biggest heart-breakers in moto

bsharkey
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bsharkey 4/15/2017 12:11am
4/15/2017 12:11am
DavetheVintageGuy wrote:
David Bailey's paralysis.
So true. He was my hero in high school

MX Guy
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MX Guy 4/15/2017 12:34am
4/15/2017 12:34am Edited Date/Time 4/15/2017 12:35am
Roczen this year
dirtworldmx 4/15/2017 2:48am
4/15/2017 2:48am Edited Date/Time 4/15/2017 2:50am
Some 80's heartbreak not mentioned yet:

Ward breaking throttle cable in his heat at Anaheim 86, and not qualifying. Cost the #1 a shot at the title.

RJ having a water spigot come loose and losing all his coolant at Lake Sugar Tree 1988. Cost him the 250 title.

O'mara running out of gas in 1986 at the Unadilla 250 USGP on the last lap, while leading over Hannah.

Larry Brooks losing a crank bearing (?) at South Carolina 125 National in 1987, costing him the win. That one hurt. Sad



The Shop

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Andy_Greenney 4/15/2017 2:58am
4/15/2017 2:58am
Moving the 2017 mxdn, had the trip all planned out in my head and it was going to be epic
Benchracer17 4/15/2017 3:04am
4/15/2017 3:04am
omalley wrote:
Don't recall the name, but there was a GP rider in the 80's or 90's that had a title sewn up as long as he simply...
Don't recall the name, but there was a GP rider in the 80's or 90's that had a title sewn up as long as he simply rode the motos at the final round (or similar easy feat). He wadded in qualifying, broke his leg and lost the title. As I recall he had already qualified but tried to go out and put in a heater, but not certain.
That was Corrado Maddii in 1984 on 125cc. Michele Rinaldi became World Champ.
Cortami79
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Cortami79 4/15/2017 3:56am
4/15/2017 3:56am
Herlings' qualifying crash in Loket in 2015, where Tixier landed on him resulting in a dislocated hip. I was standing there 200m away from him and we heard him screaming above the sound of the bikes. I was gutted
wreckitrandy
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wreckitrandy 4/15/2017 4:23am
4/15/2017 4:23am
Liles breaking his leg while leading the 500gp points.
ktm300hater
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ktm300hater 4/15/2017 4:59am
4/15/2017 4:59am
Rynos chain breaking and pushing his bike up the hill
Philly215
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Philly215 4/15/2017 5:46am
4/15/2017 5:46am
Travis Pastranas whole racing career.
Michael Scott 4/15/2017 7:10am
4/15/2017 7:10am


In his home state wearing gear inspired by the Colorado flag too... Not as bad as some listed, but damn the luck
visser62
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visser62 4/15/2017 7:48am
4/15/2017 7:48am
Definitely RJ's wrist.
visser62
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visser62 4/15/2017 7:50am
4/15/2017 7:50am
Also, DV's injury in 2002.
Gravel
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Gravel 4/15/2017 8:14am
4/15/2017 8:14am
Gravel wrote:
Rick Johnson's broken wheel in Colorado..
gsxrcr28 wrote:
Hmmm.. you mean Gatorback? I watch that one happen, and I believe it was the first time he broke it, and was never the same again...
Hmmm.. you mean Gatorback? I watch that one happen, and I believe it was the first time he broke it, and was never the same again.

For me I would say when any of the riders got paralyzed. Magoo, Bailey, Fonseca, Marshall etc.. Sad
I'll be the first to say my memory is crap, but didn't RJ lose the national championship in Lakewood Colorado by breaking a wheel? 1982ish?
Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 4/15/2017 8:21am
4/15/2017 8:21am
J- Law not showing up on race day...
slipdog
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slipdog 4/15/2017 8:39am
4/15/2017 8:39am
Didn't LaRocco have the '92 125 title almost wrapped up and handed it to Emig with a double moto DNF at one of the last races?
Stoneface
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Stoneface 4/15/2017 8:42am
4/15/2017 8:42am
Going way back, and not addressing rider injuries or deaths,

Jaroslav Falta basically had the 1974 250 World Championship stolen from him by Russian team tactics and corrupt track officials. Really incredible story. Falta was a super man and won the Super Bowl of Motocross in LA that year.


