Top 10 bike racing powerslides gallery

They produce the most entertaining bike racing shots. Visordown lists the top 10 powerslides

2012 is marked in the Mayan calendars as the end of the world but for the many bike fans around it is the year that 1000cc bikes return to MotoGP and possibly a return to the cool powerslides shots. In the meantime we have put together a top 10 gallery of the best bike racing powerslides.

Before we plot the top 10 it is important to define the fundamentals to a good power slide. The main factors should be blue smoking tyres, black lines coating the tarmac and a serious level of sideways action.

It would be easy to fill this gallery with images of Hayden and the glory days of the 990s, but at Visordown we felt it was important to show some alternatives to the powerslide crown.

Click next to begin the countdown of the Top 10 Bike Racing Powerslides

10. Noboru Ueda

10. Noboru Ueda, Estoril, 2001

Here's Nobby Ueda showing you don't need 200bhp as he gets his Honda RS125 sideways. This may not have the drama of a slide from a bigger bike but Nobby was one of the most entertaining riders from the championship '90s and he is welcome in this top 10.

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09. Broc Parkes

09. Broc Parkes, Donington Park, 2001

Brought to the racing paddock by Wayne Gardner, Broc shows some sliding style that would make his mentor proud.

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08. Valentino Rossi

08. Valentino Rossi, Jerez, 2003

Instead of counting sheep to get to sleep Rossi dreams of the days when he was sliding the rear of a monster 990s. Nowadays he can be seen line-a-stern on the 800 Yamaha M1.

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07. Garry McCoy

07. Garry McCoy, Valencia, 1999

An icon of the latter days of the 500 Grand Prix championship Garry McCoy was a gift to the cameras thanks in part to his effortless slides on the YZR500.

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06. Kenny Roberts Jr.

06. Kenny Roberts Jr., Catalunya, 2006

Brought up on the infamous Roberts Ranch, Junior demonstrates the skills his legendary Father passed down to him. Attaboy!

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05. Ruben Xaus

05. Ruben Xaus, Monza, 2009

This picture could have gone one of two ways. Fortunately for the top 10 the rear didn't suddenly grip and poor Ruben wasn't thrown over the bars, but we were left with this cool slide instead. Wind that traction control setting up Ruben!

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04. Casey Stoner

04. Casey Stoner, Sepang, 2009

Say what you want about him, "He's only where he's at because of electronics," and, "The Ducati is quicker than everyone else." But Stoner is incredible on a bike, wrestling the Desmo around the track. This sliding shot shows that he does have the throttle grace that would have seen him running up front in the 500s.

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03. Marco Melandri

03. Marco Melandri, Qatar, 2006

It would have been number one on this list but unfortunately the most famous of Melandri’s shots, the sliding hand off with the V for victory at Phillip Island is also photographically illustrious. Thankfully for us he had an entertaining way of using his throttle and the above is proof of that. Hang that bitch out to dry Marco!

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02. Garry McCoy

02. Garry McCoy, Catalunya, 2003

Granted this is McCoy's second appearance in the top 10 and there is no point in arguing why. He's just that damn good at getting anything sideways! It's this sort of nonsense that must make Kawasaki proud they poured millions into the R&D of their MotoGP bike. Way to go, Garry!

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01. Randy Mamola

01. Randy Mamola, Goiania, 1988

And the award for coolest bike racing powerslide goes to Randy Mamola, unfortunately Randy can't be here to accept his award.

There shouldn't be any need to defend the Californian as the number one choice, this snap ticks all the right boxes for the perfect slide. We can see there is blue smoke pouring from the rear tyre, he's leaving a big fat black line and there is an amazing level of sideways action going on. And it's on a tw-stroke 500. Nuff said.