FZ1MinesRdRipper
Well-known member
Skip Askland should also be mentioned...he had a good career in spite of his nagging shoulder injury.
http://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-is-part-2-of-review-of-skip.html
The classic bad ass motorcycle racer thread
- Thread starter budman
- Start date
Skip Askland should also be mentioned...he had a good career in spite of his nagging shoulder injury.
http://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-is-part-2-of-review-of-skip.html
Kel Carruthers - World Champ on and off the track
Kel Carruthers was the 250cc Grand Prix Road Race World Champion in 1969. As a racer, he is well known for winning not only the world title, but also for his victories in the 250cc class at the Isle of Man in 1969 and 1970. He went on to have a brief, but highly successful racing career in America before becoming one of the most successful team managers and racing engineers in the history of the sport – heading both national and world championship teams during the 1970s and ‘80s. Carruthers ran the teams on which Kenny Roberts won his three consecutive 500cc World Championships.
Carruthers turned pro at 15 as an Australian Flat Track and started clubman road racing at 16. In the early 60’s he was the top racer in his country. From 1962 to 1965, he won 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc national championships. Carruthers rode a wide variety of racing machines, from factory-backed Honda RC161s and CR93s to 500cc Manx Nortons.
In 1966 he loaded his family on a ship and left Europe racing the GP and international racing circuits. As a privateer, he had to learn the long and complicated street and closed circuits. Those were damn dangerous and being controlled meant staying healthy. In ’68 Carruthers finished third in the 350cc World Championship. He was an Aermacchi factory rider in the 125cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. In ’69, Benelli asked Carruthers to ride the company’s 250cc at the Isle of Man and Carruthers won the 250cc class. Aermacchi had agreed to the ride and in an unheard of arrangement they allowed Carruthers to sign with Benelli to race the 250 the rest of the season. Carruthers went on to win the 250cc Grands Prix in Ireland and Yugoslavia to give Benelli its second world title and first since 1950, becoming the third motorcycling world champion from his country.
He came to race Daytona in 1970 and won the 250 race there and came close to winning the 200. Carruthers went on in 1970 to finish runner-up in the 250cc and 350cc world championships riding Yamahas. In 1971, he and his family came to the United States racing out of Don Vesco’s shop. Carruthers still managed to finish eighth in the AMA Grand National Championships even though he was only doing the road races. He won the AMA national at Road Atlanta in April. 1972, Carruthers continued to race, but he was aslo working with a rookie expert named Kenny Roberts. Yamaha quickly hired Carruthers to run its U.S. road racing team. He still had a good season finishing runner-up at Daytona and Road Atlanta and winner at Talladega, but his talent as a race team manager was taking hold and he would retire from racing to focus on the three rider team.
Yamaha’s US race team dominated the road racing during the mid-1970s and did well enough on the dirt track to carry Roberts to the AMA Grand National championship in 1973 and ’74 and the AMA Formula 750 (Formula One) road racing title in 1977. In 1978, Carruthers and Roberts headed to Europe to race the 500cc Grands Prix for Yamaha America. Roberts won the world championship in his first full year and Carruthers had a lot to do with it, guiding the young American on life and racing in Europe.
Carruthers continued working as team manager and engineer for various teams on the GP circuit through 1995. His success as a racer and Team Manager makes him a true bad ass to me.
BTW: His son, Paul, became editor of Cycle News, America’s leading motorcycle racing publication.
His introduction into the Australian Motorsports HoF
youtu.be/oDN9ffyb5lg
Kel Carruthers was the 250cc Grand Prix Road Race World Champion in 1969. As a racer, he is well known for winning not only the world title, but also for his victories in the 250cc class at the Isle of Man in 1969 and 1970. He went on to have a brief, but highly successful racing career in America before becoming one of the most successful team managers and racing engineers in the history of the sport – heading both national and world championship teams during the 1970s and ‘80s. Carruthers ran the teams on which Kenny Roberts won his three consecutive 500cc World Championships.
Carruthers turned pro at 15 as an Australian Flat Track and started clubman road racing at 16. In the early 60’s he was the top racer in his country. From 1962 to 1965, he won 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc national championships. Carruthers rode a wide variety of racing machines, from factory-backed Honda RC161s and CR93s to 500cc Manx Nortons.
In 1966 he loaded his family on a ship and left Europe racing the GP and international racing circuits. As a privateer, he had to learn the long and complicated street and closed circuits. Those were damn dangerous and being controlled meant staying healthy. In ’68 Carruthers finished third in the 350cc World Championship. He was an Aermacchi factory rider in the 125cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. In ’69, Benelli asked Carruthers to ride the company’s 250cc at the Isle of Man and Carruthers won the 250cc class. Aermacchi had agreed to the ride and in an unheard of arrangement they allowed Carruthers to sign with Benelli to race the 250 the rest of the season. Carruthers went on to win the 250cc Grands Prix in Ireland and Yugoslavia to give Benelli its second world title and first since 1950, becoming the third motorcycling world champion from his country.
He came to race Daytona in 1970 and won the 250 race there and came close to winning the 200. Carruthers went on in 1970 to finish runner-up in the 250cc and 350cc world championships riding Yamahas. In 1971, he and his family came to the United States racing out of Don Vesco’s shop. Carruthers still managed to finish eighth in the AMA Grand National Championships even though he was only doing the road races. He won the AMA national at Road Atlanta in April. 1972, Carruthers continued to race, but he was aslo working with a rookie expert named Kenny Roberts. Yamaha quickly hired Carruthers to run its U.S. road racing team. He still had a good season finishing runner-up at Daytona and Road Atlanta and winner at Talladega, but his talent as a race team manager was taking hold and he would retire from racing to focus on the three rider team.
Yamaha’s US race team dominated the road racing during the mid-1970s and did well enough on the dirt track to carry Roberts to the AMA Grand National championship in 1973 and ’74 and the AMA Formula 750 (Formula One) road racing title in 1977. In 1978, Carruthers and Roberts headed to Europe to race the 500cc Grands Prix for Yamaha America. Roberts won the world championship in his first full year and Carruthers had a lot to do with it, guiding the young American on life and racing in Europe.
Carruthers continued working as team manager and engineer for various teams on the GP circuit through 1995. His success as a racer and Team Manager makes him a true bad ass to me.
BTW: His son, Paul, became editor of Cycle News, America’s leading motorcycle racing publication.
