Given that Ricky Carmichael always found a way to win, even against other legends of the sport in his era, we asked the GOAT if he thought he could do the same now against the new generation in 2026.
A humble RC told us that while he would like to think he would figure it out, the current generation have more skill than him!
“Well, I like to think that I would find a way to win. At the end of the day, I feel like the best guys do find a way and that’s what makes those guys special. Cooper Webb is a perfect example. It’s not always about being the fastest guy. You know, you don’t have to be the fastest guy to win championships at this level. You have to be the most well-rounded guy. You got to be consistent. You got to risk management. You got to have some decent speed, but you just don’t. Being the fastest isn’t everything. And I think Cooper is really good at realizing that. He’s an ace on the mental game as well and a lot of the championship guys have to be really mentally astute. So, I’d like to think that I could find a way, but these guys have a lot more skill, I will say, than I ever did. I think the skill level from these riders is just absolutely exceptional.”