Some close races in the history of sports.
November 12, 2013 7:13 PM Subscribe
Rossi came out on the wrong end of the closest finish he was involved in but his fans don't seem to recall that race for some reason.
Any talk of last lap battles on bikes has to start and finish with Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz at Suzuka in 1991. I miss the old 500's.
posted by N-stoff at 8:07 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Any talk of last lap battles on bikes has to start and finish with Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz at Suzuka in 1991. I miss the old 500's.
posted by N-stoff at 8:07 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dangit, about a year ago I saw an amazing final lap video from what I think was V8 Supercars in Australia. Now I can't find it.
posted by zsazsa at 8:12 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by zsazsa at 8:12 PM on November 12, 2013
No, this is the greatest race finish ever as a totally unexpected contender moves in from the outside and passes them all in the final yards...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:18 PM on November 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:18 PM on November 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
Fortunately, even the careful analysis of Apolo Ohno Physics and The Physics Of Ice Skating — Short Track Speed Skating Analysis cannot exclude a Surprise! ending. (Best Winter Olympics sport ever.)
posted by cenoxo at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by cenoxo at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Love these.
Northwest 200 (motorbike road racing in N. Ireland)
ALMS GT2 finish at Laguna Seca 2009
V8 Supercars Gold Coast 2010
AUUUUGH
posted by Chutzler at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Northwest 200 (motorbike road racing in N. Ireland)
ALMS GT2 finish at Laguna Seca 2009
V8 Supercars Gold Coast 2010
AUUUUGH
posted by Chutzler at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also remember Steven Bradbury was coming back from breaking his neck.
posted by alex_skazat at 8:41 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by alex_skazat at 8:41 PM on November 12, 2013
The 1989 Tour de France, anybody? This is after Lemond was involved in a hunting accident.
posted by alex_skazat at 8:43 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by alex_skazat at 8:43 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm more of a car, and car racing guy, than a bike, and bike racing guy (because I'm really uncoordinated and dump bikes whenever I ride them), but Rossi has always fascinated me.
He's almost childlike in his demeanor and actions, especially off a bike. He has a very high goof factor, yet at the same time, he's so very very quick.
He sort of stands in direct opposition to every other quick racer. They all seem to be hyper serious, and, at a certain level, joyless assholes (especially in the last couple of decades). But not Rossi. He's always smiling and joking and goofing with TV cameras and such.
And he's had a very very good run at the top. Better than anyone except for Agostini. And all but untouchable until Lorenzo and Pedrosa and now, Marc Marquez came along.
In a lot of ways, Rossi is sort of like Gilles Villenueve with half the wheels; always enjoying himself and his life and always blindingly quick.
posted by Relay at 8:52 PM on November 12, 2013
He's almost childlike in his demeanor and actions, especially off a bike. He has a very high goof factor, yet at the same time, he's so very very quick.
He sort of stands in direct opposition to every other quick racer. They all seem to be hyper serious, and, at a certain level, joyless assholes (especially in the last couple of decades). But not Rossi. He's always smiling and joking and goofing with TV cameras and such.
And he's had a very very good run at the top. Better than anyone except for Agostini. And all but untouchable until Lorenzo and Pedrosa and now, Marc Marquez came along.
In a lot of ways, Rossi is sort of like Gilles Villenueve with half the wheels; always enjoying himself and his life and always blindingly quick.
posted by Relay at 8:52 PM on November 12, 2013
Faster and Fastest are a couple of good documentaries that capture the excitement of MotoGP, and the energy that Rossi brought when he was at the top of his game. Both are available on Netflix streaming service.
posted by calamari kid at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by calamari kid at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2013
2007 12 Hours of Sebring, GT2 class
At the very end of one of the most brutal - and some maintain the most punishing - races in motorsport, less than a second separates Jörg Bergmeister in the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 and Jamie Melo in the Risi Competitzione Ferrari F430 as Bergmeister chases him down for the GT2 lead. The car leading the overall race fails to pass them before hitting the checkered flag, giving Bergmeister one more lap to catch Melo. One of the best final laps I've ever seen in racing.
posted by Punkey at 10:07 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
At the very end of one of the most brutal - and some maintain the most punishing - races in motorsport, less than a second separates Jörg Bergmeister in the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 and Jamie Melo in the Risi Competitzione Ferrari F430 as Bergmeister chases him down for the GT2 lead. The car leading the overall race fails to pass them before hitting the checkered flag, giving Bergmeister one more lap to catch Melo. One of the best final laps I've ever seen in racing.
posted by Punkey at 10:07 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
The only one of these first six examples that is not about driving motorized vehicles is the 2002 Winter Olympics fast-track race where Bradbury won gold and Apolo Anton Ohno got caught in the pile-up but got up and tumbled, crawling across the line for silver. I remember smiling about the Aussie win but being very disappointed that it was snatched away from Apolo. He was such an American-boy-makes-good story that year. Wonder where he is now. He must be in his thirties.
posted by Anitanola at 10:52 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Anitanola at 10:52 PM on November 12, 2013
This is my second-favorite racing clip.
(Steven Bradbury is #1)
posted by Lucinda at 11:06 PM on November 12, 2013
(Steven Bradbury is #1)
posted by Lucinda at 11:06 PM on November 12, 2013
[Apolo Ohno] was such an American-boy-makes-good story that year. Wonder where he is now. He must be in his thirties.
Hosting a game show.
posted by dirigibleman at 11:13 PM on November 12, 2013
Hosting a game show.
posted by dirigibleman at 11:13 PM on November 12, 2013
Agree with the takes on Rossi. World Champion...how many times?
Yet he has such a fun, cheerful personality and projects it well.