His introduction into the Australian Motorsports HoF
youtu.be/oDN9ffyb5lg
Attachments
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Kel Carruthers.jpeg -
Kel Carruthers 250 World Champ.jpeg -
Kel Carruthers5.jpeg -
Kel Carruthers6 Daytona 200.jpeg -
Kel Carruthers4 1971.jpg -
Kel Carruthers3.jpg -
Kel Carruthers7 with Kenny.jpg -
Kel Carruthers9 with Eddie Lawson Kel is second from left.jpeg
Tony D
Tony DiStefano was a top motocross champion of the 1970s. He won three AMA 250cc National Motocross Championships and an Inter-AMA title during his nine-year pro career. "Tony D," as he was known in the racing world, was also a member of four U.S. Motocross des Nations teams and was part of the 1974 team that finished second in the international competition, which proved that American motocross was finally on par with the established European motocross racers.
In all, DiStefano won 16 AMA nationals, including victories in Supercross, 250cc and 500cc motocross and Inter-AMA and Trans-AMA competition. After retiring, DiStefano founded a successful motocross school and continued the school despite suffering paralysis in a riding accident in 1988.
DiStefano lied about his age and started AMA racing at 15 only to be caught and suspended. You had to be 18 at the time. Lucky for him the AMA lowered the age that riders could turn pro to 16 and 1972 brought Tony to racing the AMA events. He was a big kid at 6’1” and close to 200lbs so that probably let him get away with it at first.
In ’73 he rode a privateer CZ, he had 11 top-10 finishes in the 500cc outdoor nationals and finished the season ranked ninth. In March of 1974, he earned his first national podium finish in the 500cc Supercross class. He took second in the 500cc outdoor motocross opener and won his first the next race. He won again at Morgantown, West Virginia, but a broken thumb took his points lead away and he finished second in the standings to Jim Weinert. After the season Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Weinert and Tony D finished second in the Motocross des Nations, the best finish to date by an American team. He would race on the MX of Nations teams in 75, 76 and ’77.
On a factory Suzuki for 1975 DiStefano earned many podiums and took the 250 Motocross title in a close battle with Kent Howerton. He went on to win all three rounds of the Inter-AMA Motocross Series and took that title too. He was the top American in the Trans-AMA Series as well completing his most successful season. He went on to win three AMA 250 MX national titles in a row. A string of injuries followed and was released by Suzuki at the end of the ’78 season. He got aa factory ride with Can-Am team and later Husqvarna, but only managed a few top-10 finishes through the 1981 season and retired from professional racing.
DiStefano was a fan favorite and used his fame to start a motocross school in 1982. He crashed and was paralyzed in 1988, but continued to run the school.
youtu.be/5k91n2hHwN8
Tony DiStefano was a top motocross champion of the 1970s. He won three AMA 250cc National Motocross Championships and an Inter-AMA title during his nine-year pro career. "Tony D," as he was known in the racing world, was also a member of four U.S. Motocross des Nations teams and was part of the 1974 team that finished second in the international competition, which proved that American motocross was finally on par with the established European motocross racers.
In all, DiStefano won 16 AMA nationals, including victories in Supercross, 250cc and 500cc motocross and Inter-AMA and Trans-AMA competition. After retiring, DiStefano founded a successful motocross school and continued the school despite suffering paralysis in a riding accident in 1988.
DiStefano lied about his age and started AMA racing at 15 only to be caught and suspended. You had to be 18 at the time. Lucky for him the AMA lowered the age that riders could turn pro to 16 and 1972 brought Tony to racing the AMA events. He was a big kid at 6’1” and close to 200lbs so that probably let him get away with it at first.
In ’73 he rode a privateer CZ, he had 11 top-10 finishes in the 500cc outdoor nationals and finished the season ranked ninth. In March of 1974, he earned his first national podium finish in the 500cc Supercross class. He took second in the 500cc outdoor motocross opener and won his first the next race. He won again at Morgantown, West Virginia, but a broken thumb took his points lead away and he finished second in the standings to Jim Weinert. After the season Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Weinert and Tony D finished second in the Motocross des Nations, the best finish to date by an American team. He would race on the MX of Nations teams in 75, 76 and ’77.
On a factory Suzuki for 1975 DiStefano earned many podiums and took the 250 Motocross title in a close battle with Kent Howerton. He went on to win all three rounds of the Inter-AMA Motocross Series and took that title too. He was the top American in the Trans-AMA Series as well completing his most successful season. He went on to win three AMA 250 MX national titles in a row. A string of injuries followed and was released by Suzuki at the end of the ’78 season. He got aa factory ride with Can-Am team and later Husqvarna, but only managed a few top-10 finishes through the 1981 season and retired from professional racing.
DiStefano was a fan favorite and used his fame to start a motocross school in 1982. He crashed and was paralyzed in 1988, but continued to run the school.
youtu.be/5k91n2hHwN8
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tony distefano3.jpg -
tony distefano5.jpg -
tony distefano 2 to the right of Kent Howerton and Bob Hannah.jpg
youtu.be/xkFsgZEpWlg
Found this little piece of history memorializing some of the lost friends.
I noted Bob Elliott in this who I mentioned, was an instructor at the Official Suzuki School of Motocross when I went there some 38 years ago.
Some familiar faces. :rip
Happy New Year.
Hammerstime
Well-known member
And the May issues had the glossy color pics of Daytona...
The past and the future of 1982 (Yugoslavia GP)
Too good not to post this one...
I believe there is a Bay Area Legend standing next to Freddy. :thumbup
firstbuell
GO! 04,16,23,31,64,69,95
oh, yeah, I remember him - Flyin' Hawaiian, indeed
I was a university-aged stringer for "Cycle News East", shooting B&W fotos [mebbe even wrote the story] at a late-60s MX Nat'l where JDS was competing - 1 of my pix was selected for publication that week
10-20 years later, in some other cycle rag's story about how to take fotos at a race, up pops that same, backlit, MX jump shot - no rider ID as JDS, zero attribution for me.....
but hey, at least they liked the purloined image enuf to use it as a 'good' example!
FZ1MinesRdRipper
Well-known member
Yes...Erv was one of the best. I was invited by one of Erv's old pit helpers (Larry) to have dinner at a hole in the wall place in San Jose back in the late 80's.
Yes Budman...Kel was a badass too.
