Who was the worst 250 SX champ turned 450 ?

ACBailey89
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12/13/2025 8:30pm

The hill hate is real, sure he didn’t do great on JGR, but he has a podium in 450sx, and multiple top 5s. Not like all 250 champs even do that much in the 450s.

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MXRalph
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12/13/2025 8:47pm

Has anyone mentioned Ty Davis yet?

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mx510
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12/13/2025 10:25pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Wiemer

He has at least 1 podium in 450 SX. Nope. 

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mx510
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12/13/2025 10:27pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Ferrandis

-MAVERICK- wrote:

2021 450 MX Champion. 

Far from the worse 450 career. 

jmo443 wrote:
He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now...

He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now but no where near the form when he won on the 450. 

Horrible? You have to be kidding me. 

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The Shop

JJO741
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12/13/2025 11:03pm

Bogle

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CDA331
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12/13/2025 11:43pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Ferrandis

-MAVERICK- wrote:

2021 450 MX Champion. 

Far from the worse 450 career. 

jmo443 wrote:
He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now...

He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now but no where near the form when he won on the 450. 

Couldn’t agree more. He was so friggon fast in Supercross on star and of course the outdoor title. Then he got on that Honda, lost the over the chest pro and got those gay gold rims and everything went downhill. It’s absolutely crazy 

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aeffertz
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12/14/2025 12:21am

no Jlaw mention?

Not sure why you’re downvoted, it’s true. Dude squandered his premier class career.  

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Sully
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12/14/2025 12:42am
JJO741 wrote:

Bogle

Even with his moto win at TV and overall at Budds, I have to agree. He has so much talent for the stats he put up on a 450. 

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CPR
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12/14/2025 2:08am
Nairb#70 wrote:

Wiemer

mx510 wrote:

He has at least 1 podium in 450 SX. Nope. 

Multiple podiums in SX and MX.

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12/14/2025 2:29am

McElrath? 

-MAVERICK- wrote:

Never won a title. 

Ah shoot… 

I just remember him going really good on the TLD KTM. He must’ve come close, more than once. 
 

I thought of mcelrath too. I'm surprised he didn't win a  title but then again I really didn't find much excitement watching him race. I don't mean to be mean because he's a hell of a rider but he just didn't have that flash that some other riders have. With that said , I would kill to have his speed and talent on a bike and I hope for nothing but the best for him. 

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KurtJ99
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12/14/2025 4:26am

The question should be poised better than that. Just because their moto career peaked at 250 SX doesn’t mean it was a failure. And I just don’t like the tone of tearing down someone that has achieved greatness. 
Pastrana chose to to FMX route. 
Baggett had better financial opportunities in the family business. 
Ty Davis off-road. 
Maybe a better question longest time between 250SX championship and podium at 450SX race or championship. 

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Spoonguy
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12/14/2025 5:30am

Anyone have a list of lites champions that never went on to win a 250/450 race? 

-MAVERICK- wrote:
125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race* Riders in italics are still activeEddie Warren: 1985 125SX East ChampionBobby Moore: 1985 125SX West...

125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race

* Riders in italics are still active

Eddie Warren: 1985 125SX East Champion

Bobby Moore: 1985 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Keith Turpin: 1986 125SX East Champion (only did one 250SX race and finished 20th.)

Donny Schmit: 1986 125SX West Champion

Ron Tichenor: 1987 125SX East Champion

Willie Surratt: 1987 125SX West Champion

Todd DeHoop: 1988 125SX East Champion 

Denny Stephenson: 1990 125SX East Champion

Ty Davis: 1990 125SX West Champion

Brian Swink: 1991 & 1992 125SX East Champion

Jimmy Gaddis: 1993 125SX West Champion 

Ernesto Fonseca: 1999 125SX East & 2001 125SX West Champion

Stéphane Roncada: 2000 125SX East Champion

Shae Bentley: 2000 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Travis Pastrana: 2001 125SX East Champion 

Travis Preston: 2002 125SX West Champions

Branden Jesseman: 2003 125SX East Champion (never moved up)

Ben Townley: 2007 SX Lites East Champion

Jason Lawrence: 2008 SX Lites West Champion

Christophe Pourcel: 2009 & 2010 SX Lites East Champion

Jake Weimer: 2010 SX Lites West Champion 

Broc Tickle: 2011 SX Lites West Champion 

Wil Hahn: 2013 250SX East Champion

Justin Hill: 2017 250SX West Champion 

Colt Nichols: 2021 250SX East Champion

Justin Cooper: 2021 250SX West Champion

Christian Craig: 2022 250SX West Champion 

Edit: Typo

That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have had who DIDN'T win a 250/125 championship, or how many total 450/250 we have had or even total 450/250 winners?