I really like that in sports or any competition; it's a joy to see and be around.
(Had enough of the stern face, dead serious, win at all costs demeanors...)
posted by CrowGoat at 11:38 PM on November 12, 2013
Yet he has such a fun, cheerful personality and projects it well.
I really like that in sports or any competition; it's a joy to see and be around.
(Had enough of the stern face, dead serious, win at all costs demeanors...)
posted by CrowGoat at 11:38 PM on November 12, 2013
I'm guessing Secretatiat's 1973 Belmont Stakes didn't make the list.
posted by ShutterBun at 11:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by ShutterBun at 11:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
And two more winter sports:
I don't believe there's video, but I always liked this story.
The best bit here is from about 1:38 until 1:41; the last minute is especially intense.
posted by nat at 12:01 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't believe there's video, but I always liked this story.
The best bit here is from about 1:38 until 1:41; the last minute is especially intense.
posted by nat at 12:01 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The race alona posted is amazing. Here's another video of the same event--I think the crowd noise and announcers add a great deal to an incredible finish.
posted by zanni at 2:08 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by zanni at 2:08 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I humbly submit the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race of 2003: finishing video.
There were two pairs of brothers, each with had one member in each crew coming to a dramatic finish at the end of 6.8km and 17 minutes of flat our side by side rowing.
posted by wjzeng at 2:34 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
There were two pairs of brothers, each with had one member in each crew coming to a dramatic finish at the end of 6.8km and 17 minutes of flat our side by side rowing.
posted by wjzeng at 2:34 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing Secretatiat's 1973 Belmont Stakes didn't make the list.
By contrast (complete with the network calling the wrong horse).
posted by thomas j wise at 2:50 AM on November 13, 2013
By contrast (complete with the network calling the wrong horse).
posted by thomas j wise at 2:50 AM on November 13, 2013
2002 World Super Bike end of the season, Imola, Italy.
Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss. Bayliss was the World Champion, and Edwards was the challenger. They swap leads for the length of the race - because the winner of the race will win the championship. At the beginning of the last lap, it was still not clear who would win.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:42 AM on November 13, 2013
Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss. Bayliss was the World Champion, and Edwards was the challenger. They swap leads for the length of the race - because the winner of the race will win the championship. At the beginning of the last lap, it was still not clear who would win.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:42 AM on November 13, 2013
sorry - last lap starts at 5:15.
Also, Rossi is playful and fun loving like any of your average apex predators. Watching him break apart Casey Stoner (at Laguna Seca) or Lorenzo (in the above (incomprehensible - watch the bonus to help put it in perspective) link) or Gibernau or Biaggi. Sure, he's playful. Granted, Stoner and Lorenzo did get some measure of revenge, the way Rossi took apart their race plans is/was a thing to see.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:54 AM on November 13, 2013
Also, Rossi is playful and fun loving like any of your average apex predators. Watching him break apart Casey Stoner (at Laguna Seca) or Lorenzo (in the above (incomprehensible - watch the bonus to help put it in perspective) link) or Gibernau or Biaggi. Sure, he's playful. Granted, Stoner and Lorenzo did get some measure of revenge, the way Rossi took apart their race plans is/was a thing to see.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:54 AM on November 13, 2013
This is one of my favourites - mainly because my driver started from the back of the field and only missed passing the entire field and winning by 0.004 seconds (the orange car).....
The race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9xn-tjCho
Finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gl9xn-tjCho#t=246
Terrible footage, awful commentator but a really great race.
posted by Brockles at 4:22 AM on November 13, 2013
The race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9xn-tjCho
Finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gl9xn-tjCho#t=246
Terrible footage, awful commentator but a really great race.
posted by Brockles at 4:22 AM on November 13, 2013
Holy shit oneswellfoop, that was an amazing race! i got all tense just watching it - the look of pure joy on the winner's face after the finish line! Must have been the race of their lives.
posted by hepta at 5:08 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by hepta at 5:08 AM on November 13, 2013
And my own contribution to the thread: Billy Mills comes from behind at the 1964 Olympics
posted by hepta at 5:09 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by hepta at 5:09 AM on November 13, 2013
This is an example of a multilink post that should have been a single link post.
Basically ballet on two wheels.
posted by lollymccatburglar at 7:51 AM on November 13, 2013
Basically ballet on two wheels.
posted by lollymccatburglar at 7:51 AM on November 13, 2013
oneswellfoop: "No, this is the greatest race finish ever as a totally unexpected contender moves in from the outside and passes them all in the final yards..."
Feedlebaum....
posted by chavenet at 8:58 AM on November 13, 2013
Feedlebaum....
posted by chavenet at 8:58 AM on November 13, 2013
One of the greatest, if not the greatest, F1 finishes (and victories) of all time. F1 fans already know which one I'm talking about.
2011, Montreal GP.
Jenson Button is dead last with 25 laps to go, after having been in not one but two rain-caused collisions with other cars. He's been in the pits an unprecedented five times, and has also taken a drive-through penalty, causing further time to slip away.
Then something unbelievable happens.
posted by mark242 at 9:53 AM on November 13, 2013
2011, Montreal GP.
Jenson Button is dead last with 25 laps to go, after having been in not one but two rain-caused collisions with other cars. He's been in the pits an unprecedented five times, and has also taken a drive-through penalty, causing further time to slip away.
Then something unbelievable happens.
posted by mark242 at 9:53 AM on November 13, 2013
This is mine. (Mens 2008 400 Freestlye Relay) I remember how loud we all shouted.
posted by dame at 4:20 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by dame at 4:20 PM on November 13, 2013
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Valentino Rossi best Rossi.
posted by 256 at 7:50 PM on November 12, 2013