SFMCjohn
13
Cyril Neveu won the Paris-Dakar in 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986 and 1987 ... 
arty
Yamaha XT500, Paris Dakar 1979
Yamaha XT 500, Paris Dakar 1980
Honda XR550R, Paris Dakar 1982
Honda NXR750V, Paris Dakar 1986
Honda NXR750V, Paris Dakar 1987
youtu.be/mHNA-HhspVo
... interesting Dakar “rules” history at 7:00 ... :laughing
The Story of the First Dakar Rally - 1979
... more pics, ‘79 stage highlights, and wonderful stories ...
youtu.be/dfoN1r-ypp4
... 1983 Dakar ... in French, but wonderful ...
arty
Yamaha XT500, Paris Dakar 1979
Yamaha XT 500, Paris Dakar 1980
Honda XR550R, Paris Dakar 1982
Honda NXR750V, Paris Dakar 1986
Honda NXR750V, Paris Dakar 1987
youtu.be/mHNA-HhspVo
... interesting Dakar “rules” history at 7:00 ... :laughing
The Story of the First Dakar Rally - 1979
... more pics, ‘79 stage highlights, and wonderful stories ...
youtu.be/dfoN1r-ypp4
... 1983 Dakar ... in French, but wonderful ...
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Randy Goss was a two-time AMA Grand National Champion in the 1980s. A winner of 16 AMA nationals, Goss was one of the top racers of the early '80s and rode for the Harley-Davidson factory racing team for five years. Never flashy or outspoken, Goss approached his racing in a workmanlike manner, putting in a solid effort every race, but rarely pushing past his limits. He earned the well-deserved moniker of “Mr. Consistency.”
Goss hung with Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bart Markel when he first became a rookie expert in 1977. He took six top-10 finishes that season and followed up the next year earning eight top-10 finishes. In 1979 he won three nationals and scored points in 21 races finishing third in the final standings. Harley took notice and hired Goss.
Goss proved Harley was smart edging out Hank Scott by a point to win the GNC in 1980. He was top ten in 19 of the 20 Nationals and it was his win at the SJ Mile that put him on the history books. I was a lucky guy to attend that day. The following year his ended up 3rd behind Mike Kidd and teammate Gary Scott. In 1982 Goss won the prestigious Peoria TT race and went on to win in every form of dirt track racing joining an elite list of riders. 1983 brought Goss won two nationals wins, 17 top five’s, points in every round (26) and his second GNC title.
The 1984 campaign brought Goss four national wins and he was a consistent points lead challenger. At the San Jose Mile we saw Goss go down with two other riders suffered a broken leg. He missed the last 4 rounds, but still took the number 3 plate. Harley-Davidson cut him and he was a privateer for the last couple of years of his racing career. He won the Houston short track race in ’85 and the Ascot Park half-mile in 1986, which would be his last. He retired with his two championships and a solid bad ass career.
Goss hung with Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bart Markel when he first became a rookie expert in 1977. He took six top-10 finishes that season and followed up the next year earning eight top-10 finishes. In 1979 he won three nationals and scored points in 21 races finishing third in the final standings. Harley took notice and hired Goss.
Goss proved Harley was smart edging out Hank Scott by a point to win the GNC in 1980. He was top ten in 19 of the 20 Nationals and it was his win at the SJ Mile that put him on the history books. I was a lucky guy to attend that day. The following year his ended up 3rd behind Mike Kidd and teammate Gary Scott. In 1982 Goss won the prestigious Peoria TT race and went on to win in every form of dirt track racing joining an elite list of riders. 1983 brought Goss won two nationals wins, 17 top five’s, points in every round (26) and his second GNC title.
The 1984 campaign brought Goss four national wins and he was a consistent points lead challenger. At the San Jose Mile we saw Goss go down with two other riders suffered a broken leg. He missed the last 4 rounds, but still took the number 3 plate. Harley-Davidson cut him and he was a privateer for the last couple of years of his racing career. He won the Houston short track race in ’85 and the Ascot Park half-mile in 1986, which would be his last. He retired with his two championships and a solid bad ass career.
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Goss Ascot-1986.jpg
James Stewart – The fastest man on the planet
James Stewart changed the game. He has won more outdoor nationals than anyone in the history of AMA Motocross except for Ricky Carmichael. Like the GOAT he also had a perfect season with 24 straight wins in the 450 Class. Stewart was a badass in the 125’s too, winning 28 of the 31 he raced, which puts him ahead of Carmichael, Mark Barnett and Steve Lamson.
Stewart changed the game with his jumping technique now known as scrubbing. Anyone who wants to win now needs to be able to do that. In the photos of the Bubba Scrub it looks like he was already out of control crashing. Front wheel inches of the ground turned down to the dirt and him remaining centered over the sideways bike. He was also famous for his bravery in the whoops going all in and showing amazing speed!
James Stewart was one of the most famous racers in the history of MX with his own reality TV show. When healthy he was dominant, but also inconsistent by taking it over the edge. For years the call was "Stewart will win if he doesn’t crash".
His success brought him to face off with some of the most successful racers in the sport. Carmichael, Reed, Villopoto and Dungey all had some crazy battles with Bubba. James was a MX of Nations champ twice teaming with Villopoto each time.
In 2015 he got popped for doping (although a legal drug it was banned in SX) because he failed to file paperwork. Since then he has been mostly a no show.
He is rated #5 on the list of all-time greats by RaceX Online.
Since tonight kicks off the 2018 SX season and I believe he won’t be racing I am adding him to the classic bad ass list.
2002 AMA 125 Motocross national champion
2003 AMA 125 West Supercross Champion
2004 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion National finals
2004 AMA 125 Motocross National Champion
2006 FIM World Supercross Grand Prix Champion
2006 Motocross of Nations Champion
2007 AMA Supercross Champion
2007 FIM World Supercross Grand Prix Champion
2008 Motocross of Nations Champion
2008 AMA Motocross National Champion
2009 AMA Supercross Champion
2009 FIM World Supercross Champion
Total career AMA wins
28 wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross
50 wins in 450 AMA Supercross
20 wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross
98 total AMA wins
Vid’s if you only watch a bit check these first two out. :hail
Stewart vs. Carmichael in the GOATS last SX Race Part 1.
youtu.be/R531Bmts8bI
Stewart vs. Carmichael in the GOATS last SX Race Part 2
youtu.be/u-gYQe69j6o
Stewart vs. Carmichael in 07 outdoors Moto 1
youtu.be/enJ_XYMI-Fs
Stewart vs. Carmichael in 07 outdoors Moto 2
(hint Bubby and Ricky battle with the GOAT taking career win number 100.
youtu.be/yrrmhb5WmrY
2012 at Oakland
youtu.be/K_rSXVGag54
3rd straight win in 2014
youtu.be/dvFqBMLkwkc
Nice battle through the pack for his 49th win.
youtu.be/DK8rQsL3y_k
James Stewart changed the game. He has won more outdoor nationals than anyone in the history of AMA Motocross except for Ricky Carmichael. Like the GOAT he also had a perfect season with 24 straight wins in the 450 Class. Stewart was a badass in the 125’s too, winning 28 of the 31 he raced, which puts him ahead of Carmichael, Mark Barnett and Steve Lamson.
