Mark I think if you just change, "competitor" to "Contender" all this babble will go away. Technically, everyone who qualifies within the guidelines of the event is a "competitor". Says so right in the book. However not everyone in the event or the series will be a "contender". I view Rossi as competitive as I have witnessed him this year at times, evenly matched with the individual leading the championship on numerous occasions. That being said I do not think he is a "contender" for the championship and he is probably not a "contender" for a win if everyone is having an "on" day. What I do find interesting are the motoGP records. I think MM could have eclipsed Agostini and Rossi but now maybe not. With all the new talent, its going to be difficult for one rider to dominate and pass that record. You have Luthi, Morbidelli and A Marquez all looking for a GP ride at some point. Zarco has a bad fall or some bad luck and that whole "next big thing" is right out the window. So in 20 years, on a global scope, to be fair, Mark would have to also look at the word "competitive" from a career perspective and if Rossi, Marquez, Lorenzo, Zarco, Stoner do not eclipse 8 premier class championships then they compared to Agostini were according to Marks interpretation of the word, "not competitive" in GP MP Motorcycle racing. Just as no one remembers who got second last week. No one remembers the second name on the all time list and on that list.
