I have been reading this thread with great interest.
In the days when I mixed with racers regularly, I kept
on hearing lots of people slag of PR.
I used to think that it was something of nothing.
He was a great rider and his biggest handicap, was being
around at the same time as the great SMB.
There were , of course, the little bits of friction with the
one and only Bill Ivy, not to mention a story about PR
not "letting " Bill win a TT. But, on the whole, he was good
to watch.
I, like so many, thoroughly enjoyed being on the Island to
see PR beaten by the comeback legend that was SMB.
So, yes, as a rider, top notch. Few equals, never mind
superiors.
BUT, I have heard so many people declare their undying
detestation for the man, that I can only think that there is
something in the reputation....

As for being a selfish sport? Thats not what I have witnessed
over the almost 50 years that I have been following motorcycle
road racing. In fact, there seems, to me at least, to be a high
proportion of selfLESS people participating.
But, hey, what do I know...?

MV