Will we ever see another John Dowd?

SmoothOperator
Edited Date/Time 3/22/2016 11:24pm
By that I mean, do you think we will ever see a rider in their 40's be a national level podium contender again?
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resetjet
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resetjet 3/21/2016 8:45am
3/21/2016 8:45am
Prob not. Kids are fast these days.
Old-Man
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Old-Man 3/21/2016 8:52am
3/21/2016 8:52am
Has to be a few out there that doubt themselves so much they don't give it a shot.
disbanded
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disbanded 3/21/2016 8:55am
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I'll do it
1
jj welks
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jj welks 3/21/2016 8:57am
3/21/2016 8:57am
Not anytime soon Dungey probably would have the best chance. Doubt it's something he cares about.

The Shop

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Jordan421 3/21/2016 9:00am
3/21/2016 9:00am
CR22 might be our best beat
SmoothOperator 3/21/2016 9:00am
3/21/2016 9:00am
My thinking is today's training regimens are going to burn out riders long before they hit their 40's. With Dowdy, he didnt start racing until he was 20 or 21, if I remember correctly. Could that of possibly been what allowed him to race at that level, at that age?
Miss seeing Dowdy at the Nats thats for sure!
Panic_Rev
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Panic_Rev 3/21/2016 9:01am
3/21/2016 9:01am
I'm 32 thinking about quitting my job I've been at for 12 years and making a run at the pro level. I'm sure my wife and kid won't mind living poor for a few years until I sign that 1st big contract. Keep your eye out for a short fat guy in a few years.
cali11
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cali11 3/21/2016 9:59am
3/21/2016 9:59am
Panic_Rev wrote:
I'm 32 thinking about quitting my job I've been at for 12 years and making a run at the pro level. I'm sure my wife and...
I'm 32 thinking about quitting my job I've been at for 12 years and making a run at the pro level. I'm sure my wife and kid won't mind living poor for a few years until I sign that 1st big contract. Keep your eye out for a short fat guy in a few years.
Good luck! I know you can make it.
Brad460
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Brad460 3/21/2016 10:07am
3/21/2016 10:07am
Panic_Rev wrote:
I'm 32 thinking about quitting my job I've been at for 12 years and making a run at the pro level. I'm sure my wife and...
I'm 32 thinking about quitting my job I've been at for 12 years and making a run at the pro level. I'm sure my wife and kid won't mind living poor for a few years until I sign that 1st big contract. Keep your eye out for a short fat guy in a few years.
Just recently had a guy at work ask why I don't quit work and race motoRcross for a living..(I am 42 btw)..Shows how little people outside understand this sport..Laughing
Canerat
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Canerat 3/21/2016 10:11am
3/21/2016 10:11am
Well if Ricky started trainIng again he could possibly pull it off..
Dezerted
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Dezerted 3/21/2016 10:13am
3/21/2016 10:13am
I race for a living and I'm 37! I make no money, have no place to lay my head and cyphen all my gas. I just finished 3rd in a head to head race. Look for me at Hangtown.
Steve125
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Steve125 3/21/2016 11:29am
3/21/2016 11:29am

I have a feeling we'll see the original JD out there at the Southwick National this year.


BABSTER#976 3/21/2016 11:30am
3/21/2016 11:30am Edited Date/Time 3/21/2016 11:35am
Dezerted wrote:
I race for a living and I'm 37! I make no money, have no place to lay my head and cyphen all my gas. I just...
I race for a living and I'm 37! I make no money, have no place to lay my head and cyphen all my gas. I just finished 3rd in a head to head race. Look for me at Hangtown.
Coo
SmoothOperator 3/21/2016 12:27pm
3/21/2016 12:27pm
Steve125 wrote:
I have a feeling we'll see the original JD out there at the Southwick National this year. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/21/128802/s1200_12592475_936633783040377_2930901794107633076_n.jpg[/img]

I have a feeling we'll see the original JD out there at the Southwick National this year.


