUT, why did he struggle with GNCC's a few years ago? According to someone his head wasn't in it and he didn't care about them but who knows...

[MtnBoy]

He definitely didn't impress in the GNCCs but I think he could. His head wasn't in the right place in 2008

I'd love it if he got a shot at a full year of EWC

[Mike Honcho]

Kurt is a great West Coast rider and a great ISDE rider. His GNCC season was the season after his father passed away which is a monumental loss and being apart from his family and support was undoubtedly hard to do. I write that season off as an anomaly.

I think he would be a top 5 in class rider in EWC, E1 and E2 are just too stacked for him to do well. No offense to him but the Euro's have us beat hands down in off road. They practice the ISDE format all year and those guys are on a different level. As far as him being the best rider period? I say he is the best flat out open course type rider.

I would have to go with Chaz Mullins as best US rider, he wins in GNCC and Enduro. Worcs and H&H are more moto and wide open. Tight trees are a whole new ballgame.

[MtnBoy]

Kurt has ran top 5 several times as a fill in rider in EWC, he also has lead the overall at Six Days several times, won his class at ISDE too, no other American (that I'm aware of) has had nearly the success against the better (in my opinion too) Euros.

I wish Mullins would go to Six Days so we could see how he stacked up with Kurt, I know it's a different format but it would atleast be a gauge.

Give Kurt 2 more years and a SCORE championship will be on his resume, then maybe KTM will let him go to Europe for a couple years, we can only hope!

[hoop]

You might get your wish with Mullins this year...

[MtnBoy]

hoop, on 16 February 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

You might get your wish with Mullins this year...

Makes sense with Antti being the ISDE Team Manager, let's hope so! Mullins is for sure one of the best we got and will only help the team in my opinion.

[tomktm]

I wonder why Lafferty didn't concentrate on ISDE's??

[AlexMcRee]

tomktm, on 16 February 2012 - 03:42 PM, said:

I wonder why Lafferty didn't concentrate on ISDE's??

Well when he was on top of his game it wasn't a priority for for the US. It still doesn't seem like it is but it does seem to be improving. It would have taken money out of Mikes own pocket so I do not blame him for going to all the ISDE's. The life span of making money for a dirt bike rider isn't great. Also Mike is really good in tighter woods and the ISDE is ran like the WECs. They have rules against being tight and are all out sprints... even more so than enduros.

[Mike Honcho]

Bobber has done pretty well in the ISDE's so far. Id like to see Caselli, Mullins, Bobbitt, Robert, Dietrich, Jesse Robinson

[MtnBoy]

Mike Honcho, on 16 February 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:

Bobber has done pretty well in the ISDE's so far. Id like to see Caselli, Mullins, Bobbitt, Robert, Dietrich, Jesse Robinson

I have a hard time arguing with that line up, maybe Mike Brown over Robinson

[AlexMcRee]

Mike Honcho, on 16 February 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:

Bobber has done pretty well in the ISDE's so far. Id like to see Caselli, Mullins, Bobbitt, Robert, Dietrich, Jesse Robinson

Jesse Robinson doesn't have the speed to hang with those boys. I'd take Stew Baylor. He will be overalling some GNCC's this year.

[Mike Honcho]

I agree Robinson is the slowest but he can ride any size bike, is a grinder and would finish. Baylor would be on the jr trophy team because of his age I think buttrick would be too which is why I didn't pick em.

I'd love to be good enough to qualify for an ISDE

[AlexMcRee]

I also agree it does seem as though he can ride any size bike. I believe you can ride the trophy team even if you are young. I would go Ashburn next after baylor. Who we have seen can do good on a 250f, 250 two stroke, and I'm going ahead and assuming he will rip like he did when he was an amateur on a 450.

[Mike Honcho]

With the talent that we have here, we should be able to give the French, Fins and Spanish a good run. If they French and fins are full strength they will be tough to beat no matter who we have. Aussies and Italians will be strong too this year

[MtnBoy]

hoop, on 16 February 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

You might get your wish with Mullins this year...

Let's hope he has a more reliable bike by then or we'll be in trouble he won't make it past day 1.....