Re-watching the '97 Supercross season!

flatout111
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With only a few days until A1, I thought I would re-watch the 1997 Supercross season. Really enjoying it....again. I know we didn't get live broadcasts back then but man, I loved ESPN 2's coverage.

Art, David, and Davey are unbeatable in my eyes. Brilliant team. The only team that came close was the Supercross Audio webcast team of Damiani/Holley and Weege/Holley.

There is a big focus on the mechanics, with in race interviews, tech tips. So cool.

The tracks seemed so much better. More technical.

Riders made more mistakes. Which led to better, exciting racing. This is obviously due to being two strokes. They couldn't just mess up and still clear everything.

LOVED the gear of the 90's. The bikes looked amazing, the helmets and jerseys looked amazing. So much more personality than today.

Cool features like the Honda stopwatch.

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the tv package today and I do like the team we have now for the most part and how it is all live but after seeing this I could do without the hashtag this and hashtag that and seeing pics being sent in of people with their bikes in the living room. Lol. I would much rather have the focus on the mechanics like they did back in those days or in-depth analysis from the Little Professor. But I get it, it's a sign of the times.

Anyway, great series thus far. MC was human but working hard, Emig's starts were insane, Henry was a warrior and the whole TV package was top notch.

Good times. Smile
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JohnnyD13
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12/26/2016 3:53pm
Where are you watching these? I'll watch with you. I'm a big 90s fan. It's what got me hooked.
flatout111
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12/26/2016 4:01pm Edited Date/Time 12/26/2016 4:02pm
YT. They are all on there from a couple of different sources. I'm on Round 9. Great stuff. Man, the gear and bikes were so sweet.

As most know, MC got the Suzuki bike a week before A1 and he tweaked it the whole time. They covered when he did things to improve torque, when he switched to upside down forks. Just a lot of cool inside info you just don't get these days.

I do miss seeing Jenny, though. Other than that, everything's gold. Smile
JW381
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12/26/2016 4:03pm
I love watching old races. Good times, indeed
MX4EVR
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12/26/2016 4:04pm
Don't make excuses
Emig won fair and square

The Shop

nytsmaC
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12/26/2016 4:07pm
And Leann Tweeden!
flatout111
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12/26/2016 4:10pm
97 had RC getting his first win on a 125, making a crazy pass on Ferry. Really cool.

Albertyn was a lot of fun to watch too. MC's RM250 was sweet looking.
flatout111
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12/26/2016 4:13pm Edited Date/Time 12/26/2016 4:13pm
MX4EVR wrote:
Don't make excuses
Emig won fair and square
Oh, for sure.Fro was the best that year, bar none.

I was actually rooting for Fro. I was just commenting on how they covered MC's bike changes. That and there was a HUGE emphasis on showing the mechanics and all they do. They even had Wyatt Seals mic'ed up for one race. Very cool.
12/26/2016 4:54pm
Loved Emigs Kawasaki that year. Wasn't 97 when he collected the tuff block in his real wheel at Indianapolis? I remember being there watching it as a kid and he won that race. Wasn't sure if he did that in 96 or 97 tho
MX4EVR
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12/26/2016 4:59pm
MX4EVR wrote:
Don't make excuses
Emig won fair and square
flatout111 wrote:
Oh, for sure.Fro was the best that year, bar none. I was actually rooting for Fro. I was just commenting on how they covered MC's bike...
Oh, for sure.Fro was the best that year, bar none.

I was actually rooting for Fro. I was just commenting on how they covered MC's bike changes. That and there was a HUGE emphasis on showing the mechanics and all they do. They even had Wyatt Seals mic'ed up for one race. Very cool.
Yup I was a fro bandwagon freak also
He was spot on that year
I had a 97 and a 98 KX 250 sporting all his decals
Lmao!!
One race he was dong both triples in the mud I remember
Good times back then
Then MC wins next 3 years in a row
What a beast
flatout111
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12/26/2016 5:09pm
Loved Emigs Kawasaki that year. Wasn't 97 when he collected the tuff block in his real wheel at Indianapolis? I remember being there watching it as...
Loved Emigs Kawasaki that year. Wasn't 97 when he collected the tuff block in his real wheel at Indianapolis? I remember being there watching it as a kid and he won that race. Wasn't sure if he did that in 96 or 97 tho
It was 97!!! I watched that one last night. That was crazy. They went down to JBone and talked to him about it. That was a nail biter.
flatout111
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12/26/2016 5:10pm
I loved the Kawasaki green with the purple. That looked sweet together. They also showed Troy Lee and a lot of his custom helmets.
12/26/2016 5:11pm
Agreed man! I'm personally watching the 2001 season, mainly to see Travis Pastrana race during his 125cc pro race carreer.
flatout111
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12/26/2016 5:47pm
I wanted to start with 97, since it wasn't a MC domination, though I love MC. Then work my way up prob till 2002.