I hope so!! And on a 2 stroke?! That would be epic!!
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 3/21/2016 12:53pm
3/21/2016 12:53pm
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast

what contributed to this is a few things

1. he had no major injuries. He rode good enough to factory rides, but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win

2. He started late. IIRC he didnt start riding till like 16? and he turned pro at age 21 in 87. most kids at age 21 have put in 15 years already into their careers. (most people only last for 20 years in a career field regardless of age) so when he officially retired in 05 he'd only been racing for 20 years-ish and he continued to race local nationals including a podium in 2009 at southwick and he even recently qualified for a Canadian national last year and i think placed top 10?

3. He kept it fun. He did take it seriously but he had life experience that taught him this was a rare chance. most MXers dont know what a 'normal' life and job is like, so he never took it for granted which probably probably set his mindset to racing for a good check not just wins
F150Motocrosser 3/21/2016 1:28pm
3/21/2016 1:28pm
Any idea if we'll see Mike Brown at Muddy Creek this year? I know in past years he's always had a conflicting obligation..
Jrewing
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Jrewing 3/21/2016 2:28pm
3/21/2016 2:28pm
I love guys like this.

I hope Dowd or Brown race their nationals.
#76
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#76 3/22/2016 12:24am
3/22/2016 12:24am
Jrewing wrote:
I love guys like this.

I hope Dowd or Brown race their nationals.
X2!.

Always nice to see the lads out there riding, just something about seeing them riding that makes me root for them and a big grin too!.

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racinstation
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racinstation 3/22/2016 3:46pm
3/22/2016 3:46pm
We never saw one before, and probably won't see one again. This guy is one of a kind.
FastEddy
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FastEddy 3/22/2016 4:02pm
3/22/2016 4:02pm Edited Date/Time 3/22/2016 4:04pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast what contributed to this is a...
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast

what contributed to this is a few things

1. he had no major injuries. He rode good enough to factory rides, but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win

2. He started late. IIRC he didnt start riding till like 16? and he turned pro at age 21 in 87. most kids at age 21 have put in 15 years already into their careers. (most people only last for 20 years in a career field regardless of age) so when he officially retired in 05 he'd only been racing for 20 years-ish and he continued to race local nationals including a podium in 2009 at southwick and he even recently qualified for a Canadian national last year and i think placed top 10?

3. He kept it fun. He did take it seriously but he had life experience that taught him this was a rare chance. most MXers dont know what a 'normal' life and job is like, so he never took it for granted which probably probably set his mindset to racing for a good check not just wins
" but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win"

Dowd was a smart rider but he went for it at times.
Watch from about 52:00
This was a good 125 main.
Also has a couple fast NW guys in it.
https://youtu.be/Ku3rYsq6ulc
cable
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cable 3/22/2016 4:34pm
3/22/2016 4:34pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast what contributed to this is a...
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast

what contributed to this is a few things

1. he had no major injuries. He rode good enough to factory rides, but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win

2. He started late. IIRC he didnt start riding till like 16? and he turned pro at age 21 in 87. most kids at age 21 have put in 15 years already into their careers. (most people only last for 20 years in a career field regardless of age) so when he officially retired in 05 he'd only been racing for 20 years-ish and he continued to race local nationals including a podium in 2009 at southwick and he even recently qualified for a Canadian national last year and i think placed top 10?

3. He kept it fun. He did take it seriously but he had life experience that taught him this was a rare chance. most MXers dont know what a 'normal' life and job is like, so he never took it for granted which probably probably set his mindset to racing for a good check not just wins
Dowd had 7 outdoor wins. I knew he had one or two, but when I looked it up I too was surprised. Along with several 125 sx and a 250sx win
SmoothOperator 3/22/2016 4:42pm
3/22/2016 4:42pm
FastEddy wrote:
" but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win" Dowd was a smart rider but he went for it...
" but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win"

