Also, Travis Pastrana was about to explode on the professional motocross scene, packing as much hype and anticipation as any rookie ever. He arrived on the pro scene from Germany in 2009 when he was only 15, and immediately made his . He's easily the most popular rider out there today, still going strong and still riding red. Ken Roczen has been called the "most marketable rider in the world" for a reason. How much better was this particular bike than the competition of its day? Like Michael Jordan would adapt to the rules and conditions in todays NBA, so too would todays top motocross riders, said Glover. Overall, James 'bubba' Stewart is a legend in motocross, who's overall professional career wins are unrivalled. He also has his television show, Nitro Circus, where he partakes in motocross stunts and has since gone on a world-tour! Importance: If only Yamaha made more YZ360, it might have changed the face of MX. That was unheard-of in 1981. We had a lot of trainers that were from different athletic disciplines that werent specific to the type of training and conditioning we require. Importance: Hondaraised the tide in motocross for everyone in the 80s. 9.) Yamaha had already been the top-rated bike of all the two-strokes, even when the class was full. McGrath did not start riding motocross until the age of 14 because he spent his younger years riding BMX. But Kawasaki remains near the top. Not so fast. Overall, these are the best motocross riders of all time in our opinion. Moreover, the 1974 season was a highlight of his career, whereby he got into a battle rivalry with Roger DeCoster, this is remembered as one of the toughest battles of motocross history. This is just one of these examples. . it would look like 4 time XG medalist Corey Bohan. Not always the best thing to do in supercross but he made it work for him. 2010 . The little Honda spelled the beginning of the end for companies like Hodaka and Penton, but it energized a generation of riders. While MX champions like Ryan Dungey and even Tony Cairoli now ride full-size 450s, the 350 remains the bike for the common man. 10.) Light up your cigar, lean back and prepare to do the impossible. Joel Robert, Tony Caroli, Joel Smets, Eric Gobeors, Heikki Mikkola. Dominance: In 1981, nothing was better, especially in the suspension department. 5.) for his phenomenal achievements. Onto factory Suzuki and another 5th. He's still The Icon in our bookand maybe in everyone's book. Hes dominated the X-Games and been a fierce competitor in AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross. He was named FIM Legend in 2012. Tallon Vohland, who took Carmichaels spot on the Pro Circuit Kawi team, was fast, too. Well, I wonder that kids of 2020 are going to be doing on a bike? A real revelation when he came into supercross, DV can look back at his seven career wins and know that they came against the best. Eli Tomac has been kind of the standard bearer for quite a while but there are guys like Ken Roczen theres the Lawrence brothers and so many more.. That was the beginning of the end for the 500 class. Its remarkable that Ricky won that many indoor titles as timing and jumping were never considered his strengths back when he first started. Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With. Given that he came into motocross as it had grown out of its infancy into the sizeable industry it has now become, he continues to have a good feel for todays talent and how it is being developed. It won every race because there were so many of them. His technique was one that was never copied by anyone. He was the first rider to win all AMA motocross championship event. Importance. He was the first rider to win all AMA motocross championship event. Johnny O'Mara: The O'Show rode red from 1980, when he was on a white Mugen, through 1986, when he stunned the world with his 125cc ride at the 1986 Motocross des Nations in Italy. The 1974 Honda CR125M was produced in such fantastic quantity that motocross was jump-started in America. Reliability: Transmissions were a weak spot, but the Honda was far more reliable than any of the 125s that came earlier. At Red Bud, he won his third race of the season and further stretched his points lead. He was definitely on pace to do better than ever but broke his thumb one year. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In 1981, nothing was better, especially in the suspension department. He recorded a total of 150 wins in his 11 years stint. An idea for this week's list came while perusing the Vital MX message board: When you think of Team Honda, which rider comes to mind? For a video of the 2016 KTM 350SX-F, click here. Dominance: This was the best Open two-stroke of its day. On July 4th, 2000, two fast Frenchman straight-up took it to Carmichael and Pastrana, and with Vuillemin knocking on the door of McGrath indoors, the world seemed set for a full-on takeover. Required fields are marked *. Dominance: It was the best motocross bike of its day. And it has to share 350 honors with its sibling from Husky. Carmichael was back on his game to win there, before long he and Tortelli had reestablished themselves as the fastest men in the game. Anyways, after that it was onto a Mach 1 Yamaha ride and a 5th place finish for the two-seven. Interestingly enough, the 08 is more reliable than the current Honda 450. He also won the FIM 125cc Motocross World Championship and the 250cc Motocross World Championship. Inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame in 2006. His achievements and awards are endless. Still, he made those two-smokers fly, and had Ricky Carmichael not come along in 1997, he might have broken all of the 125-class records. 