I took quite some time to do this data. We often talk about who won the most championships and races, because that is what matters the most. But what about "who led the most" ? I analyse all the races since 2004 for MXGP and AMA Pro Motocross, and 2003 for AMA Supercross (some riders like Ricky or Stefan will not have their entire career in it, because I couldn't go back further in time + that doesn't count the lites, only the main category). So here is who led the most!
AMA Supercross
941 = James Stewart
804 = Eli Tomac
801 = Chad Reed
744 = Ryan Villopoto
671 = Ken Roczen
655 = Ryan Dungey
442 = Cooper Webb
401 = Chase Sexton
399 = Ricky Carmichael
280 = Kevin Windham
245 = Marvin Musquin
207 = Jett Lawrence
203 = Jason Anderson
146 = Justin Barcia
145 = Davi Millsaps
89 = Trey Canard
77 = Cole Seely
64 = Adam Cianciarulo
61 = Aaron Plessinger
50 = Zachary Osborne
47 = Andrew Short
46 = Justin Brayton
26 = Malcolm Stewart
25 = Josh Hill
25 = Mike Alessi
24 = Hunter Lawrence
23 = Blake Baggett
20 = Mike Larocco
20 = Dean Wilson
17 = Ivan Tedesco
16 = Josh Grant
14 = Jason Lawrence
14 = Joey Savatgy
12 = Justin Cooper
11 = Jorge Prado
10 = Ezra Lusk
10 = Jeremy Martin
9 = Michael Byrne
7 = Jake Weimer
6 = Grant Langston
5 = Stephane Roncada
5 = Weston Peick
4 = Damon Huffman
4 = Ernesto Fonseca
4 = Eric Sorby
3 = Nathan Ramsey
3 = Nicholas Wey
3 = Justin Bogle
2 = David Vuillemin
2 = Larry Ward
2 = Tim Ferry
2 = Brett Metcalfe
1 = Kyle Lewis
1 = Jeremy Mcgrath
1 = Travis Preston
1 = Brandon Hartranft
1 = Kyle Chisholm
1 = Justin Starling
1 = Alex Martin
1 = Ryan Breece
AMA Pro motocross
974 = Ken Roczen
927 = Ricky Carmichael
837 = Ryan Dungey
762 = Eli Tomac
667 = James Stewart
622 = Jett Lawrence
393 = Ryan Villopoto
352 = Chase Sexton
300 = Marvin Musquin
252 = Chad Reed
206 = Mike Alessi
201 = Justin Barcia
165 = Adam Cianciarulo
146 = Hunter Lawrence
115 = Josh Grant
97 = Dylan Ferrandis
96 = Andrew Short
87 = Zachary Osborne
80 = Trey Canard
76 = Kevin Windham
71 = Jason Anderson
62 = Ivan Tedesco
50 = Blake Baggett
49 = Davi Millsaps
48 = Justin Bogle
42 = Brett Metcalfe
38 = Cooper Webb
33 = Aaron Plessinger
29 = Chrtistian Craig
26 = Justin Cooper
20 = Ben Townley
19 = Grant Langston
18 = Jeffrey Herlings
17 = Christophe Pourcel
17 = Justin Brayton
11 = Max Anstie
10 = Thomas Hahn
10 = Cole Seely
10 = Philip Nicoletti
9 = Michael Byrne
7 = Tim Ferry
7 = Matthew Goerke
6 = Martin Davalos
6 = Jorge Prado
5 = Broc Tickle
4 = Jeff Alessi
4 = Clement Desalle
4 = Tyla Rattray
3 = RJ Hampshire
2 = Jeff Gibson
2 = Joey Savatgy
1 = Rusty Holland
1 = John Dowd
1 = Ernesto Fonseca
1 = Dean Ferris
1 = Coty Schock
MXGP
2 341 = Antonio Cairoli
1 409 = Tim Gajser
1 163 = Jeffrey Herlings
983 = Jorge Prado
975 = Romain Febvre
961 = Stefan Everts
745 = Clement Desalle
741 = Maximilian Nagl
337 = Joshua Coppins
328 = Mickael Pichon
303 = Glenn Coldenhoff
285 = Gautier Paulin
275 = Ken De Dycker
270 = Lucas Coenen
264 = Jeremy Seewer
261 = Kevin Strijbos
171 = David Philippaerts
167 = Jonathan Barragan
150 = Maxime Renaux
149 = Evgeny Bobryshev
145 = Christophe Pourcel
140 = Steve Ramon
129 = Sebastien Pourcel
107 = Steven Frossard
106 = Brian Jorgensen
94 = Ben Townley
90 = Billy Mackenzie
79 = Shaun Simpson
65 = Eli Tomac
46 = Ruben Fernandez
44 = Marc De Reuver
39 = Tanel Leok
30 = Joel Smets
30 = Brian Bogers
29 = Cedric Melotte
29 = Mike Brown
29 = Pauls Jonass
26 = Arnaud Tonus
25 = Max Anstie
23 = Sebastien Tortelli
23 = Calvin Vlaanderen
20 = Ryan Villopoto
19 = Josh Grant
15 = Rui Goncalves
15 = Dean Ferris
13 = Steve Boniface
13 = Xavier Boog
8 = Arminas Jasikonis
8 = Mitchell Evans
7 = Jeremy Van Horebeek
6 = Cooper Webb
6 = Mattia Guadagnini
6 = Isak Gifting
5 = Manuel Priem
4 = Dylan Walsh
2 = Greg Albertin
2 = Mike Alessi
2 = Filip Bengtsson
2 = Ivo Monticelli
1 = Ben Watson
Man Cairoli is wild
Why am I drawing a blank on Eli and Webb racing 450s at the USGP? I remember them giving Herlings hell on 250s, but I don’t remember them racing 450s.
