Can you think of a more popular win than KC94?

Kenny's determination, perseverance, and winning the championship is inspiring, and an example of how it's done.

https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1544888-cycle-news-2026-issue-19-may-12/0?_gl=1%2A1tlm8np%2A_ga%2AMTkzNzg4NjA1My4xNzY5MTk5Mjk3%2A_ga_SG2E6R2G1V%2AczE3Nzg2MDg3MzAkbzE3JGcxJHQxNzc4NjA4NzcyJGoxOCRsMCRoMTYzNjM2MzAzOA..%2A_gcl_au%2AOTYyMjMxMjUuMTc3NzA1MjQ0OQ..%2A_ga_2NJZVFG8KF%2AczE3Nzg2MDg3MzEkbzE3JGcxJHQxNzc4NjA4NzcyJGoxOSRsMCRoNjI1ODE5NDYw

Classy move by Yamaha shows how much Kenny has the pits respect.

I don't think I have seen this mentioned yet (forgiveness if I am wrong) but Marty Moates winning the Carlsbad USGP as a Privateer was quite huge back in the day.

If you don't know about this here is a good RacerX article by Eric Johnson on Marty Moates and the Win. 

Magoo sweeping MXDN/TDN?

This is a tough question, KRs winning the title is huge!

I’m was at a local race when this was announced. Think back then- a guy from the race has to get to a land phone, dial phone to call his buddies, who calls 10 other buddies, who gets on a megaphone at a local race.  Otherwise you read about it in cycle news. It left a chill in my spine that I remember like it was yesterday. Kenny’s championship was like that. Unreal. 

Although not MX I can think of another motorcycle racing story that happened last year and of course I am talking about Marc Marquez. For those not familiar with his story he was not on the best bike last year as the GP25 Ducati was not as good as the GP24. His story is much like Ken's in that he suffered through years of surgeries and heart ache before climbing to the world champuonship last year. He suffered dilpopia (double vision) twice in his career, not knowing if he would have to wear an eye patch the rest of his life and after his massive Jerez high side (Honda) he underwent multiple surgeries on his shoulder. Finally, after not ever getting back to form he went to "the last chance salon" which was the Mayo clinic where they sawed his humeris bone in half (basically cutting his arm off) and reattched the bone. 

Another one would be Mck Doohan who was in the era of 500 cc two strokes that were the most violent bikes ever. He had crashed and broken his leg, then the hospital botched the surgerey and he had to have his legs sown together to get the blood flow to his injured leg. Coming back again to win the world championship.

These riders are cut from a different cloth than most humans. Ken, Mick and Marc show the amazing ability of the human spirit to come back after the darkest times when most would have given up. So a tip of the cap to Ken this year showing his amazing grit and determination.

While not as sentimental and definitely not as popular, Febvre finally getting that 2nd world title last year after a 10 year long dry streak was also pretty special. 

Roof blew off that place when he holeshot