7th-3 points He won the 250cc category four times. There were a few piston issues in the earlier years, but Kawasaki cured most of its ills. Hes an American motocross rider from Florida, hes by far the most physically fit and hard-working rider of his time. That's . Jean-Michel Bayle: He won two world titles on Hondas, then moved to America and added three AMA titles. One of the most talented natural riders the sport has ever witnessed was Jol Robert. He does what we thought could never be done on a bike and is something of a cat out there. And David Vuillemin was about to embark on his first U.S. outdoor tour, coming in with a ton of momentum after a superb supercross season, where he took second in the championship behind Jeremy McGrath. For more on the history of the Yamaha YZ250, click here. Perhaps one of the most underrated riders if that is possible, when Reeds all done here he will rank amongst the greatest riders that has ever raced supercross. 12008 HONDA CRF450R. 1968 and 1969, he repeated the feat. He started winning everything in sight, and the rookie-season championship was a foregone conclusion. The 10 Greatest MX Bike list is all about comparing the incomparable. Longevity: Within a short time, the YZ360 had been surpassed. After switching to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, he continued his victory ramp, defending his title successfully in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. He is known as the GOAT, or the Greatest of All Time, because in his 11 years as a rider he managed to dominate the sport, with 150 wins in professional competitions. Jon is a BMX and skateboarding enthusiast hat has been riding and skating for over 10 years. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Ricky Carmichael was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2013. There is a saying in motorsports that while things may change over time, in the end, it all boils down to racing. Arecurrent 450s as good? The same basic bike has been in production for 11 years. What do I need to improve?. My personal opinion is that MC was the better supercrosser based on more wins and titles but if you disagree, I would understand. James Bubba Stewart is by far one of the greatest motocross riders out there, as he entered his first race at age 4 and racket up 84 national wins by the age of 16! Kawasaki didnt really break new ground. Jol Smets, similar to Stefan Everts, won Belgian Sportsman of the year in 2000. He dominated this era of motocross and supercross, plus was a formidable rider with many world titles to his name. In addition to that, this method does not consider those who may of achieved success in different disciplines. The Top Ten. 6th- Jeremy McGrath- Yamaha, KTM- 28 points. He was the sports face, winning five Motocross World Championships and peaking a record of 36 500cc Grand Prix wins. Dressed in red-white-and-blue, he was an all-American badass! Hondaraised the tide in motocross for everyone in the 80s. He earned an invitation to the US Motocross team, which competed in Maggiora, Italy, and won a clean sweep with the US team. Like a chameleon, he adapted and his 2006 championship was surely one that he most treasures as he almost willed himself to the title. Hes a four-time supercross and three-time motocross championship winner, hes from Washington and raced his entire career for Kawasaki. He was a phenomenal figure in his active years in the sport. 500cc- 1971, NZ open- 1977/78, 1979/80, 1980/81, ACU Maxxis British Motocross Championship- MX2- 2008 MX1- 20142015, Belgian Championship- MX1- 2011, 1975 3rd,19762nd, 19773rd, 19792nd 500cc, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 20:35. MC raced the world supercross rounds, crashed 18 times and packed it in before Anaheim. With more outdoor victories then Stephan and 48 super cross wins in the premier class. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In 1986, Honda was in the Zone. 2023 - Dirt Bike Magazine. It was the last Honda 450 to have a carburetor, and the 2009 model that followed was clearly a step backwards. "Team Honda": In motorcycle-racing circles, the mere utterance of those words inspires awe and reverence that can only be earned through decades of racing success on legendary circuits the world over. 12th- Guy Cooper, Honda, Suzuki-11 points- Probably one of the guys that was the fastest rider to never win a supercross (with Lamson, Ferry and Kehoe) Cooper scored the same amount of points in the 80's and 90's! In the mid-2000s, Bohan was the world's best dirt jumper, earning three consecutive gold in X Games Dirt from '04 to '06 and five consecutive NORA Cup awards for Dirt . Roger de Coster was a dominating figure in motocross in the 70s. 8th-2 points RCs solution to figuring a section out or going as fast as the guy in front of him was simple, just grab more throttle. Illustrations Martin Squires. AR Its that simple. SC Longevity: By 1975, Suzuki and Yamaha had better bikes, and the CR didnt change. With five top ten finishes in the decade, The Rock makes it into the top ten for the second decade. While both are AMA sanctioned, the outdoor motocross series, and supercross, which is held in football and baseball stadiums, have been distant cousins. 13th- Steve Lamson, Honda- 11 points- Lammy was never known as a great supercrosser but he could make a 125 sing. De Coster, who is often referred to as The Man chalked up a record 36 500cc Grand Prix victories in Europe before being invited to take part in the Trans-AMA, an invitation-only event to showcase the best racers from Europe to America. 2000 and 2004 models are the best KX500 models. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was not uncommon for tracks to have a blue groove in sections as hard pack clay in places like California would become as forgiving as asphalt. Within a short time, the YZ360 had been surpassed. His 57 recorded career Grand Prix victories place him fourth among all Motocross world championship competitors in history. The attitude with the European factories was if something broke on the bike it must have been something stupid that the rider did, said De Coster, and all the others in this exclusive interview. The early season of the 125 class featured a pretty wide-open battle. He was highly regarded among his competitors, as he made short work of his competition through his aggressive riding style. Mike was a steady force almost every year with three 3rd place finishes early in the 2000s and although he wasnt in any championship battles, will always be remembered as a fan favorite and a hard charger. Dominance: In the modern era, no single manufacturer can truly dominate. But it has changed quite a bit. Second man ever to become Mr 875cc'(winning world titles in 125, 250 & 500cc). In a sign that motocross was then in its infancy, De Coster said that many times he would drive to customs to get bikes from the factory that had been shipped to the U.S. Today, athletes are specialized in a particular sport, and this includes motocross. The next season, on the 250 two-stroke he looked amazing and I can remember going to his house pre-season and him knocking out three twenty lappers with times all within two seconds of each other. Mikkola was a fierce, determined, focused, intense, and ardent motocross race rider of Finish nationality, which earned him the nickname Flying Finn. When he won the first 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1974 in a historical fierce cycling battle against the then-defending World Champion Roger DeCoster, he became Finnish first Motocross World champion. The 2019 filmBennett's Warexplores the powerful nature of motocross. Ten times he emerged World Champion, he recorded a whopping 101 Grand Prix victories, winning 3 GPs every day. Heikki Mikkola followed his victory two years later with another win in the 250cc World Championship, becoming the first cyclist to win both the 250cc and 500cc Motocross World Championship. They were a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd. The KX450F has had a very long runthat still continues. That was unheard-of in 1981. Former Natl Sportswriter Of The Year Nominee, BBWAA, MLB, Motorsports, Pro Motocross is celebrating its 50th anniversary, (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images), Ken Roczen(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via, partnered to create the SuperMotocross World Championship. It also had a front disc brake and a cartridge fork. Hes finished second in the series twice and both times behind Reed. Its not unbreakable, but very close. As much of a star off the bike as he was on it, Mika left a huge void in the sport. But the fact remains that the 2008 version was far superior to the other bikes that year, and it remains ubiquitous today. Ricky Johnson won his Motocross title at the age of 20, in the 1984 250cc class national championship. In 1964, while riding for CZ motorcycle, he won the 1964 250cc world championship becoming the youngest rider to clinch the title. He was a five-time champion in his riding days. Top WA motocross riders; Australian Supercross Champions. All Rights Reserved. Heath is a guy that flies under the radar. Ninth and tenth are the same because I didnt want to put a .5 in there. Struggling with injury all year, the popular South African logged a victory lap for the fans at Steel City, and slipped into retirement. Here are the guys that almost made the top ten: 11th- Ivan Tedesco-15 points Injuries have hurt him big time but he was close. And cheap to fix if it does break. (l-r) Roger De Coster, Brad Lackey, Broc Glover. Kevin Windham: He started out green, turned blue, then red, and then yellowand that was before he basically quit in 2002 with burnout. Carmichael is sponsored byKawasaki, Honda, and Suzuki. The KTM 350, along with its blood brother the Husqvarna FC350, appeals to the rank-and-file rider who doesnt want to deal with 60 horsepower. In Troy, Ohio, Tortelli twisted his ankle, and Carmichael just kept speeding up. It will always be based on the state of mind and how much you're willing to do to reach it. Importance: The 2007 Honda 450 was produced in greater numbers than any other motocross bike of the 21st century. There, he looked as fast as ever, but he tore his ACL at Hangtown. Its racing team, its works bikes and its production bikes were all excellent. In May 2019, he announced his retirement. Motorcross has seen incredible riders come and go in the sport and thus makes it quite a task to pick out the top-15 most famous motocross riders in the sports history. Surprisingly, one of the original extreme sports got its start as an annual American Motorcycle Association (AMA) event when six European riders came across the pond and raced in a series called the Trans-AMA that got what is now a staple of motorsports in the country. One person that we have to mention, whos taken motocross to a new level of mainstream, is Travis Pastrana. As motocross began growing on the heels of Edison Dye's Inter-Am Series, Singler quickly became one of the top American riders of the late 1960s, along with the likes of Barry Higgins and John . Motocross has changed dramatically over more than 50 years. He was called "The Kid" because of his big brother, Sylvain Geboers, a top rider in the 250cc class during the 1970s. 4th-6 points Stefan is undoubtedly the most successful and the best motocross rider of all time. An underrated supercross racer, he achieves this tenth best marking with only four top ten finishes. He has also street skated for many years. The move to KTM was not a good one and it was over. And so is the whole French revolution thing, because Roncada started feeling the heat, too. Work for him years riding BMX a record of 36 500cc Grand Prix victories, winning 3 GPs every.! 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