Stewart changed the game with his jumping technique now known as scrubbing. Anyone who wants to win now needs to be able to do that. In the photos of the Bubba Scrub it looks like he was already out of control crashing. Front wheel inches of the ground turned down to the dirt and him remaining centered over the sideways bike. He was also famous for his bravery in the whoops going all in and showing amazing speed!
James Stewart was one of the most famous racers in the history of MX with his own reality TV show. When healthy he was dominant, but also inconsistent by taking it over the edge. For years the call was "Stewart will win if he doesn’t crash".
His success brought him to face off with some of the most successful racers in the sport. Carmichael, Reed, Villopoto and Dungey all had some crazy battles with Bubba. James was a MX of Nations champ twice teaming with Villopoto each time.
In 2015 he got popped for doping (although a legal drug it was banned in SX) because he failed to file paperwork. Since then he has been mostly a no show.
He is rated #5 on the list of all-time greats by RaceX Online.
Since tonight kicks off the 2018 SX season and I believe he won’t be racing I am adding him to the classic bad ass list.
2002 AMA 125 Motocross national champion
2003 AMA 125 West Supercross Champion
2004 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion National finals
2004 AMA 125 Motocross National Champion
2006 FIM World Supercross Grand Prix Champion
2006 Motocross of Nations Champion
2007 AMA Supercross Champion
2007 FIM World Supercross Grand Prix Champion
2008 Motocross of Nations Champion
2008 AMA Motocross National Champion
2009 AMA Supercross Champion
2009 FIM World Supercross Champion
Total career AMA wins
28 wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross
50 wins in 450 AMA Supercross
20 wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross
98 total AMA wins
Vid’s if you only watch a bit check these first two out. :hail
Stewart vs. Carmichael in the GOATS last SX Race Part 1.
youtu.be/R531Bmts8bI
Stewart vs. Carmichael in the GOATS last SX Race Part 2
youtu.be/u-gYQe69j6o
Stewart vs. Carmichael in 07 outdoors Moto 1
youtu.be/enJ_XYMI-Fs
Stewart vs. Carmichael in 07 outdoors Moto 2
(hint Bubby and Ricky battle with the GOAT taking career win number 100.
youtu.be/yrrmhb5WmrY
2012 at Oakland
youtu.be/K_rSXVGag54
3rd straight win in 2014
youtu.be/dvFqBMLkwkc
Nice battle through the pack for his 49th win.
youtu.be/DK8rQsL3y_k
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stewart9.jpg -
stewart3.jpg -
stewart6.jpg -
stewart7.jpg -
Stewart2.jpg -
stewart.jpg -
Stewart scrubbing.jpg -
stewart5.JPG -
stewart8.jpg
Ryan Villopoto SX legend
Villopoto, who hails from Washington started his first Pro season in 2006. While still struggling in SX he won his first national at the third round of '06, then went on to take the title. He would repeat in 2007. That season ended with his first appearance in the MX of Nations Budds Creek.
The flying V put on a show kicking tail on the world on his small bike in one of the most amazing performances ever put on in the World Olympics of MX.
In ‘08 Villopoto repeated as the series champ joining Broc Glover, Mark Barnett, and Ricky Carmichael as 3 peat winners in the small bike class.
’09 took him to the 450 class replacing long time Green rider James Stewart.
Villopoto's struggled with injuries in both ’09 and ’10. I still remember Villopoto coming up short on a triple jump at the St. Louis SX and breaking his right tibia. He still finished 4th after missing the last three races with his 7 wins and would miss the entire outdoor series while on the mend.
He bounced back to take his first 450 SX title in ‘11. Villopoto took #1 plate outdoors as well beating out Ryan Dungey with a little luck. The two Ryan’s teamed up for MX of Nations victory in France, famously riding across the finish line at the end of the last moto hand-in-hand. :flag
Villopoto took home 1M bux in the first Monster Las Vegas Challenge winning all three moto’s.
2012 brought Villopoto his second straight Monster Energy Supercross title followed in ’13 with his 3rd. After wining Daytona SX for a 4th time he went on to win his 4th straight SX title and become the standard for success. His career 38 victories ranks him 5th all time.
Injuries kept Villopoto from matching that success outdoors, but his 23 national wins in 52 career starts is impressive. In 2015 RV decided to chase a World Championship. He was not a dominant rider, but managed a win before once again suffered injuries forcing him to withdraw from the series. With three major knee surgeries and other injuries he retired at just 27 years old in what is a brutal sport. These guys pay a heavy price to compete.
He is rated 9th in the RacerXonline article
Ryan Villopoto - A Champion - Part 1
youtu.be/AzLL0K6Ekpw
Ryan Villopoto - A Champion - Part 2
youtu.be/9xz_aRcbK2w
Stats:
2006 MX Lites Champion
2007 AMA West Coast SX Lites Champion
2007 MX Lites Champion
2008 MX Lites Champion
2011 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2011 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
2012 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2013 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2013 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
2014 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
Total Career AMA Wins
11 Wins in 125/250 AMA Supercross
20 Wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross
41 Wins in 250/450 AMA Supercross
12 Wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross
73 Total AMA Wins
1 Win in MXGP 1-2015
Villopoto, who hails from Washington started his first Pro season in 2006. While still struggling in SX he won his first national at the third round of '06, then went on to take the title. He would repeat in 2007. That season ended with his first appearance in the MX of Nations Budds Creek.
The flying V put on a show kicking tail on the world on his small bike in one of the most amazing performances ever put on in the World Olympics of MX.
