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Came close a few times to the 250 title.
Hasn't had a sniff on 450s.
Crazy he doesn't even have a British title either or any other titles at all, although that may change this year.
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Massive waste of talent but cool guy to party with.
Shame wasted talent.
http://motocrossactionmag.com/news/game-changers
AKE JONSSON’S SPARK PLUG
Going into the final round of the 1971 500 World Championship at St. Anthonis, Holland, Roger DeCoster and Ake Jonsson were locked in a close duel for the crown. Jonsson had won the 500 Luxembourg GP the week before and went to Holland with a one-point lead. Sadly, Ake’s Maico short-reach spark plug unthreaded in moto one and he had to stop and thread it back in by hand. He raced back to 10th and then won the second moto, but he lost the 1971 500 crown to Roger DeCoster. Ake would never win a World Championship title.
CORRADO MADDII’S FASTEST LAP & WHAT IT COST
Back in 1984, Cagiva rider Corrado Maddii had a 30-point lead over Michele Rinaldi going into the last 125 GP of the year. All he had to do was finish both motos in points-paying positions and he would be the World Champ. Corrado Maddii set a fast time in practice, but when Rinaldi bested his time, Maddii went back out and reset the fastest time. After his hot lap, he was cruising around the track and collided with Michele Fanton at the spot where the start straight joined the racetrack. Maddii broke his leg and was carried off the track on a stretcher while Rinaldi won the crown. Maddii never won a world motocross title.
ANDRE VROMAN’S BRAIN FADE
In 1982, Brad Lackey and Andre Vromans, Suzuki teammates, were dueling for the 500 World Championship. They went into the final moto of the year only six points apart. When the gate fell in moto two, Andre Vromans led the pack up the hill to the left-hand turn at the top. Unfortunately for Vromans, at Ettelbruck, Luxembourg, that part of the track was not used on the start—it was picked up after the first lap. “It was the biggest mistake of my life,” said Vromans later. Lackey would become the first American to win a World Motocross Championship that day, Vromans would never win a world motocross title.
VALIANT EFFORTS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE FAIRY TALE ENDINGS
In 2007, Josh Coppins was hand-picked to fill the big shoes left by 10-time champion Stefan Everts at Team Yamaha. The New Zealander started the season like gangbusters, and in the first 10 GPs made the podium at every event and won five GPs outright. Coppins went into round 11 with an almost unbeatable 107-point lead with five races left. Unfortunately, a crash damaged Coppins’ left shoulder. He tried to ride injured but lost the 450 GP title to Steven Ramon—even though Ramon didn’t win a single GP in 2007.
Others: Marty Tripes, David Vuillemin, Gautier Paulin
If you look at most GP point finishes in the top 3 without a title both are near the top.
6 top 3 finishes: Kees van der Ven
5 top 3 finishes: Bervoets, Beirer, S.Geboers
4 top 3 finishes: Peter Johansson, Wolsink, Nicoll, Adolf Weil
For me it isn't just a question on who has most of these top 3 finishes though, i mean as a dutchie i always was a fan for van der Ven but he wasn't a real title contender in most of these top 3 finishes. I won't say he is the most deserving one for sure. I mean Nicoll lost the title by just a couple of points twice, and was close in his two other runner up finishes.
But what many forget or don't know is that Michele Rinaldi actually missed 3 GP's earlier during the season and missed a bunch of points. And that Kees van der Ven got 9 wins in the first 11 motos, before getting injured and missing a couple of GP's. Actually all (!) the 125cc GP winners in 1984 missed races due to injury.
There is certainly a case to be made that Rinaldi or van der Ven was a 'more deserving' winner to Maddi. It's just the way and timing how Maddi lost the title is that painfull.
Pit Row
edit: Yup, he beat AC222 to win it in 2004....all-be-it the 250 class....and not an AMA championship.....but a championship non-the-less!
Don't really know if it's true ..
He showed every fast guy in the world his backside for four motos on both the 250 and the 500 back in the day, but couldn't bring home a title at home.
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