Most never reach number one status, but these guys were so close to reaching top spot.
1: Randy Mamola
Randy Mamola ended his GP career with 13 wins to his name. Some might consider that to be unlucky, but there are only a select few who have scored more wins in the big class. There’s some symmetry there, with Mamola’s career spanning 13 years too. For four of these years he ended up second – the ultimate runner up in MotoGP.
2: Dani Pedrosa
Pedrosa may have two more wins than Mamola, but has only been on the second spot light at the end of season twice. Clearly lightening on his days, will Pedrosa ever string this season together and remove himself from this list? Apart from Marc Marquez is leading with 16 points after Laguna Seca race 2013.
3: Frankie Chili
276 races, 61 podiums. 17 wins, 0 championships. Pierfrancesco Chili was always the fan’s favorite, but the Italian couldn’t translate this into championship wins in an era of greats. He came closest when he was fourth in the series on two occasions.
4: Aaron Slight
13 seems to be a recurring number, as this is the number of race wins Aaron Slight scored (the same number of Max Biaggi in MotoGP). Twice runner up in WSB championship, in 1996 and 1998, he also had four times as a third place racer at the end of the year. A brain tumor cut his career short.
5: Michael Rutter
Micheal Rutter is the nearly man in BSB – but still a serious protagonist. Twice runner-up and three times third, it’s only been injury that has robbed Rutter of the domestic title. Still capable of winning BSB today.
6: Chris Walker
Four times runner up in BSB, it was only a broken valve that stole a crown from him, in the season that saw his titanic season-long tussle with Neil Hodgson. From 1997 to 2000, Chris Walker owned that runners-up spot – poor bugger.
7: Sete Gibernau
Had he not to deal with Valentino Rossi in his prime, Sete Gibernau would have been world champion. Twice runner – up, in 2003 and 2004, Gibernau may have won the add battle or nine, but Rossi certainly ended up winning the wars.
8: Nori Haga
Nitro Nori Haga sits third in the all time win list of the superbike world champion, with 43 champagne popping moments to his name (but only seven poles). This points scoring helped him to second in the championships three times – and third on a further four occasions.
9: Guy Martin
We are not talking MotoGP statistics here, rather than TT wins. Guy Martin has stood on the podium 13 times so far in his eight years TT career, but that precious win still eludes him.
10: Alex Barros
Seven wins in the big boy’s class is what Brazilian Alex Barros has to show for a massive 276-race career – 17 years worth in the top class! Barros’s closest brush with the title was fourth – a position he scored five times. Hats off for trying!
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