In ‘08 Villopoto repeated as the series champ joining Broc Glover, Mark Barnett, and Ricky Carmichael as 3 peat winners in the small bike class.
’09 took him to the 450 class replacing long time Green rider James Stewart.
Villopoto's struggled with injuries in both ’09 and ’10. I still remember Villopoto coming up short on a triple jump at the St. Louis SX and breaking his right tibia. He still finished 4th after missing the last three races with his 7 wins and would miss the entire outdoor series while on the mend.
He bounced back to take his first 450 SX title in ‘11. Villopoto took #1 plate outdoors as well beating out Ryan Dungey with a little luck. The two Ryan’s teamed up for MX of Nations victory in France, famously riding across the finish line at the end of the last moto hand-in-hand. :flag
Villopoto took home 1M bux in the first Monster Las Vegas Challenge winning all three moto’s.
2012 brought Villopoto his second straight Monster Energy Supercross title followed in ’13 with his 3rd. After wining Daytona SX for a 4th time he went on to win his 4th straight SX title and become the standard for success. His career 38 victories ranks him 5th all time.
Injuries kept Villopoto from matching that success outdoors, but his 23 national wins in 52 career starts is impressive. In 2015 RV decided to chase a World Championship. He was not a dominant rider, but managed a win before once again suffered injuries forcing him to withdraw from the series. With three major knee surgeries and other injuries he retired at just 27 years old in what is a brutal sport. These guys pay a heavy price to compete.
He is rated 9th in the RacerXonline article
Ryan Villopoto - A Champion - Part 1
youtu.be/AzLL0K6Ekpw
Ryan Villopoto - A Champion - Part 2
youtu.be/9xz_aRcbK2w
Stats:
2006 MX Lites Champion
2007 AMA West Coast SX Lites Champion
2007 MX Lites Champion
2008 MX Lites Champion
2011 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2011 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
2012 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2013 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
2013 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
2014 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
Total Career AMA Wins
11 Wins in 125/250 AMA Supercross
20 Wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross
41 Wins in 250/450 AMA Supercross
12 Wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross
73 Total AMA Wins
1 Win in MXGP 1-2015
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Ryan Dungey -- The Diesel
Ryan Dungey is destined to be in the AMA Hall of Fame no doubt. He is a four-time supercross and three-time motocross champion. Bummer for us fans he retired after winning the 2017 Supercross title.
Dungey won every major title in American Motocross and Supercross. He won the world's largest international motocross race, the Motocross des Nations three times. I was lucky to see him do that in Colorado. My MX of Nations thread from 2011
Dungey won seven major AMA championships and was the first motorcycle racer to be pictured on the Wheaties cereal box . Dungey is tied for 6th place in all-time 450 Supercross race wins (33) and 6th place in all-time Supercross combined wins (44). He holds the record for consecutive podium finishes in Supercross at 31. In all-time 450 motocross overall wins, Dungey is 2nd with 39 to Ricky Carmichael and ahead of Bob Hannah. He is 3rd place in all-time combined (250/450) motocross overall wins (46) and is in 4th place in all-time combined Supercross and Motocross wins with 80 total race wins.
He was a Loretta Lynn winner in ’05 and in '07 he started his full time pro career by winning his first race, the opener of the East SX series on a Suzuki. He followed that up with a win at Round 5 finishing the season ranked fifth, but another win at the East-West Shootout in Las Vegas help him to the 2007 Supercross rookie of the year. In AMA Motocross, Dungey would end up on the podium a total of 4 times and finished 5th for the season even though he missed the last races due to injury. ’08 Dungey took him to the SX West series, but ended up second with a two-point deficit.
2009 took him to the 250 West Supercross title and he filled in on the MX of Nations team because both James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto were out with injuries. Even though Dungey had never raced a 450cc bike he entered the premier MX1 (450) class as the USA’s Team captain. In a fierce battle with the French and host Italian teams, Dungey won the final moto and secured the USA’s 20th MXoN victory
Ryan Dungey rookie season in 450 Supercross in 2010 with James Stewart as the heavy favorite. Dungey won six races that season and become the first rider since Jeremy McGrath to win the Supercross Championship as a rookie. After a tough ride as Hangtown he bounced back and win both motos in R2 and went on to win 10 out of the final 11 rounds capturing his first AMA Motocross 450 Championship. In 29 rounds of his first year on the 450 he won more than half of the races and became the only rider to capture both the SX and MX titles in his rookie year. To cap the year of in style Dungey led the US team to its 21st victory in the MXoN. What a year! :thumbup
Roger De Coster left team Suzuki in 2011 and Dungey could not repeat as champ finishing 3rd in the Supercross season behind Ryan Villopoto and Chad Reed. With the #1 plate on his bike he entered the MX series hoping to repeat. He finished the season behind Villopoto and for the third time in a row led US team to victory in the MXoN. That was an awesome weekend even though I could not get anyone to go with me. The national pride of the countries really made it fun to attend. I met people from all around the world and look forward to attending the event again.
2012 brought Dungey back to his mentor De Coster, now at KTM for the AMA Supercross series. Dungey took four wins but misses the last 5 rounds after having surgery on his collarbone, but will finished third in points. Dungey bounced back in the outdoor MX series with wins in 19 of the final 20 motos and 10 overall wins. He took the Championship and brought KTM is first #1 plate. Dungey would podium in 23 of the seasons 29 in ’13 races, but finished the season 3rd behind Villopoto and Davi Millsaps in SXand 2nd behind Villopoto in outdoors. His consistency was becoming well known and somebody gave him the nickname the Diesel.
In ’14 the Diesel wound up on the podium 21 out of 29 times and in round 16 it would be the last time Dungey would finish outside the top 5 for the rest of his career. He finished 2nd to Ryan Villopoto once again in SX and 2nd in the outdoor after battling with World Champ Ken Roczen.
Dungey owned 2015 adding increased speed to his consistency. 15 wins and 21 straight podiums in both the SX and MX put the No. 1 back on his KTM. His domination continued in the 2016 Supercross series that gave him 31 consecutive podium finishes over the combined 2015-2016 seasons. In the ’17 SX series Eli Tomac came into his own in 2017 taking 9 wins. Ryan only had two wins, but his consistency took him to the title. The two time ESPY Male Action Athlete of the year announced his retirement shortly after and would leave the sport as both a record holder and hit body intact at the top of his game.