Honestly, the broadcast team and presentation makes a big difference to me. That team ended in 2002, actually.
JohnnyD13
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12/26/2016 5:55pm
The only thing I wish was HD. That would be amazing
12/26/2016 6:34pm Edited Date/Time 12/26/2016 6:35pm
1997 was the year that I got hooked on supercross. The racing was great, there were so many different winners. McGrath and Emig's bikes, helmets, and gear that year looked so good too
Lightning78
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12/26/2016 11:16pm
I got my first "taste" of SX in 1993 right as MC was taking over a D by 1994 I was full on hooked! You guys done got .e all geeked up with this banter of the 1997 season so thanks Tblaze I'm gonna watch as many rounds from 97 as possible before I hit the hay....
Turbojez
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12/27/2016 3:35am
Style check MC. Looks like a beanie top hat. Haha[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/12/27/165818/s1200_20161227_021231.jpg[/img]
Style check MC. Looks like a beanie top hat. Haha

How come he has a fox jersey with no fear logo on it? Was McGrath really that good, that he had 2 gear companies signed at the same time? Smile
12/27/2016 3:49am
Style check MC. Looks like a beanie top hat. Haha[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/12/27/165818/s1200_20161227_021231.jpg[/img]
Style check MC. Looks like a beanie top hat. Haha

Turbojez wrote:
How come he has a fox jersey with no fear logo on it? Was McGrath really that good, that he had 2 gear companies signed at...
How come he has a fox jersey with no fear logo on it? Was McGrath really that good, that he had 2 gear companies signed at the same time? Smile
He wore No Fear pants and a Fox jersey. He was that good
JAFO92
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12/27/2016 8:05am
flatout111 wrote:
YT. They are all on there from a couple of different sources. I'm on Round 9. Great stuff. Man, the gear and bikes were so sweet...
YT. They are all on there from a couple of different sources. I'm on Round 9. Great stuff. Man, the gear and bikes were so sweet.

As most know, MC got the Suzuki bike a week before A1 and he tweaked it the whole time. They covered when he did things to improve torque, when he switched to upside down forks. Just a lot of cool inside info you just don't get these days.

I do miss seeing Jenny, though. Other than that, everything's gold. Smile
JMG tangling with Lamson early on and later on that flat tire are the main things that gave Emig the title.

No bike he moved on to would have been to JMG's liking at that point , especially after riding that '93 Honda for 3 years in a row.
Skidaddle
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12/27/2016 8:16am
ATKpilot99
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12/27/2016 8:45am
flatout111 wrote:
YT. They are all on there from a couple of different sources. I'm on Round 9. Great stuff. Man, the gear and bikes were so sweet...
YT. They are all on there from a couple of different sources. I'm on Round 9. Great stuff. Man, the gear and bikes were so sweet.

As most know, MC got the Suzuki bike a week before A1 and he tweaked it the whole time. They covered when he did things to improve torque, when he switched to upside down forks. Just a lot of cool inside info you just don't get these days.

I do miss seeing Jenny, though. Other than that, everything's gold. Smile
JAFO92 wrote:
JMG tangling with Lamson early on and later on that flat tire are the main things that gave Emig the title. No bike he moved on...
JMG tangling with Lamson early on and later on that flat tire are the main things that gave Emig the title.

No bike he moved on to would have been to JMG's liking at that point , especially after riding that '93 Honda for 3 years in a row.
Eh no one is really given a title, Emig was the fastest guy that year and then he went on to win 17 of 26 motos outdoors. But no use arguing over a title that was won 20 years ago, that was for sure an exciting competitive SX season.
12/27/2016 3:52pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Eh no one is really given a title, Emig was the fastest guy that year and then he went on to win 17 of 26 motos...
Eh no one is really given a title, Emig was the fastest guy that year and then he went on to win 17 of 26 motos outdoors. But no use arguing over a title that was won 20 years ago, that was for sure an exciting competitive SX season.
I agree. After Emig won two races you could see a change in his personality. He gained a lot of confidence and realized he could actually win the thing after MC dominated the year before. Jeremy barely had any time to set that bike up, but he was pulling holeshots so he can't blame it all on the bike. That flat tire at Charlotte(?) really sealed the deal for Emig though.

I haven't made it all the way through the season yet. Hopefully I will tonight. Doug had a good shot at it too. I haven't made it to the part where he crashes out of the series.

This is all in good fun. We should do 2006 supercross next!

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