toomanykaws
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12/14/2025 6:40am
Not sure if Ty Davis was offered a ride after winning the SX title. Off-Road was calling and paid much better. He went on a tear. Won in many series and disciplines. Shae Bentley got injured the last Sx round. Was just on the ReRaceables with Weege, Steve and Seth. TP says it’s about the number one comment or question he gets. What if. His knees and shoulders we’re in rough shape when he was on a 125. There was no time for surgery and to heal up. Miss a whole season. The grind was real. Would still put him as the most talented on two wheels overall. Sure cool to see him with Kenny and Carson Brown this past week.
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Flatliner
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12/14/2025 7:06am
KurtJ99 wrote:
The question should be poised better than that. Just because their moto career peaked at 250 SX doesn’t mean it was a failure. And I just...

The question should be poised better than that. Just because their moto career peaked at 250 SX doesn’t mean it was a failure. And I just don’t like the tone of tearing down someone that has achieved greatness. 
Pastrana chose to to FMX route. 
Baggett had better financial opportunities in the family business. 
Ty Davis off-road. 
Maybe a better question longest time between 250SX championship and podium at 450SX race or championship. 

I don't know if anyone would say 199 had a failed career.... but nobody would have guessed he'd never win a 250 main event.

4
12/14/2025 7:13am

How can there be a "worst" 250 Champ?

They had to be shit hot to win it in the first place...then they move up and have to face a whole bunch of champions. 

Wins and championships in the 450 class is reserved for the very special dudes.

Any 250 champion that goes through a 450 career without a win should not be smirked at. 

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shuggs
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12/14/2025 7:54am
ThreadKill wrote:

Unpopular opinion - Pastrana

Unpopular opinion 2:  Deano but had the worst luck with injuries

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Flatliner
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12/14/2025 7:55am
ThreadKill wrote:

Unpopular opinion - Pastrana

shuggs wrote:

Unpopular opinion 2:  Deano but had the worst luck with injuries

Deano won an outdoor title,  no indoor.

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Johnny Ringo
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12/14/2025 7:56am
ThreadKill wrote:

Unpopular opinion - Pastrana

shuggs wrote:

Unpopular opinion 2:  Deano but had the worst luck with injuries

Pastrana podiumed twice, but he certainly had the highest potential out of all of them

shuggs
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12/14/2025 7:59am
ThreadKill wrote:

Unpopular opinion - Pastrana

shuggs wrote:

Unpopular opinion 2:  Deano but had the worst luck with injuries

Flatliner wrote:

Deano won an outdoor title,  no indoor.

My bad

-MAVERICK-
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12/14/2025 8:21am

Pastrana podiumed twice, but he certainly had the highest potential out of all of them

TP has 3 podiums in 250SX. 

2002: San Diego (2nd), A2 (3rd), and Phoenix (2nd).

After those podiums his 250SX career was far from great. 

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-MAVERICK-
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12/14/2025 8:44am
Spoonguy wrote:
That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have...

That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have had who DIDN'T win a 250/125 championship, or how many total 450/250 we have had or even total 450/250 winners?

450/250 Champions with No 250/125 Championship In SX or MX

Rick Johnson: 1984, 1985 & 1987 250/450MX Champion. 1987 & 1988 500MX Champion. 1986 & 1988 250/450SX Champion.

Jeff Stanton: 1989, 1990 & 1992 250/450SX Champion. 1989, 1990 & 1992 250/450MX Champion. (* never raced the 125 class)

Jean-Michel Bayle: 1991 250/450MX Champion. 1991 500MX Champion. 1991 250/450SX Champion. 

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ohh_454
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12/14/2025 8:49am
JJO741 wrote:

Bogle

Sully wrote:
Even with his moto win at TV and overall at Budds, I have to agree. He has so much talent for the stats he put up...

Even with his moto win at TV and overall at Budds, I have to agree. He has so much talent for the stats he put up on a 450. 

Bogle screwed himself when he won that title, like a few other guys too. Bogle could’ve benefited from being on a 250 longer than 3 years imo. Weimer, Tickle, Wilson, and Baggett all had 5 years indoors on a 250 for comparison. Stroupe got screwed with that rule too and had to move up to the 450s in 2011 for scoring over a certain number of points 3 years in a row in sx. 