He showed up at last nights SX opener and spent a little time in the booth. I don’t think we are done seeing him being involve in the sport.
I predict he will become the Red Bull KTM team manager after Roger DeCoster retires.
Dungey's records are pretty impressive… in fact bad ass!
Championships
• 2009 AMA West Coast SX Lites Champion
• 2009 AMA 250 Motocross Champion
• 2009 Motocross des Nations Champion
• 2010 AMA Supercross 450 Champion (Rookie Season)
• 2010 AMA 450 Motocross Champion (Rookie Season)
• 2010 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
• 2011 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
• 2012 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
• 2015 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
• 2015 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
• 2016 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
• 2017 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
Total career AMA wins
• 12 in SX Lites Supercross Class
• 7 in 250 Motocross
• 34 in 450 Supercross
• 39 in 450 Motocross Class
• 80 AMA total wins
Ryan Dungey is destined to be in the AMA Hall of Fame no doubt. He is a four-time supercross and three-time motocross champion. Bummer for us fans he retired after winning the 2017 Supercross title.
Dungey won every major title in American Motocross and Supercross. He won the world's largest international motocross race, the Motocross des Nations three times. I was lucky to see him do that in Colorado. My MX of Nations thread from 2011
Dungey won seven major AMA championships and was the first motorcycle racer to be pictured on the Wheaties cereal box . Dungey is tied for 6th place in all-time 450 Supercross race wins (33) and 6th place in all-time Supercross combined wins (44). He holds the record for consecutive podium finishes in Supercross at 31. In all-time 450 motocross overall wins, Dungey is 2nd with 39 to Ricky Carmichael and ahead of Bob Hannah. He is 3rd place in all-time combined (250/450) motocross overall wins (46) and is in 4th place in all-time combined Supercross and Motocross wins with 80 total race wins.
He was a Loretta Lynn winner in ’05 and in '07 he started his full time pro career by winning his first race, the opener of the East SX series on a Suzuki. He followed that up with a win at Round 5 finishing the season ranked fifth, but another win at the East-West Shootout in Las Vegas help him to the 2007 Supercross rookie of the year. In AMA Motocross, Dungey would end up on the podium a total of 4 times and finished 5th for the season even though he missed the last races due to injury. ’08 Dungey took him to the SX West series, but ended up second with a two-point deficit.
2009 took him to the 250 West Supercross title and he filled in on the MX of Nations team because both James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto were out with injuries. Even though Dungey had never raced a 450cc bike he entered the premier MX1 (450) class as the USA’s Team captain. In a fierce battle with the French and host Italian teams, Dungey won the final moto and secured the USA’s 20th MXoN victory
Ryan Dungey rookie season in 450 Supercross in 2010 with James Stewart as the heavy favorite. Dungey won six races that season and become the first rider since Jeremy McGrath to win the Supercross Championship as a rookie. After a tough ride as Hangtown he bounced back and win both motos in R2 and went on to win 10 out of the final 11 rounds capturing his first AMA Motocross 450 Championship. In 29 rounds of his first year on the 450 he won more than half of the races and became the only rider to capture both the SX and MX titles in his rookie year. To cap the year of in style Dungey led the US team to its 21st victory in the MXoN. What a year! :thumbup
Roger De Coster left team Suzuki in 2011 and Dungey could not repeat as champ finishing 3rd in the Supercross season behind Ryan Villopoto and Chad Reed. With the #1 plate on his bike he entered the MX series hoping to repeat. He finished the season behind Villopoto and for the third time in a row led US team to victory in the MXoN. That was an awesome weekend even though I could not get anyone to go with me. The national pride of the countries really made it fun to attend. I met people from all around the world and look forward to attending the event again.
2012 brought Dungey back to his mentor De Coster, now at KTM for the AMA Supercross series. Dungey took four wins but misses the last 5 rounds after having surgery on his collarbone, but will finished third in points. Dungey bounced back in the outdoor MX series with wins in 19 of the final 20 motos and 10 overall wins. He took the Championship and brought KTM is first #1 plate. Dungey would podium in 23 of the seasons 29 in ’13 races, but finished the season 3rd behind Villopoto and Davi Millsaps in SXand 2nd behind Villopoto in outdoors. His consistency was becoming well known and somebody gave him the nickname the Diesel.
In ’14 the Diesel wound up on the podium 21 out of 29 times and in round 16 it would be the last time Dungey would finish outside the top 5 for the rest of his career. He finished 2nd to Ryan Villopoto once again in SX and 2nd in the outdoor after battling with World Champ Ken Roczen.
Dungey owned 2015 adding increased speed to his consistency. 15 wins and 21 straight podiums in both the SX and MX put the No. 1 back on his KTM. His domination continued in the 2016 Supercross series that gave him 31 consecutive podium finishes over the combined 2015-2016 seasons. In the ’17 SX series Eli Tomac came into his own in 2017 taking 9 wins. Ryan only had two wins, but his consistency took him to the title. The two time ESPY Male Action Athlete of the year announced his retirement shortly after and would leave the sport as both a record holder and hit body intact at the top of his game.
He showed up at last nights SX opener and spent a little time in the booth. I don’t think we are done seeing him being involve in the sport.
I predict he will become the Red Bull KTM team manager after Roger DeCoster retires.
Dungey's records are pretty impressive… in fact bad ass!
Championships
• 2009 AMA West Coast SX Lites Champion
• 2009 AMA 250 Motocross Champion
• 2009 Motocross des Nations Champion
• 2010 AMA Supercross 450 Champion (Rookie Season)
• 2010 AMA 450 Motocross Champion (Rookie Season)
• 2010 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
• 2011 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
• 2012 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
• 2015 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
• 2015 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
• 2016 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
• 2017 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
Total career AMA wins
• 12 in SX Lites Supercross Class
• 7 in 250 Motocross
• 34 in 450 Supercross
• 39 in 450 Motocross Class
• 80 AMA total wins
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Doug Henry
Doug Henry was a three-time AMA Motocross national champion in the 1990s. He was on the leading edge of a revolution in professional motocross racing by becoming the first prominent rider to race four-stroke machines in national competition against a sea of traditional two-stroke motorcycles. Just a few years after Henry became the first four-stroke rider in AMA Motocross history to win a national championship in 1998, AMA Motocross Championship racing would become almost exclusively the domain of four-stroke bikes. After retiring from motocross full-time, Henry went on to become one of the leading Supermoto riders in the world.
