Last month, 1,112 members of the online survey group Goo Research were questioned on their favorite characters across the Mario Kart series.

Of those who participated, 70.8 percent were female, 13.5 percent were teenagers, 18.2 percent in their twenties, 28.1 percent in their thirties, 25.5 percent in their forties, 8.7 percent in their fifties and 6 percent were aged sixty or older.

The results were as follows, with the score representing relative number of votes.

1. Yoshi - 100

2. Toad - 98.2

3. Mario - 83.1

4. Peach - 52.5

5. Luigi - 46.4

6. Bowser - 43.9

7. Koopa Troopa - 41

8. Baby Mario - 31.3

9. Wario - 26.6

10. Toadette - 24.8

11. Daisy - 24.5

12. Baby Peach - 23

13. Donkey Kong - 22.7

14. Bowser Jr. - 17.3

15. King Boo and Baby Luigi - 12.9 tied

16. Baby Daisy - 12.6

17. Donkey Kong Jr. Waluigi and Koopa Paratroopa - 11.9 tied

18. Dry Bones - 11.5

19. Birdo - 10.4

20. Dry Bowser - 10.1

21. Diddy Kong - 6.5

22. Funky Kong - 5

23. Rosalina - 4

24. Petey Piranha and R.O.B - 2.2

Now given the female majority of participants and their collective (and predictable) love for the cutesy schtick of both Yoshi and Toad, these readings seemed to be somewhat biased.

Taking matters into my own hands, I conducted a survey of my own, to see how NWR's results match up. Here are the responses.

Neal Ronaghan:

Koopa Troopa and Dry Bones in every game they're in (though Yoshi was my boy in MK64).

Daan Koopman:

As of late, I always go with Baby Mario. I like the handling of those small karts.In older games I went with Yoshi.

Scott Thompson:

Yoshi. Forever and always, Yoshi.

Danny Bivens:

Koopa Troopa 4 lyfe.

Andy Goergen:

Lately I've been on a Luigi kick, both in Kart and in Smash.

Carmine Red:
Koopa Troopa. Princess Peach. Toad. In that order.

James Dawson:

I've used Dry Bones religiously since Mario Kart DS. While I'm at it I
might as well mention that my favorite cart is the Dry Bomber. I was
really disappointed by the lack of interesting character specific
carts in Mario Kart Wii. I hope they bring them back for MK7.

Jared Rosenberg:
Bum Bum Bum Bum Yoshi!

Minoru Yamaizumi:

Koopa Troopa. Mario. in this order.

Zach Miller:

Dry Bones, Koopa (SNES), Yoshi. Dat's da troof, Troof!

Nate Andrews:
Wario/Toad in 64, Luigi in DS.

Josh Max:
Yoshi. Forever and for always.

Matthew Walker:
Yoshi- I realized he was my boy in SMK on SNES when I realized even after getting taken out by an item he could zoom off faster than the rest of the characters with his mad acceleration.
Also Mario, because his name is in the title.

J.P. Corbran:
Waluigi all the way.

Pedro Hernandez:
Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64: Yoshi. Mario Kart DS: Yoshi. Mario Kart Wii: Baby Peach.

Dan Waseilewski:

Super Mario Kart: DK Jr.
Double Dash: Toad/Toadette combo or Koopa/Paratroopa combo
Everything else: Mario

Nicholas Bray:

Toad, Princess Peach.

James Charlton:

1 - Yoshi. 2 - Toad. I didn't realise just how common my choices were until now!

And finally me, Andrew Brown:

I've always been a loyal Bowser fan, even going so far as to laugh with gruff, maniacal glee whenever I've pegged a friend with a shell. Dry Bowser is cool too, and in Double Dash I had a Bowser / Koopa Troopa combo.

So after tallying up the scores, NWR's top 5 Mario Kart racers are;

1. Yoshi - 8

2. Koopa Troopa - 7

3. Toad - 5

4. Dry Bones and Mario - 3 tied

5. Princess Peach - 2

Anyone else who was mentioned had only a single vote each. It seems everyone loves the prehensile-tongued dinosaur steed, while I don't have to worry about people stealing my characters in the next NWR Mario Kart tournament. Put your own votes in the comments dear readers, and keep watch for our upcoming coverage of Mario Kart 7!