Headcase Top 5

Can I add myself to the head case list?

Sounds like you are a badass. Kicks ass to be as badass as you superstar. 😜

Obviously you like Chad.

Apparently with this list SX and MX are only less than 30 years old.

The super talented guys who flamed out early should head up that head case list. Most of the guys there have only had a few on track issues. The real head cases have too many off-track issues to race for long. 

My short, very short, list.

Reed.

I remember quite a few huge RC crashes, of course he's not a headcase . Some guys seem to get lucky when they hit the dirt, unlike AC. Canard and Forkner vs. Dungey and Tomac. Some guys just break themselves a lot. If you're really talking headcase though it's gotta be Barcia with Friese as an honorable mention. Or as mentioned someone like J-Law is a headcase.

Magoo was a bit of a headcase.

I’m not sure I agree with the head case label but many of the top guys are extremely picky with bike setup. If they can’t communicate with team to get what they want( good rider, poor tester?)achieving the comfort to win would be difficult  even with factory team resources.Seems like the days of ride what you got and bulldog thru for the win are over especially with todays competition.

I’ve been around for 63 years so my list would most likely go back before you were born, unless you’re old as dirt like me. 
 

a couple names I’d throw out are also 2 of my all time favorite riders. Mike Alessi and Malcolm Stewart. Also Eli before he got on the Yamaha. 
 

I think KW was unfortunate to have had a career with RC/Bubba on the gate. 
 

and not sure why Lammy was on your list. I always thought that guy was rock steady

this kind of debate is why we r here 👍

For me the most obvious one is Tomac, I compare riding ability and talent vs results, Tomac has always checked out the eye test as a supreme MX/SX rider, in 2017(I think it was) whenever he was chasing Dungey in points showed that lack of mental, he was all good chasing down Dungey in the points gapping the whole field by 10-20 seconds every weekend until finally he caught Dungey in points and the last race or two where he was going to pass Dungey for the championship he absolutely bombed.}

Obviously that's not the case anymore.

I don't know how Reed is in that list, he overperformed in his career due to his mental strength.

Windam is actually a good one, I know he's beloved on here but the truth is he had the ability the talent he just wasn't willing to go hard as RC and JS.

Top 5

Roczen
Tomac, I don't want to list him because of how he is now but he's still underachieved vs his ability's. 

Kdub

Alessi

Savatgy

Been watching since 1999 probably missed a few.

Yes I do.

Speaking of head cases I think Jake Weimer let things get to him.

Like his personality and he was/is very well spoken.
Really liked him in those SX documentaries a few years back on youtube.

On the strong side I’d add Bailey to the list.

Reynard was a fragile crasher that couldn’t stay healthy. Don’t know if I’d call him a headcase. 
 

Windham seemed like a brooding emo bipolar kid, when he was on, he was ON……….but he was off sometimes. 

Christian Craig but only because dude strapped a blinking red light to his handlebar to remind himself he was racing a dirt bike!

Buckelew would be another headcase. 

Mike Craig comes to mind…. 

Maybe Sextons issues are due to his parents naming him Chase instead of Leader.

How can you have a young active racer on the list? And no Bradshaw on it?

Seemoney49 should be number one on every list.

Exactly. I know what you’re saying! If Reed had his mental game together, we’d be calling him the GOAT. I hear you, man. Us Reed fans know the truth, right buddy.

Damon Bradshaw 

Crasharulo. clearly. 

He's got the most wins and titles of any slow guy...

I see a lot of similarities in Webb and Reedy, not always the fastest, but if you give them a shred of a chance they might be able to win, it’s on. 
both of them have the ability to be able to change lines, or jump combos mid race they haven’t used all day.

headcase is not a word to describe these guys, they are the opposite.

I hate Webb as much as the next guy but he's not slow.

Craig

Roczen 

McElrath 

Jordan smith 

As much as I dislike Reed you really can't put him on this list. I'm sure being a distant 3rd to RC and Bubba messed with his head, but for the most part he was a pretty mentally strong rider. Outside of being son'd by Bubba at Unadilla and his 22 tablecloths being jacked, he was pretty solid.

Lamson also shouldn't be included on this list. He got put into a weird place by Honda in 1997 after McGrath left. He had to ride the first generation aluminum framed 97 Cr250 in his first Supercross season on a 250. The same bike that caused McGrath to head to Suzuki after So many dominant years on a Honda. That had to mess with his head and he was obviously a 125 and outdoor specialist.

Also Sexton is too young to be on this list and owns his mistakes. Way to early to judge him.

I'd put Pichon on this list, his meltdown at Hangtown resulting in him leaving Honda mid-season and heading back to Europe was a crazy story.

I'd also have to include Broc Hepler too. Once he moved up to the 450s he was riding over his head, racking up injuries and concussions trying to run the pace resulting in an early retirement and I think he was moved up to early and that didn't  help.

There is other guys but I don't know if it was being a headcase or having a major addiction problem.