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Tomac raced both of the US GPs in 2016 (and absolutely dominated the field, 2-3 sec faster than everyone else, imagine what Kenny could have done..) and also raced the US GP in 2017 where he also won the first moto.
He rode through 18 seasons from 2004 to 2021. Only had to pull out from injury in 2008, 2015 and 2019.
2008 and 2015 he was also pretty much the guy to beat when he got injured.
Kinda insane when you think about Cairoli still doing selected races and also the MXON and the fact that he lined up against riders last year that weren't even born when he made his Pro debut. lol
I thought the gap to 2nd would have been even bigger.
Monster Cup
49 = Ryan Villopoto
45 = Ken Roczen
32 = Eli Tomac
28 = Marvin Musquin
19 = Trey Canard
16 = James Stewart
12 = Davi Millsaps
12 = Adam Cianciarulo
10 = Joey Savatgy
9 = Jason Anderson
8 = Vince Friese
7 = Mike Alessi
7 = Justin Barcia
6 = Ryan Dungey
6 = Malcolm Stewart
1 = Josh Grant
SMX
99 = Jett Lawrence
49 = Hunter Lawrence
49 = Chase Sexton
41 = Eli Tomac
15 = Ken Roczen
4 = Jason Anderson
2 = Justin Cooper
2 = Cooper Webb
1 = Justin Barcia
1 = Adam Cianciarulo
MXON since 2004
89 = Jeffrey Herlings
75 = Antonio Cairoli
63 = Glenn Coldenhoff
63 = Romain Febvre
61 = Ryan Villopoto
58 = Gautier Paulin
54 = Jett Lawrence
52 = Ricky Carmichael
46 = Stefan Everts
38 = Ken Roczen
36 = Ryan Dungey
33 = Tim Gajser
32 = Hunter Lawrence
25 = James Stewart
24 = Jorge Prado
22 = Ben Townley
21 = Max Anstie
20 = Maxime Renaux
19 = Chad Reed
17 = Jason Anderson
16 = Kevin Strijbos
15 = Mickael Pichon
15 = Eli Tomac
14 = Justin Barcia
13 = Marc De Reuver
13 = Thomas Kjer Olsen
9 = Kevin Windham
9 = Ivan Tedesco
9 = Maximilian Nagl
9 = Ruben Fernandez
8 = David Philippaerts
8 = Jonathan Barragan
6 = Evgeny Bobryshev
6 = Mattia Guadagnini
5 = Sebastien Pourcel
5 = Cooper Webb
4 = Andrew Short
4 = Alexandr Tonkov
4 = Marvin Musquin
4 = Karlis Sabulis
3 = Valentin Guillod
3 = Jeremy Van Horebeek
3 = Dylan Ferrandis
2 = Steven Frossard
1 = Erik Eggens
1 = Dean Ferris
Nice work
Thanks for this! In scanning all of the names on all of the lists (so far)...some great riders for the "where are they now" discussion. That said, I recognize every name except for - 4 = Karlis Sabulis. Just never heard of him.