Doug Henry hit the MX scene in the late 80’s in 1993 he joined Team Honda immediately delivering 125 East Region SX title and beat defending champion Jeff Emig and teammate Jeremy McGrath for the 125 National Motocross Championship. He backed that up in 1994.
In 1995 Honda moved Henry and McGrath moved to the 250 class. Henry got a win that year, but in the outdoor series at Budds Creek he launched his CR250 off the top of a steep hill flying way over his competitors breaking his back. Doctors inserted a cage around his damaged vertebrae and just eight months later and rejoined the SX tour on a Yamaha. Henry was featured on CNN after his epic crash
youtu.be/9Is9Lyu6c7Q
Henry piloting a YZ250 and leading the SX points in ’97 collided with Jimmy Button in the Houston Astrodome and snapped his wrist. Henry was already testing Yamaha's new 4 stroke YZ400 and when he came back from injury in time for the last supercross race he decided to enter the YZ. Henry won the main event and became the first man ever to win an AMA Supercross on a four-stroke.
In 1998 he had a strong supercross season finishing 7th overall. The outdoor season would be Henry's chance to show the YZ’s true capabilities. Henry won at his home track of Southwick and another at Budds Creek, the track where he broke his arms and back. He went on to earn five overall wins and take the 1998 250cc National Championship. Henry scaled back to a partial schedule for 1999 in a farewell tour wearing his #1 plate.
Henry became a regular on the AMA Supermoto tour and won many National events twice winning the gold medal in the X-Games Supermoto race. He unfortunately broke his back in a Supermoto crash this time becoming paralyzed. Still he was not done. Building a caged MX bike he continued to ride. Henry also raced the X games on a snowmobile in the adaptive class (for physically challenged racers) taking 4 medals proving once again how bad ass this guy is. :hail Henry was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2005.
Stats:
1993 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
1993 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion
1994 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
1998 AMA 250 Motocross Champion
1998 AMA Professional Athlete of the Year
25 AMA Supercross/Motocross overall wins
Winter X Games
Silver medal – second place 2013 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Silver medal – second place 2015 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Doug Henry was a three-time AMA Motocross national champion in the 1990s. He was on the leading edge of a revolution in professional motocross racing by becoming the first prominent rider to race four-stroke machines in national competition against a sea of traditional two-stroke motorcycles. Just a few years after Henry became the first four-stroke rider in AMA Motocross history to win a national championship in 1998, AMA Motocross Championship racing would become almost exclusively the domain of four-stroke bikes. After retiring from motocross full-time, Henry went on to become one of the leading Supermoto riders in the world.
Doug Henry hit the MX scene in the late 80’s in 1993 he joined Team Honda immediately delivering 125 East Region SX title and beat defending champion Jeff Emig and teammate Jeremy McGrath for the 125 National Motocross Championship. He backed that up in 1994.
In 1995 Honda moved Henry and McGrath moved to the 250 class. Henry got a win that year, but in the outdoor series at Budds Creek he launched his CR250 off the top of a steep hill flying way over his competitors breaking his back. Doctors inserted a cage around his damaged vertebrae and just eight months later and rejoined the SX tour on a Yamaha. Henry was featured on CNN after his epic crash
youtu.be/9Is9Lyu6c7Q
Henry piloting a YZ250 and leading the SX points in ’97 collided with Jimmy Button in the Houston Astrodome and snapped his wrist. Henry was already testing Yamaha's new 4 stroke YZ400 and when he came back from injury in time for the last supercross race he decided to enter the YZ. Henry won the main event and became the first man ever to win an AMA Supercross on a four-stroke.
In 1998 he had a strong supercross season finishing 7th overall. The outdoor season would be Henry's chance to show the YZ’s true capabilities. Henry won at his home track of Southwick and another at Budds Creek, the track where he broke his arms and back. He went on to earn five overall wins and take the 1998 250cc National Championship. Henry scaled back to a partial schedule for 1999 in a farewell tour wearing his #1 plate.
Henry became a regular on the AMA Supermoto tour and won many National events twice winning the gold medal in the X-Games Supermoto race. He unfortunately broke his back in a Supermoto crash this time becoming paralyzed. Still he was not done. Building a caged MX bike he continued to ride. Henry also raced the X games on a snowmobile in the adaptive class (for physically challenged racers) taking 4 medals proving once again how bad ass this guy is. :hail Henry was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2005.
Stats:
1993 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
1993 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion
1994 AMA 125 Motocross Champion
1998 AMA 250 Motocross Champion
1998 AMA Professional Athlete of the Year
25 AMA Supercross/Motocross overall wins
Winter X Games
Silver medal – second place 2013 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Silver medal – second place 2015 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Aspen SnoCross Adaptive
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I updated the Team USA MX of Nations post with all the USA winning Teams and as many vids as I could find.
Some historical Bad Ass shit!
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9974453&postcount=38
Some historical Bad Ass shit!
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9974453&postcount=38
Johnny O'Mara - The O'Show
Johnny O’Mara was the 1983 AMA 125cc National Motocross and 1984 AMA Supercross Series Champion. In addition to his AMA titles, the O’Show, as his fans like to call him, was part of four American teams that won the prestigious Motocross des Nations, including the first U.S. team ever to win the international competition in 1981. He first came to prominence by winning the 1980 United States 125cc Grand Prix in Lexington, Ohio, and went on to win the 250cc USGP in 1985 in New Berlin, New York. O’Mara was a pioneer in bringing world-class fitness to motocross. He was equally at home competing in triathlons and national-level bicycling competition as he was on a motocross track.
Johnny O’ on a Mugen Honda tore up the SoCal moto as a young pro before heading to the nationals in 1980. O’Mara shocked the world by taking a victory at the muddy 125cc USGP at Mid-Ohio during his first year on the full pro circuit, which he missed a part of because of a broken back. Not from a crash at the track, rather a car crash. His Mugen Honda was bad ass and damn close to a factory bike, but in 1981 Honda hired him and he immediately became a contender in 125cc Nationals. Mark Barnett dominated and won every race except final 125 national which he missed and Johnny won. O’Show took his Honda to the second spot on the year.
1982 brought O’Mara to third the Supercross Series standings and two victories over Barnett put him in the runner up spot in the MX series again. The next year O’Mara broke through winning the title over Jeff Ward and Barnett.
