1355 words, and 10 years of Motocross

So im bored at work and got the great idea to try and remember all of the outdoor nationals I have attended. I can easily remember all of them, but can’t really recall who exactly won. Supercross had its first weekend off since January so obviously there is nothing to read about. So instead of reading random Wikipedia pages, im going to read my own words and pacify the time……
The first outdoor national I had the pleasure to watch was in my home state of Florida at Gatorback. The year was 1996 and I was the biggest little Jeff Emig fan and of coarse I dis-liked McGrath with a passion, as he was Emig’s only challenge. (Sorry Jeremy). Im not sure who won I want to say Emig, all I can remember was yelling for McGrath to fall in the Gator pit and Brian Deggan doing tricks by the grandstand jump. Steve Lamson won the 125 class with Windham getting second (I think) ridding a number 7 Yamaha just like Stewart today. After the race was over they let the fans go into the pits and hangout by the box fans. I was only 11 at the time so I don’t remember much, but I do remember trying to get Emig’s autograph.

The second outdoor national I attended was none other than Gatorback(97) and just happened to be the start of Ricky Carmichael’s annihilation of outdoor motocross. Ricky was riding a number 70 Kawasaki with AXO gear and brought home the overall with a 2-1. Steve Lamson the 1996 125 champ came in second with a 1-2. The 250 class was won by Emig. Simply put Emig was the shit in 97, he dethrones McGrath in supercross, had the coolest looking helmets and was wearing the all new Shift gear. McGrath was riding Suzuki and im not sure were he finished, but 97 was his last year of outdoors.

The late and great Troy, Ohio(97) was my third outdoor national and the temperate there was around 110 degrees. Of coarse Emig won both motos wearing all black shift gear and I believe Damon Huffman won the 125 class. I remember seeing the infamous widow maker jump that took out Tim Ferry a few years back and I also remember thinking what the word widow meant? Was it something dirty or that spider that was in my science book? Kenworthy’s had a major party the night before the race with a live band and a few hundred intoxicated race fans. The crowd got a little too excited about the next days race and showed their appreciation by throwing beer bottles onto the stage and drinking until they had to take quick little power naps In the grass.(that’s what my dad told me at least)

I’ve never been more excited to see a track than I was for Budds Creek in Maryland 1998. As a kid I can remember watching Henrys horrible crash that sent him higher than the trees and back to the earth breaking his back. The paramedics carried him off the track and Henry gave his fans a thumbs up as they carried him away. Then in 1997 Henry crashed over a double and broke both arms, lighting had struck twice and im sure Henry was not looking forward to coming back. The whole family had made the trek up to Maryland and we picked the perfect year to do so. Henry conquered his fear and won the 250 class on the same track that almost ended his career. Carmicheal won the 125 class and till this day has never lost an overall at Budds Creek.

In the summer of 2000 my mom, dad and I took a motocross vacation going through Michigan, Canada and New York. Dad and I had a blast and im sure my mom read a lot of books and was bored to tears. (Thanks mom!) First stop was at Baja Acres in Michigan. It was an awesome sand track that had alot of elevation changes. I pulled the holeshot on a full gate and lead most of the race only to get tired and fade back to second. We stayed in Canada for about a week with some friends of ours and rode everyday on their many tracks. On the way back home we stoped by New Berlin, New York to see Carmichael win the 250 class and either Pastrana or Roncada win the 125’s. Unadilla is a huge track and the 125’s were struggling to get up some of verticals cliffs on the all natural track. I remember Sebastian Torteli not signing a sticker I had because he was not sponsored by them (What a dick), and my dads tooth falling out and making and emergency trip to the dentist. All in all it was a great time, even if Larry was one tooth two short for a bit.

2001 we headed back to Troy Ohio and for some reason I don’t remember much at all about the races. I do remember Ricky won the 250 class and did not go to the podium after the second race because he shit his pants. He was battling a stomach problem and wasn’t seen until it was time to race; I have no clue who won the 125 class. Mike Brown maybe?

After a 3 year hiatus my dad and I made the drive all the way to Millville, Minnesota to Spring Creek in 2004. We left on a Wednesday and drove over 1,190 miles to of coarse watch Carmichael win again going 1-1 in his first undefeated season. This was Alessi’s very first race and the year of the “believe the hype” shirts. I don’t remember how he did maybe top ten. The track also had a new jump called holly Schmidt, named after local boy Donnie Schmidt that was around 100ft and sent the riders sky high. Stewart won the 125 class and was one of the only 125 riders to clear the jump. My father likes to try to smuggle in weapons at sporting events and was almost busted and taken in. He had a pistol in the center console, but he quickly had to hide it after we noticed they were searching vehicles. He must have done this before because he made the gun vanish like a ninja and thankfully we got to enjoy the races.

In 2005 we headed to Southwick, Massac hues to once again watch Carmichael, this time on a Suzuki, win the overall. It wasn’t easy though; Ricky went over the bars and let Reed win his only outdoor race to date. Stewart rode the first moto and later pulled off and didn’t show up for the second. Alessi pulled the holeshot and over jumped the first jump and I think dislocated his shoulder. The weather I remember was much like Troy in 97 and everyone walking was like a sweaty beast. I believe Langston won the 125class or by this time I guess it was called the “lites class” My most vivid memory of this trip was a bee flying into my shorts and stinging me while I was riding my dads Harley.

The last national I went to was REDBUD, in Buchanan, Michigan. This was one of best tracks I have ever been too and the fans are by far the most rowdy of any other round. 2006 was Ricky Carmichael’s last full season in outdoor motocross and just like he did in his first season at Gatorback he won Redbud as well. Larcoo’s leap was one of the biggest jump I’ve ever seen. I believe either RV or BT won the lites class and Alessi got third. The crowd at redbud is the best and they constantly yell “redbud” every 3 to 4min just to remind everyone the location their at. So after nine nationals I have attend Carmichael has won everyone he raced but one, I was able to see the start of his first season and the end of his last, and saw a man passed out drunk in Troy, Ohio. Im ready for another one…..maybe Texas.