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BusterScruggs
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12/14/2025 9:15am

Grant Langston. 

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-MAVERICK-
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12/14/2025 9:20am Edited Date/Time 12/14/2025 9:50am
Spoonguy wrote:
That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have...

That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have had who DIDN'T win a 250/125 championship, or how many total 450/250 we have had or even total 450/250 winners?

Number of 450/250 SX Champions

Since 1974 there's been a total of 24 Champions out of a possible 52.

Pierre Karsmakers: 1974

Jimmy Ellis: 1975

Jimmy Weinert : 1976

Bob Hannah: 1977, 1978 & 1979

Mike Bell: 1980

Mark Barnett: 1981

Donnie Hansen: 1982

David Bailey: 1983

Johnny O'Mara: 1984

Jeff Ward: 1985 & 1987

Rick Johnson: 1986 & 1988

Jeff Stanton: 1989, 1990 & 1992

Jean-Michel Bayle : 1991

Jeremy McGrath: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 & 2000

Jeff Emig: 1997

Ricky Carmichael: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006

Chad Reed: 2004 & 2008

James Stewart: 2007 & 2009

Ryan Dungey: 2010, 2015, 2016 & 2017

Ryan Villopoto: 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

Jason Anderson: 2018

Cooper Webb: 2019, 2021 & 2025

Eli Tomac: 2020 & 2022

Chase Sexton: 2023

Jett Lawrence: 2024

Number of 450/250 MX Champions

Since 1972 there's been a total of 28 Champions out of a possible 54.

Gary Jones: 1972, 1973 & 1974

Tony DiStefano: 1975, 1976 & 1977

Bob Hannah: 1978 & 1979

Kent Howerton: 1980 & 1981

Donnie Hansen: 1982

David Bailey: 1983

Rick Johnson: 1984, 1986 & 1987

Jeff Ward: 1985 & 1988

Jeff Stanton: 1989, 1990 & 1992

Jean-Michel Bayle: 1991

Mike Kiedrowski: 1993

Mike LaRocco: 1994

Jeremy McGrath: 1995 

Jeff Emig: 1996 & 1997

Doug Henry: 1998

Greg Albertyn: 1999

Ricky Carmichael: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006

Grant Langston: 2007

James Stewart: 2008

Chad Reed: 2009

Ryan Dungey: 2010, 2012 & 2015

Ryan Villopoto: 2011 & 2013

Ken Roczen: 2014 & 2016

Eli Tomac: 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2022

Zach Osborne: 2020

Dylan Ferrandis: 2021

Jett Lawrence: 2023 & 2025

Chase Sexton: 2024

Edit:

69 Riders have won at least one 250/450SX Main Event. 

96 Riders have won at least one 250/450MX overall. 

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Johnny Ringo
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12/14/2025 9:50am

Pastrana podiumed twice, but he certainly had the highest potential out of all of them

-MAVERICK- wrote:

TP has 3 podiums in 250SX. 

2002: San Diego (2nd), A2 (3rd), and Phoenix (2nd).

After those podiums his 250SX career was far from great. 

Right, but not from just pure underperformance like many others on the list. I’d say his knees and shoulders let him down more than anything 

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Spoonguy
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12/14/2025 11:09am
Spoonguy wrote:
That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have...

That's an incredible amount, never thought it would be so extensive. Many great racers on there, it makes one wonder how many 450/250 champs we have had who DIDN'T win a 250/125 championship, or how many total 450/250 we have had or even total 450/250 winners?

-MAVERICK- wrote:
Number of 450/250 SX ChampionsSince 1974 there's been a total of 24 Champions out of a possible 52.Pierre Karsmakers: 1974Jimmy Ellis: 1975Jimmy Weinert : 1976Bob...

Number of 450/250 SX Champions

Since 1974 there's been a total of 24 Champions out of a possible 52.