AMA Supercross + AMA Pro Motocross + Monster Cup + SMX Playoffs
1 705 = Ken Roczen
1 639 = Eli Tomac
1 624 = James Stewart
1 498 = Ryan Dungey
1 326 = Ricky Carmichael
1 186 = Ryan Villopoto
1 053 = Chad Reed
928 = Jett Lawrence
802 = Chase Sexton
573 = Marvin Musquin
482 = Cooper Webb
356 = Kevin Windham
355 = Justin Barcia
286 = Jason Anderson
242 = Adam Cianciarulo
238 = Mike Alessi
219 = Hunter Lawrence
206 = Davi Millsaps
188 = Trey Canard
143 = Andrew Short
137 = Zachary Osborne
132 = Josh Grant
97 = Dylan Ferrandis
94 = Aaron Plessinger
87 = Cole Seely
79 = Ivan Tedesco
73 = Blake Baggett
63 = Justin Brayton
51 = Justin Bogle
44 = Brett Metcalfe
40 = Justin Cooper
32 = Malcolm Stewart
29 = Christian Craig
26 = Joey Savatgy
25 = Grant Langston
25 = Josh Hill
20 = Dean Wilson
20 = Mike Larocco
20 = Ben Townley
18 = Michael Byrne
18 = Jeffrey Herlings
17 = Jorge Prado
17 = Chrtistophe Pourcel
14 = Jason Lawrence
11 = Max Anstie
10 = Jeremy Martin
10 = Ezra Lusk
10 = Philip Nicoletti
10 = Thomas Hahn
9 = Tim Ferry
8 = Vince Friese
7 = Jake Weimer
7 = Matthew Goerke
6 = Martin Davalos
5 = Ernesto Fonseca
5 = Weston Peick
5 = Stepane Roncada
5 = Broc Tickle
4 = Damon Huffman
4 = Eric Sorby
4 = Jeff Alessi
4 = Tyla Rattray
4 = Clement Desalle
3 = Nicholas Wey
3 = Nathan Ramsey
2 = Larry Ward
2 = David Vuillemin
2 = Jeff Gibson
1 = Kyle Lewis
1 = Jeremy Mcgrath
1 = Travis Preston
1 = Brandon Hartranft
1 = Kyle Chisholm
1 = Justin Starling
1 = Alex Martin
1 = Ryan Breece
1 = Coty Schock
1 = Dean Ferris
1 = John Dowd
1 = Rusty Holland
Good post, interesting stats!
It's too bad the time frame doesn't go back to 1993. I'd be interested to see McGrath's laps led stat...
And without that…and when you look beyond just the stats…we’ve gotta ask…WHO was the most spectacular when they led…?
Waaay back in the day? Magoo.
Then, as Supercross entered it’s Golden Era? MC.
In the modern era? The 259, Bubba, JS7, James Stewart…whatever ya wanna call him. He was The Game Changer.
Prado almost halfway to cairoli? That is surprising.
The average laps lead per race started would really be cool to see.. like RC compared to Ken Roczen. RC retired at 27 years old while guys like Eli and Ken are still going at 30+ years old.
I think RC led 308 or 312 laps in 2002 outdoors. It was in a DC ad (not super official)
Jett led 329 laps in 2023 with only 11 races. Kenny only raced High Point that year and was 2nd with 16 laps led lol.
How about the briefest leader. All kinds of riders in the 90,s hole shot & lead 1/4 of a lap. I think it’s way cooler a guy in a junk pu truck , hole shooting the best.
Pit Row
I believe James and RC had a better laps led % than Jett’s 2023. I think Chad led 9 laps, KW led 2, and Rusty Holland led 1 in 2004.
Can really only point to tracks being different and the 2:00 lap time goal for TV wasn’t a factor back then. Glen Helen had super long laps back in the day. Other than that idk.
I was wrong on total laps. Here is the ad. Not super official I know
Pulled this from my database. Official lap data for outdoors only goes back to 2004 so these numbers are from 2004-present. There are a couple motos in the mid 2000s that had their lap data disappear into the void. This is factoring in over 99% of the motos since 2004. Appearances column in this chart is race appearances, not individual motos.
Kind of crazy Kenny only has 21 motocross wins (I believe) despite having the most laps led ever. That alone sort of tells the story of his career post arm injuries.
*I don’t say “only” in a disrespectful way, just saying that you would expect more wins from the guy with the most laps led.
15 of those 21 overalls just from 2014-2016 alone btw. But he also "only" rode four seasons after that.
2018: came back from his second arm injury, no overall win
2019: 3x wins
2021: 2x wins
2022: 1x win
I remember Kenny leading a lot of laps in 2021 in both SX and MX but losing like half of those races in the last minutes of the race. That was a tough year to watch as a fan specially with how fast he actually was that year..
I think in 2019 he also looked incredible for the first rounds, then the florida heat race happened and he was a complete different guy after that.
This is fantastic data, thank you
James should have been the winningest rider ever. His desire to decimate the competition vs just win in my opinion, cheated him and us from a spectacular career. He should have rewritten every record!
TM
I'm actually doing the datas for the 250's. I'm on the MX2 world championship classe up to 2004. Let's play a game and see who got the top 5 best laps leader for that category :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1. Herlings
2. Prado
3. Cairoli
4. Vialle
5. De Wolf or Musquin
First three are pretty set I think. Herlings unmatched for sure, I don't know if Prado could be above Cairoli, he pretty much led every race from start to finish in both 2018/2019 tho, so I went with him in 2nd.
Last two spots were hard for me. There was also Kenny and Jonass that had pretty good years but Kenny was only in the MX2 class for two full years. De Wolf and Musquin raced longer than those two so I went with them, idk.
Nice work
I jusf finished anf I can say that 3 riders are very close on this data.
I'll be doing the 250 for AMA supercross and Pro motocross before giving evrything.
That’s awesome! Shows how dominant Jett is and how consistent guys like Dungey were. Thanks for the data!
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