Dowd was a smart rider but he went for it at times.
Watch from about 52:00
This was a good 125 main.
Also has a couple fast NW guys in it.
https://youtu.be/Ku3rYsq6ulc
Thanks for posting. That's awesome to see again. Huffman, Deegan, Ping, The Chicken, and I forgot about Shaun Palmers stint in Moto!
Revel Stoked 3/22/2016 4:51pm
3/22/2016 4:51pm
Dowdy always a crowd favorite. No matter what place he got.
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ATKpilot99 3/22/2016 5:43pm
3/22/2016 5:43pm
cable wrote:
Dowd had 7 outdoor wins. I knew he had one or two, but when I looked it up I too was surprised. Along with several 125...
Dowd had 7 outdoor wins. I knew he had one or two, but when I looked it up I too was surprised. Along with several 125 sx and a 250sx win
He won a 125 SX title.
F150Motocrosser 3/22/2016 5:52pm
3/22/2016 5:52pm
I know his son Ryan is fast, but is he actually pursuing "the dream" of becoming a full time pro racer?
Steve125
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Steve125 3/22/2016 6:59pm
3/22/2016 6:59pm Edited Date/Time 3/22/2016 6:59pm
I saw Dowd show Team Kawasaki's Mike Larocco and the MX Kied the fast way around Unadilla in 93 (250 class). He had them covered easily and was headed for the first moto win when his bike blew up on the last lap. I think if he had gotten a shot at a factory ride sooner, he would have definitely had more wins. I spoke with some team managers about him back then, and they said he wasn't as good on hard pack. By the end of 93 I think he proved himself. getting the Boyesen Yamaha ride for 94.. then later to Team Yamaha.
It's hard to believe the guy raced the Southwick National way back in 1987, and still got 3rd overall there in 2009.
I don't think there'll ever be another guy like him.
rubarb
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rubarb 3/22/2016 7:33pm
3/22/2016 7:33pm
resetjet wrote:
Prob not. Kids are fast these days.
And sensitive.
7eleven
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7eleven 3/22/2016 8:55pm
3/22/2016 8:55pm Edited Date/Time 3/22/2016 9:20pm
As a rider, i spent time training with Dowdy back in the day and one thing that has always stuck with me, was his ability to adapt to the track and get faster throughout the race. If you knew his style, he was always picking guys off at the end of moto's.
I race bicycles now and i still use that shit to inspire me. Dowd had something special for a long time.
Cheers to JYD!
TG130
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TG130 3/22/2016 10:10pm
3/22/2016 10:10pm
I seriously doubt we will ever see another like the JYD. How many riders do you see finally getting a factory ride at age 29 and reach his peak in his 30's ? Probably 99 % of racers are done with racing by then. The guy is bionic. I was reading an interview with J-bone in MXA a few weeks ago and according to J-bone, Dowd is a better mechanic than he (J-bone) is, likely a benefit from his many years as a privateer. Most pro riders these days can barely change a spark plug. Dowd is one of a kind for sure. I'd love to see him at Southwick later this year at 50 years old and teach some of the young punks a lesson !
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 3/22/2016 11:24pm
3/22/2016 11:24pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast what contributed to this is a...
John dowd is an 'albino' in the sport. He's always been older than the competition and he has stayed fast

what contributed to this is a few things

1. he had no major injuries. He rode good enough to factory rides, but i dont remember him ever being a rider to take chances for the win

2. He started late. IIRC he didnt start riding till like 16? and he turned pro at age 21 in 87. most kids at age 21 have put in 15 years already into their careers. (most people only last for 20 years in a career field regardless of age) so when he officially retired in 05 he'd only been racing for 20 years-ish and he continued to race local nationals including a podium in 2009 at southwick and he even recently qualified for a Canadian national last year and i think placed top 10?

3. He kept it fun. He did take it seriously but he had life experience that taught him this was a rare chance. most MXers dont know what a 'normal' life and job is like, so he never took it for granted which probably probably set his mindset to racing for a good check not just wins
cable wrote:
Dowd had 7 outdoor wins. I knew he had one or two, but when I looked it up I too was surprised. Along with several 125...
Dowd had 7 outdoor wins. I knew he had one or two, but when I looked it up I too was surprised. Along with several 125 sx and a 250sx win
oh dont get me wrong, dowd was fast. heck he won the 98 west title and he has a number of wins. but in the grand scheme he's like a Kdub and Ferry. Fast enough to win but not determined to hang it out the extra bit like RC, Stewart and even Villo could. its not a knock on him, its just an observation, hardly a common ability among racers.

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