This is a very special year…

…for US Motocross.

This year has had some great efforts that remind me of the old days - Bob Hannah, Danny “Magoo” Chandler and others.

Everyone has seen the Magoo picture of him riding with bent bars and Hannah’s charges from last are well documented. The era of “never quitting” seemed to loose it’s steam for a decade or so, but what we are seeing today is a throwback to the “blue collar” roots of our sport.

It seems “to me” that for several years, we haven’t seen the “heart” we are seeing this year. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some great moments (RC, Ryan Hughes, etc.), but not to the degree we’ve seen them this year.

Maybe it is because the competition is so tight. We aren’t seeing the runaway wins that happened when MC was on top of SX and RC was on top in MX.

This year, riders are getting up and trying their best to finish races when in the past they may have thrown in the towel.

What RV, CR and RD have done this year demonstrates the “never quit” attitude that makes us all proud of our favorite sport.

Three different times this year, RV, CR and RD have been my favorite rider.

1st, RV for when he got up near last with parts falling off his bike and no helmet visor…

Then, CR getting up and riding hard after his moon shot…

And now, RD riding his heart out after missing the start…

I want the young new riders to see this “heart” and live it. I never reached the level of top pro, but I was raised to never quit. I never did unless the bike broke or I was hurt too bad to ride. I had my share of races getting back on the bike and being so far behind after a crash that I delayed the start of the next class! But, I got back on and finished the best I could.

We’ve seen riders “quit” when they and the bike were able to continue. I know they had their reasons, but it is something I disagree with. Winners never quit and quitters never win….

Can’t wait for the final two rounds, this has been the best year!