In 1984 O’Mara won five AMA Supercross races and took the championship in that series. His Supercross title earned him the nickname "The O’Show”. O’Mara then moved up to the 250 class in motocross and finished a close second to Jeff Ward on the 250s in his first year in the class.
1985 took O’Mara GP win this time in the 250cc class held at Unadilla circuit. He continued to be competitive throughout the rest of his career while fighting constant knee injuries. He manage a bunch of podium finishes and scored well in the series standings. His final race with Honda was on a 125 in the 1986 MX of Nations and it was legendary. After that performance he signed with Suzuki in 1987 and then with Kawasaki in his final year, 1990.
Even though I have this in the Team USA post it is worth posting again in case you missed it.
youtu.be/hK9QeLvnBxE
O’Mara will always be known for his incredible success in Motocross des Nations. He was part of the U.S. team’s first victory at both the Trophy and Motocross des Nations in 1981. O’Mara was named co-AMA Pro Athlete of the Year in 1981. O’Mara was named to the U.S. Motocross des Nations team three more times (1982, 1984 and 1986) and each year the U.S. won. Many considered the 1986 squad of O’Mara, Rick Johnson and David Bailey to be the best American team ever assembled.
In 11 years as a pro, O’Mara had 16 AMA national victories (seven 125 nationals, seven AMA Supercross and two 250 nationals) and two national championships.
O’Mara went on to became a leading mountain bike racer in the early-to-mid 1990s and rode as a factory rider in that sport as well.
youtu.be/OmpDNx0JiDc
Johnny O’Mara was the 1983 AMA 125cc National Motocross and 1984 AMA Supercross Series Champion. In addition to his AMA titles, the O’Show, as his fans like to call him, was part of four American teams that won the prestigious Motocross des Nations, including the first U.S. team ever to win the international competition in 1981. He first came to prominence by winning the 1980 United States 125cc Grand Prix in Lexington, Ohio, and went on to win the 250cc USGP in 1985 in New Berlin, New York. O’Mara was a pioneer in bringing world-class fitness to motocross. He was equally at home competing in triathlons and national-level bicycling competition as he was on a motocross track.
Johnny O’ on a Mugen Honda tore up the SoCal moto as a young pro before heading to the nationals in 1980. O’Mara shocked the world by taking a victory at the muddy 125cc USGP at Mid-Ohio during his first year on the full pro circuit, which he missed a part of because of a broken back. Not from a crash at the track, rather a car crash. His Mugen Honda was bad ass and damn close to a factory bike, but in 1981 Honda hired him and he immediately became a contender in 125cc Nationals. Mark Barnett dominated and won every race except final 125 national which he missed and Johnny won. O’Show took his Honda to the second spot on the year.
1982 brought O’Mara to third the Supercross Series standings and two victories over Barnett put him in the runner up spot in the MX series again. The next year O’Mara broke through winning the title over Jeff Ward and Barnett.
In 1984 O’Mara won five AMA Supercross races and took the championship in that series. His Supercross title earned him the nickname "The O’Show”. O’Mara then moved up to the 250 class in motocross and finished a close second to Jeff Ward on the 250s in his first year in the class.
1985 took O’Mara GP win this time in the 250cc class held at Unadilla circuit. He continued to be competitive throughout the rest of his career while fighting constant knee injuries. He manage a bunch of podium finishes and scored well in the series standings. His final race with Honda was on a 125 in the 1986 MX of Nations and it was legendary. After that performance he signed with Suzuki in 1987 and then with Kawasaki in his final year, 1990.
Even though I have this in the Team USA post it is worth posting again in case you missed it.
youtu.be/hK9QeLvnBxE
O’Mara will always be known for his incredible success in Motocross des Nations. He was part of the U.S. team’s first victory at both the Trophy and Motocross des Nations in 1981. O’Mara was named co-AMA Pro Athlete of the Year in 1981. O’Mara was named to the U.S. Motocross des Nations team three more times (1982, 1984 and 1986) and each year the U.S. won. Many considered the 1986 squad of O’Mara, Rick Johnson and David Bailey to be the best American team ever assembled.
In 11 years as a pro, O’Mara had 16 AMA national victories (seven 125 nationals, seven AMA Supercross and two 250 nationals) and two national championships.
O’Mara went on to became a leading mountain bike racer in the early-to-mid 1990s and rode as a factory rider in that sport as well.
youtu.be/OmpDNx0JiDc
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Fred was inducted into The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America today.
More information on the 2018 MSHFA inductees follows:
• Fred Merkel – “Flying Fred” is an American road racing legend, winning two FIM Superbike World Championships (1988-89), three AMA Superbike Championships (1984-86) and setting multiple records along the way. The charismatic Stockton, California native started out riding on dirt but quickly moved to pavement. In 1983, he registered the first of his 20 AMA Superbike victories, a record that stood until 1998. In 1984 he won a record 10 Superbike races in a single season and his first of three straight AMA titles. That same year he teamed with fellow Honda rider Mike Baldwin to win the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race. In 1988, Merkel won the inaugural Superbike World Championship and successfully defended the crown the following year. Merkel returned to the U.S. in 1994 to ride for Kawasaki, then Suzuki – bikes considered past their primes but on which he nevertheless turned in scintillating performances. He retired at the end of the 1995 season after a crash at Firebird International Raceway. Merkel was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2001.
dtrides
Well-known member
In 84 ans 85 I was privileged to have a neighbor and friend who's brother, Jim Felt (Felt bicycles), was the factory Honda mechanic for Johnny O.
He would pass thru every year on his way to the Seattle race.
Back then a full factory supported rider was supported by his mechanic and a box van. The van contained the race bike, one practice bike, and enough spares to see him through a race weekend.
The mechanic drove the van across the country to each round as part of his duties.
A far cry from the large transporters we see today with a team to see after each racer.
I looked forward to each visit and a bit of Jim's precious time to bore him with my simple questions.
DT
He would pass thru every year on his way to the Seattle race.
Back then a full factory supported rider was supported by his mechanic and a box van. The van contained the race bike, one practice bike, and enough spares to see him through a race weekend.
The mechanic drove the van across the country to each round as part of his duties.
A far cry from the large transporters we see today with a team to see after each racer.
I looked forward to each visit and a bit of Jim's precious time to bore him with my simple questions.
DT
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