By the way, I have ABSOLUTE proof that fire starters in pokemon are always the best one.
In Soul Silver, I played my usual way and got Typhlosion, and by the time I got to Mt. Silver I was able to beat Red the same way I beat everyone, by fighting solely with my starter and using the other five as revive fodder. 
In Heart Gold, I choose Fraligatr and am currently at Mt. Silver, WAY fucking underlevelled for the Red fight even though I've done the Elite Four multiple times AND am actually using Mewtwo and a Dragonite because of how far behind Fraligatr is compared to Typhlosion. 

It's fucking insane. It also makes me miss my level 98 Typhlosion from Crystal that got deleted after trading to Gold because the internal battery died and wiped the save with him. Even though I'd never be able to bring him forward he was my best pokemon. Like, I fought literally every fight possible in Crystal with him and him alone, everyone else was fodder, and there were no remaining trainers left, I caught all three dogs, I caught Mewtwo, I beat Red with like, no revives or potions because he would just rush and one shot everything in his path it was amazing.