Marc Marquez on the Ducati Desmo450 MX

Yup - every time I mess up a corner, it is the dirt bike riding and MX racing that keeps my bike upright going through the grass, and me still on it.

Jake Gagne was an absolute minicycle terror in MX long before he switched over to the KTM 125 roadrace program and took off in that sport. I have no doubt he'd be a "somebody" in MX had he stayed in ours. 

I took a dirt track school on TTR125s and Jake was one of the instructors. He seemed like a really good guy, came across as humble too.

Flat track legend Joe Kopp showed up at a pretty big local MX race when he was in his mid- forties and raced the vet class. His lap times were faster than half the pro class riders. 

I've gotten to meet him a few times, he's also just a really good person. 

Wasn't Marquez hurt once riding off road and missed a bunch of Moto GP and maybe even a title because of it, or was that someone else?

Interesting style. 

I missed my braking marker and went straight into the gravel at paddock hill at Brands Hatch last year, 17 years of motocross came in very handy at that moment!

I agree. Although I think the stage is completely different now. I don't think guys that start off on dirt then in their teens move to pavement could even sniff the GPs in today's world. Which is part of the reason why American's don't have that presence in the GP's anymore. We don't breed road racing at the same level the Spanish and Italians do. Our kids aren't riding little prototypes at 3 years old. 

I will say I agree that Jett could have probably been a championship level GP rider. Vise versa Marc.

Graeme Irwin is a British motocross champion and former MXGP rider who had a go at tarmac when he retired from mx. His 2 brothers are both professional riders in BSB.

Rossi in 2017.

We try to do American Supercamp every year. Jake and all their instructors are awesome dudes. Zero ego whatsoever.

That's not my point. Name another rider in moto2 or moto3 that's American. Also Joe's family is from London, he was born here but he has dual citizenship and raced as a kid in Europe. 

Would I love to see Joe make the jump? 10000%. At 28 years old, is it likely a team will take a chance on him? Personally, I don't think so. He committed to race another year in moto2 so at 29 next year the odds go down further.

Chicken or Egg?
Anthony “The Go Show” Gobert got a ride with the Suzuki GP team. An opportunity he, and he alone squandered by deciding to take drugs. From memory he failed several drug tests before he was let go. Then he faded from the limelight. Very sad story: his life after racing.

Henry wiles won 450A class at red bud, about 10yrs ago.  he can ride sand well also

Wiles raced Loretta’s last year in 30 & 40 

So true...learned this at my first road racing weekend including "new riders school" at Willow Springs...where it was obvious to me to make passes coming down the hill from turn 4 to turn 5 and set up to kinda seat-bounce to the inside of 5...this was during the laps of the riders school...where I'd missed the entire brief about NO PASSING! 🤣

During the time I was supposed to be "in class", I was getting briefed on the CBR600F2 that I was riding that day...

I was a Yellow Plate Rookie...but I worked in the industry and had a little help from some folks in the biz: including being brought to the track this day, getting some bad-ass Dunlops and a very nicely set-up bike. 

Back to the on-track riding school...

So, I go and pull a boner move during new rider school. It was witnessed by one of the on-track instructors who came up thru the pack and got me...pulled me aside...explained to me that there's a NO PASSING rule...then took me on some private laps to see this "set-up" I was doing for the lines/pass I'd pulled off going in to Turn 5...I believe his name was Kenny Kopecky...he was really cool about all of it and wanted to know where and why I thought to try that line...

"It's EXACTLY like coming off the back at Sears...it's begging to be straightened out!" (The old Turn 7 at Sears...Very "Moto"!)

He then very kindly advised me that things won't be so smooth and easy during the race and that things will be REALLY awkward if the bike steps out during my set-up for that move. "Step out"? Nah...I've got this. (Uh, sure) He laughed...knowingly. 

Yes...it stepped out...the next day...during my race...where I'm lined up in the back with bunch other 400-600cc noobs...

Yup! It stepped out exiting the apex of Turn 3 on lap 1 (a fairly tight left after a really fast run out of 2)..."HARD BRAKING"...to get the dive inside of everyone...then...carefully twist it to grab a pass up the inside of 3 as you prepare to go up the hill to 4...but, about that "carefully twist it"...? Well, "race adrenaline" and all that...you know...

I'd NEVER had a bike...on pavement...STEP THE F-OUT like that before...EVER. But, I had done it on everything from a YZ125 to a CR500...from Saddleback to Loretta's...even on a TT bike...been there, done that...but...damn...

THIS WAS DIFFERENT! 🤣I may have shit my leathers...?

Saved it...and somehow manged to stay in it and sorta let it slide...but, DUDE! There was a HIGH SIDE ALARM going off in my head! 🤪

Still, it was an awesome race. My 1st and last road race. My girl-friend at the time...my wife now...watched the entire race...saw a dude go off of turn 9 (on a ZX9R as I recall)...and leave in an ambulance. She was sure he was dead. She was rattled. She explained to me that she could watch me race Moto, Trials, TT...even FT (got to ride a real HD 750 for a few laps...EPIC!)...but, she couldn't handle seeing this.

I'd passed my ass off in that race and really, really loved it...it was Zen...it was remarkably peaceful and serene. Crazy, right? I was congratulated on a great race from the Honda and Dunlop guys...got a free set of Dunlops. And, after seeing Vicki's face... I was done. I'd do a few more track days and really get the itch...even rode a TZ250...such perfection...but, she was right. Still, damn...was it fun! 

Those were some amazing days. 

Joe was already offered a MotoGP ride with Aprilia. He turned it down. Not saying he can’t get another chance, but I’d call it a long shot. 

    MM should send a resume to Kawasaki, I hear they will be looking for a couple of riders for SMX !

https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Mark-Marquez-motocross-injury,1285321

Don't think he missed any races.

King Kenny the trendsetter

https://www.rideapart.com/news/245559/kenny-roberts-sells-california-ranch-track/

I’ve done motocross, road racing,  flat track, and dez.  Lots of mx, rr and dez.  LOL, none of it really well. But I can say this: Each one teaches you something new and makes you better. I’m surprised more mx guys don’t try rr and ft. 

I believe that’s what he grew up doing. Didn’t he ride for Team Honda Australia?