AzTrooper
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AzTrooper 4/15/2017 8:48am
4/15/2017 8:48am
Doug Henrys crash at Budds Creek when he broke his back in 1995 only to break both his wrists at the same track after making a huge comeback in 1997. I'll never forget watching Doug walk to a spectator for help to remove his helmet.
John

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gsxrcr28
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gsxrcr28 4/15/2017 9:04am
4/15/2017 9:04am
Gravel wrote:
I'll be the first to say my memory is crap, but didn't RJ lose the national championship in Lakewood Colorado by breaking a wheel? 1982ish?
Oops, my bad. I read it too fast, or buzzed. Lol

I was thinking "wrist" cause when it happened I was super bummed for him, happened right in front of where I was standing.
PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 4/15/2017 9:18am
4/15/2017 9:18am Edited Date/Time 4/15/2017 9:23am
I'll just leave this right here. PUSH THE BIKE


Eddie may go, but..................

Paddle in Peace Eddie

Superdave19
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Superdave19 4/15/2017 9:25am
4/15/2017 9:25am
hartebreak wrote:
You guys are nuts. Nothing can top Grant Langston's wheel coming apart in 2001 losing the title to Mike Brown.
I was there @ Steel City for that race- The most drama EVER in one race for sure.
ripper298
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ripper298 4/15/2017 2:43pm
4/15/2017 2:43pm
hartebreak wrote:
You guys are nuts. Nothing can top Grant Langston's wheel coming apart in 2001 losing the title to Mike Brown.
Superdave19 wrote:
I was there @ Steel City for that race- The most drama EVER in one race for sure.
was this the day RC dropped back to the 125 class to regain the record, or am I having a senior moment?
Jamal#440
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Jamal#440 4/15/2017 6:34pm
4/15/2017 6:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/15/2017 6:36pm
Forget about races, careers and championships, the biggest heart-break was the loss of Bruce Bunch, Rick Hemme, Kyle Flemming and anyone who died racing moto.
Wandell
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Wandell 4/15/2017 7:07pm
4/15/2017 7:07pm
Speaking of Langston losing the 2001 title after his wheel broke, karma gave him one in 2003. He was leading his Red Bull KTM team mate, Ryan Hughs by a couple of points heading into the last round. But an epic flood caused the last round to be canceled which gave Langston the 125 title. No podium celebration, just a phone call.
stantdm
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stantdm 4/15/2017 8:45pm
4/15/2017 8:45pm
Gravel wrote:
Rick Johnson's broken wheel in Colorado..
gsxrcr28 wrote:
Hmmm.. you mean Gatorback? I watch that one happen, and I believe it was the first time he broke it, and was never the same again...
Hmmm.. you mean Gatorback? I watch that one happen, and I believe it was the first time he broke it, and was never the same again.

For me I would say when any of the riders got paralyzed. Magoo, Bailey, Fonseca, Marshall etc.. Sad
Gravel wrote:
I'll be the first to say my memory is crap, but didn't RJ lose the national championship in Lakewood Colorado by breaking a wheel? 1982ish?
RJ broke a wheel at Castle Rock in Colorado and lost the championship.
Falcon
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Falcon 4/15/2017 9:41pm
4/15/2017 9:41pm
Rick Johnson had what would be his first 250MX title all sewn up in 1982 at the last round. All he had to do was finish the 2nd moto and he'd be champ. Instead, he rode to win, was leading, and broke his frame. DNF, 2nd in the standings.
Motoxdoc
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Motoxdoc 4/15/2017 10:41pm
4/15/2017 10:41pm
Damon Bradshaw watching Stanton (with a separated shoulder) ride away from him at the LA Coliseum and on to the SX championship.
jk367
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jk367 4/15/2017 10:44pm
4/15/2017 10:44pm
Am I wrong in thinking even if rynos chain wouldn't have broke he still wouldn't have won because lamson was ahead of him anyways? He ended up third in that moto
greenmx5
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greenmx5 4/15/2017 10:50pm
4/15/2017 10:50pm
Jamal#440 wrote:
Forget about races, careers and championships, the biggest heart-break was the loss of Bruce Bunch, Rick Hemme, Kyle Flemming and anyone who died racing moto.
Josh lichtle at red bud.. heat stroke trying to get his bike started after going down on the last lap
greenmx5
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greenmx5 4/15/2017 10:52pm
4/15/2017 10:52pm
James Stewart in 2016 could also be considered. Down and not moving, red flagged the race. Ultimately, it was the beginning of the end of one of the greatest the sport has known.

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