Best AMA Riders To Never Win a Title

Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 8/8/2022 11:54am
8/8/2022 11:54am
Frog #1 wrote:
Jim Gibson
J. Sloan wrote:
I thought about Gibson. He was a bit before I started getting interested in moto, but I know he was incredibly fast and talented.
FreshTopEnd wrote:
It's pretty clear you don't know moto history very far back, and you ought to respect that by not ranking only people that you have taken...
It's pretty clear you don't know moto history very far back, and you ought to respect that by not ranking only people that you have taken the time to familiarize yourself with. It's not like moto history isn't easily available.
Bro, I’m no Jim Sloan fan but he’s just a dude posting on a message board. Not like he’s writing articles for Racer X.
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J. Sloan
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J. Sloan 8/8/2022 11:58am
8/8/2022 11:58am Edited Date/Time 8/8/2022 9:14pm
Frog #1 wrote:
Jim Gibson
J. Sloan wrote:
I thought about Gibson. He was a bit before I started getting interested in moto, but I know he was incredibly fast and talented.
FreshTopEnd wrote:
It's pretty clear you don't know moto history very far back, and you ought to respect that by not ranking only people that you have taken...
It's pretty clear you don't know moto history very far back, and you ought to respect that by not ranking only people that you have taken the time to familiarize yourself with. It's not like moto history isn't easily available.
I do know my moto history pretty far back. I started soaking up magazines and Cycle News back in the 80s, nearly 40 years ago. I didn’t say I had no awareness of 70s or very early 80s; I said it was limited. Still, I have at least a working knowledge of the 70s. Having said that, I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about motocross but that doesn’t exclude me from having an opinion and learning more along the process.

As far as Gibson, he was talented and fast. He raced in one of the greatest 125 eras ever against heavy hitters. He could possibly replace Swink on the list, but his results aren't much better than Swink’s. I certainly wouldn’t put him ahead of Lusk, Schmit, Bradshaw or KW.

And as stated, my rankings were my opinion and others were offered to share their opinions on riders that they think should be in there. Perhaps all the purists around here with their infinite amounts of moto knowledge could enlighten a mere peasant like myself.
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J. Sloan
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J. Sloan 8/8/2022 12:00pm
8/8/2022 12:00pm
Johnny Ringo wrote:
Bro, I’m no Jim Sloan fan but he’s just a dude posting on a message board. Not like he’s writing articles for Racer X.
I remember years ago RacerX did a greatest outdoor riders list and ranked Dungey ahead of RV. That was pretty controversial and the comments section reflected that. The point is, so much of these rankings are opinions. I would not rank Dungey above RV myself, but RacerX did.
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TXDirt
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TXDirt 8/8/2022 12:48pm
8/8/2022 12:48pm
Sunhouse wrote:
Bradshaw, Tortelli and Pourcel I would say. Windham a distant 4th. The difference IMO is the first three were destined to win, favourites, or at least...
Bradshaw, Tortelli and Pourcel I would say. Windham a distant 4th.
The difference IMO is the first three were destined to win, favourites, or at least a likely candidate. Windham was never the favourite to win going into a season. He would get a win or two in a season but never had the speed of the fav (RC, MC etc). Tortelli was faster than anyone - incl RC in about 50% of the outdoor races. He had bad luck and too many crashes, but was a beast when healthy from 1999-2001.
Faster then RC in 50% of the outdoor races?????

Time to put the pipe down!!
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Tate517
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Tate517 8/8/2022 1:20pm
8/8/2022 1:20pm
Ryan Hughes and Damon Huffman come to mind.
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captain.olives 8/8/2022 8:43pm
8/8/2022 8:43pm Edited Date/Time 8/8/2022 8:47pm
Donny is a great story, getting dumped by Factory Suzuki, buying his own CR125 and beating both Factory Suzuki riders for 4th overall the next year as a privateer. Then going to Europe the year after to win the 125 World Championship. To prove he wasn't a flash in the pan, he also eventually wins the 250 World Championship. As a kid who bounced between the coast of Oregon and Minnesota.... Donny Schmit was one of my heros and those Chesterfield Yamaha's looked sick!

Lot's of names have been bounced, but who has more wins, seconds, thirds in any class at any individual race without winning a National Championship? Or sheer volume of 2nd place finishes in a National Championship at the end of the year?

I would have guessed Daman Bradshaw, but it looks like the stats favor Windham from the vault. His individual 45 some wins in any class is longer than some pro's starts. 55ish 2nd and nearly 60 thirds? 10 2nd places finishes for National Titles?

Interesting bench racing none the less.

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J. Sloan
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J. Sloan 8/8/2022 9:18pm
8/8/2022 9:18pm
captain.olives wrote:
Donny is a great story, getting dumped by Factory Suzuki, buying his own CR125 and beating both Factory Suzuki riders for 4th overall the next year...
Donny is a great story, getting dumped by Factory Suzuki, buying his own CR125 and beating both Factory Suzuki riders for 4th overall the next year as a privateer. Then going to Europe the year after to win the 125 World Championship. To prove he wasn't a flash in the pan, he also eventually wins the 250 World Championship. As a kid who bounced between the coast of Oregon and Minnesota.... Donny Schmit was one of my heros and those Chesterfield Yamaha's looked sick!

Lot's of names have been bounced, but who has more wins, seconds, thirds in any class at any individual race without winning a National Championship? Or sheer volume of 2nd place finishes in a National Championship at the end of the year?

I would have guessed Daman Bradshaw, but it looks like the stats favor Windham from the vault. His individual 45 some wins in any class is longer than some pro's starts. 55ish 2nd and nearly 60 thirds? 10 2nd places finishes for National Titles?

Interesting bench racing none the less.

I love the behind the scene stories like you shared. Donny's story is like no other. He had the talent and capability to be a champ in the U.S. but it never happened. Things came together for him in the GP's and he came away with two of the most prestigious titles that can be won. I'm glad that I was able to watch him race in both sx and motocross live. R.I.P. to a legend.
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tmphotoart 8/8/2022 10:31pm
8/8/2022 10:31pm

GAYLON MOSIER


JIM POMEROY


MAGOO


DAMON BRADSHAW


KEVIN WINDHAM




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Monster=Brawndo 8/8/2022 11:32pm
8/8/2022 11:32pm
Reynard was so talented! Up their for sure.
ctbale
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ctbale 8/9/2022 11:36am
8/9/2022 11:36am
Tommy Benolkin
DMG
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DMG 8/9/2022 8:01pm
8/9/2022 8:01pm
Scott "THE BURNER" Burnworth is by far the best to never win a title.

Thats just my misinformed humble opinion
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J. Sloan
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J. Sloan 8/9/2022 8:20pm
8/9/2022 8:20pm
DMG wrote:
Scott "THE BURNER" Burnworth is by far the best to never win a title.

Thats just my misinformed humble opinion
You must know the guy. Wink

Indeed, I'll add Burnworth to super fast racers to have never won a major title.
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