Pierre Karsmakers: 1974

Jimmy Ellis: 1975

Jimmy Weinert : 1976

Bob Hannah: 1977, 1978 & 1979

Mike Bell: 1980

Mark Barnett: 1981

Donnie Hansen: 1982

David Bailey: 1983

Johnny O'Mara: 1984

Jeff Ward: 1985 & 1987

Rick Johnson: 1986 & 1988

Jeff Stanton: 1989, 1990 & 1992

Jean-Michel Bayle : 1991

Jeremy McGrath: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 & 2000

Jeff Emig: 1997

Ricky Carmichael: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006

Chad Reed: 2004 & 2008

James Stewart: 2007 & 2009

Ryan Dungey: 2010, 2015, 2016 & 2017

Ryan Villopoto: 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

Jason Anderson: 2018

Cooper Webb: 2019, 2021 & 2025

Eli Tomac: 2020 & 2022

Chase Sexton: 2023

Jett Lawrence: 2024

Number of 450/250 MX Champions

Since 1972 there's been a total of 28 Champions out of a possible 54.

Gary Jones: 1972, 1973 & 1974

Tony DiStefano: 1975, 1976 & 1977

Bob Hannah: 1978 & 1979

Kent Howerton: 1980 & 1981

Donnie Hansen: 1982

David Bailey: 1983

Rick Johnson: 1984, 1986 & 1987

Jeff Ward: 1985 & 1988

Jeff Stanton: 1989, 1990 & 1992

Jean-Michel Bayle: 1991

Mike Kiedrowski: 1993

Mike LaRocco: 1994

Jeremy McGrath: 1995 

Jeff Emig: 1996 & 1997

Doug Henry: 1998

Greg Albertyn: 1999

Ricky Carmichael: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006

Grant Langston: 2007

James Stewart: 2008

Chad Reed: 2009

Ryan Dungey: 2010, 2012 & 2015

Ryan Villopoto: 2011 & 2013

Ken Roczen: 2014 & 2016

Eli Tomac: 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2022

Zach Osborne: 2020

Dylan Ferrandis: 2021

Jett Lawrence: 2023 & 2025

Chase Sexton: 2024

Edit:

69 Riders have won at least one 250/450SX Main Event. 

96 Riders have won at least one 250/450MX overall. 

So there is 27 250/125 champs who never became 450 champs compared to those numbers? Interesting numbers, great work Maverick! Thank you!

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12/14/2025 11:44am
h20 wrote:
Which 250 Supercross champion had the worst 450 career?  I used to think of Christoph Pourcell or even Blake Baggett… but I took a break from the...

Which 250 Supercross champion had the worst 450 career?  

I used to think of Christoph Pourcell or even Blake Baggett… but I took a break from the sport for half a decade. 

I missed the years of Colt Nichols on a 250.     Who else has this happened to? 

kage173 wrote:
Colt is not a good example. He got shafted. There were no rides the year he moved up. He made the best of a fill in...

Colt is not a good example. He got shafted. There were no rides the year he moved up. He made the best of a fill in ride for SX at HRC and was getting top 5s. 

Then went privateer and started getting injured on lesser equipment.

Nairb#70 wrote:

Pourcel got the shaft worse than anyone, after 2 titles in a row.

I truly like Poucel, but he did it to himself, twice. 

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-MAVERICK-
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12/14/2025 12:05pm
Spoonguy wrote:

So there is 27 250/125 champs who never became 450 champs compared to those numbers? Interesting numbers, great work Maverick! Thank you!

There's been 52 SX seasons, so in theory there could have been 52 different champions. 

Those 52 SX championships were won by 24 riders. 

Same principle for the MX championships. 54 seasons and won by 28 riders. 

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Flatliner
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12/14/2025 1:04pm
kage173 wrote:
Colt is not a good example. He got shafted. There were no rides the year he moved up. He made the best of a fill in...

Colt is not a good example. He got shafted. There were no rides the year he moved up. He made the best of a fill in ride for SX at HRC and was getting top 5s. 

Then went privateer and started getting injured on lesser equipment.

Nairb#70 wrote:

Pourcel got the shaft worse than anyone, after 2 titles in a row.

UpTiTe wrote:

I truly like Poucel, but he did it to himself, twice. 

I mean,  to a degree maybe.... but he was dominant two years in a row sx wise.... and also won a bunch outdoors.  I don't think RV had any interest in being teammates.  Really doubt they signed Weimer on the cheap, but probably less than 377 was asking for.

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jmo443
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12/14/2025 1:12pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:

2021 450 MX Champion. 

Far from the worse 450 career. 

jmo443 wrote:
He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now...

He may be the biggest fall off though. He moved up started killing it then somewhat fell off. Not to say he’s a horrible rider now but no where near the form when he won on the 450. 

mx510 wrote:

Horrible? You have to be kidding me. 

Can you read? 

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