Most Gutted Feeling For You in MX/SX ?

Plessinger this year in Detroit was pretty tough.

I don't know about the significance compared to the poll, but one that stuck out to me was Reed's bike dying in the mud at Daytona 08 while leading. As a Yamaha and Reed fan, that one just sucked all around. I can't imagine the emotions of leading through that slop all race long just to have the bike conk out shortly before the finish.

Bailey, Magoo, Fonseca, Mitchell, Marshal, Bier, Malherbe, Moreau, Jim West, J D Collins 

good point

Jono Porter,Andrew Mcfarlane

Bailey.
 

He rode so perfectly and accurately that I deluded myself into thinking that if I emulated him, much, much slower, I could ride without much risk of injury. After his crash I quit riding for about 6 months. It was only after realizing that without the motivation to stay healthy and strong enough to ride and race that I was gonna kill my self drinking. And I like riding more than drinking! 

Multiple incidences. 
 

RV looping out and ending his MXGP career was one of them. 
 

Bradshaw choking in ‘92 SX was another. 

So many gut punches...  This probably won't be popular, but strictly as a fan of racing, Justin and Jason tangling on the very first lap of the first moto in Assen was a USA moto fans worst nightmare.  I sat for the entire moto in disbelief.

I voted RJ/Storbeck incident because that was the heyday of this sport.

Webb/Tomac going out like they did this year just ruined this SX season.

...but the spinal injuries take the wind out of the sails of this sport.   That's a tough thing to process.

Stewart suspension

DH19

Langston’s wheel disintegrating and losing the Championship in the last race was one that really stuck with me.  

RJ getting landed on by Storbeck.  RJ was so dominant at this point in his career and safe money was on him winning both the motocross and supercross 250 championships (there were some riders that would have put up a huge fight).  His injury took out the absolute top rider in the sport.  USA was dominant during this period and RJ was the best.  Everything got flipped upside down on this day.

Watching Doug Henry, in person, launch off (Now) Henry Hill. Was gutted and shook. 

I fully get that, but from the opposite end of the spectrum. This was the race that showed me someone could DNF and still finish 7th; those were the points which prevented Kevin Windham from winning the SX title that year. 

The most gutted I felt was when David Bailey was paralyzed.  I didn't want to ride any longer, but then I realized I loved riding too much and with the rewards of riding, comes the risks.  

I was also pretty bummed when RC retired.  At 27 years old, I felt he has so much more left in him.  Looking back though, I think he was spent, and called it quits for a reason. I really respect RC and his commitment and dedication to motocross. His battles with Reed and Stewart were epic, and those three athletes elevated the sport to the next level, and to what we are seeing now.

Aside of guys getting hurt, which you never want to see, and there have been lots, over the years, my worst personally was Shaun Simpson breaking a chain at Kegums MXoN , when we were on the podium. 

Close second was Max Anstie getting landed on at Ernee... was there for both, so much disappointment. 

Recently, i have to say AP7 bailing on the last lap, you have to think that chance may never come again.

As a Reed fan at the time, seeing the 2006 Vegas whoops

250 C were blitzing in first practice, while RC was polishing his trophy.

RC hurt at the last round at Glen Helen and missing the perfect RC/JS/RV team for the 06 MXdN was brutal.  It would have been a very different event, with almost certainly the same overall result.

Tomac is disappointing, but to be more gutted for him than for, say, Josh Coppins when he lost his title shot seems like recency bias.

Trey Canard getting landed on. It looked disgusting and the guy had such a bright future. I just loved the way he rode and battled for every position. 

Chad Reed at Daytona in 2008. 

He was on his way to win the race and the bike quit on him. I think it happened on the last lap. 

Edit: It was the last lap. 

Without a doubt, the demise of the two-stroke. It ruined a lot of my enjoyment of the sport. I try to stay interested watching four-strokes, but the sport was never the same for me.

I have never been a big fan of the "next big thing" or even super dominant riders. That said, after AC struggled with injuries I came around to cheering for him, he's not my favorite rider, but I would cheer for him. I stayed up to watch him win the 2019 West Championship...I was in shock, maybe more so than watching Tomac tear his achilles (and Tomac is my guy). The one thing I will give Adam is he kept riding around, maybe he should have been black flagged, but he never gave up. That stuck with me, because he wanted it that bad that he rolled around the track just in case something would happen to Ferrandis. 

Fonseca and Jessy Nelson

And it almost did. Dylan’s bike blew up as he crossed the finish if my memory is not letting me down. 

Tomac is probably my biggest let down. Mainly bc no one did anything wrong, his body just failed him in his prime.

Roczen 2017 crash 

Roczen’s 2017 crash was absolutely gut wrenching. I firmly believe he was going to challenge for, if not win the championship that year.  But, his dedication to recovery, and what he’s accomplished since, is truly remarkable!!! 👍