Will today's stars be remembered the way the stars of the 80s and 90s are?

Moto Nomad
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It doesn't seem like the stars of the past 20 years will be remembered the way guys like Hannah, RJ, Lechien, Bradshaw O'Mara, Bailey, Ward and McGrath are. I don't know about you, but I jump on any podcast or interview with these guys that I can.

I don't see the same level of excitement about riders like Dungey, Villopoto, Tomac, Webb or even RC. Or maybe it's me since I am old and the 80s and 90s were my heyday. I just don't see myself riveted by stories from these guys the way I am with the old-school guys.

Maybe it's because of the era, where the older guys were essentially building the sport. For instance, I couldn't believe when Brad Lackey went overseas for the first time, his team just stuck him in a cabin and he had to hunt quail to feed himself! That's just wild. Or Lechien's stories are always really funny and interesting.  

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The Wolf Man
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7/22/2026 12:13pm

It's because it's your era. 

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AssangeMX
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7/22/2026 12:24pm

RC not remembered? Wtf, he won't go away, ever!!! Lol

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matze
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7/22/2026 12:25pm

who the fuck knows. Even if this thread gets 1000 pages, u wont know more

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GrapeApe
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7/22/2026 12:35pm Edited Date/Time 7/22/2026 12:42pm

To today's kids, yes. To you, no.

 

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The Shop

Chris_Buehler
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7/22/2026 12:51pm
GrapeApe wrote:

To today's kids, yes. To you, no.

 

Exactly. To today's kids the Ryan's are legends. And O'Mara is the trainer for the Lawrence's. Oh, did he used to be a pro? It all depends on what era you grew up in

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7/22/2026 1:02pm
I speak to my cousin's two boys about the ferocious rivalry between Bradshaw & Bayle around 91-92, and they don't know who those riders are nor do they G.A.F about them. (as they were born in 2003 & 2005) But for me, I am more passionate about 1991 than I am about 2026. Whatever years mean the most to you won't necessarily mean the same to someone else. That doesn't mean the riders will be remembered any less, just they'll be remembered by a different demographic. Typically, they will be age groups.
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7/22/2026 1:05pm
GrapeApe wrote:

To today's kids, yes. To you, no.

 

Exactly. To today's kids the Ryan's are legends. And O'Mara is the trainer for the Lawrence's. Oh, did he used to be a pro? It all...

Exactly. To today's kids the Ryan's are legends. And O'Mara is the trainer for the Lawrence's. Oh, did he used to be a pro? It all depends on what era you grew up in

Oh, and Broc Glover.... Isn't he the guy who sells tyres?? I tried to get my cousins boys to watch the Broc Glover training video- they thought it was shit & much preferred A.J Catanzaro. Ive no idea who he is btw...
7/22/2026 1:32pm
GrapeApe wrote:

To today's kids, yes. To you, no.

 

But today’s fan pretty much has the on track racing as a memory .  The rider might hv missed a flight , not exactly a  interesting story.  Compared to a rider & mechanic living in a box van & staying on the rd.  A rider living in a shop in Italy & not getting paid. Racing a stock 2000 cr 125 supposed to hv works parts.  That was Scott Sheak.   Endless stories of the 2-st era.  Guy Cooper had some good ones living in his cutlass supreme car with his women doing the nationals.  

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DonJulio
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7/22/2026 1:43pm Edited Date/Time 7/22/2026 1:44pm

Bro these kids(and adults) eat sleep and breath deegan. He is their hero lol. 

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BAREIN
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7/22/2026 2:00pm

Mcgrath had a lot of exposure in the 90's being on ESPN, Speed and other outlets. Back then you would find non fans of the sport watching a SX or Moto flipping through the TV. people that were not fans would know his name. So if you were a fan in the 90's you are always going to remember MC. I'm burned out on streaming services and wish it would go back to the old days of a SX being aired at a random time and  shows like Motoworld

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Tyler D
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7/22/2026 2:06pm

Looking for Jeremy McGrath 1996 season pics - Moto-Related ...

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7/22/2026 2:38pm
BAREIN wrote:
Mcgrath had a lot of exposure in the 90's being on ESPN, Speed and other outlets. Back then you would find non fans of the sport...

Mcgrath had a lot of exposure in the 90's being on ESPN, Speed and other outlets. Back then you would find non fans of the sport watching a SX or Moto flipping through the TV. people that were not fans would know his name. So if you were a fan in the 90's you are always going to remember MC. I'm burned out on streaming services and wish it would go back to the old days of a SX being aired at a random time and  shows like Motoworld

And calling 1-800 - pro- race for results. Mc had a phone number to call . He had a recorded race break down of the weekend.  IMG 5858.png?VersionId=MU9VzrQO0.PaoVx6bUotp1iu

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Moto Nomad
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7/22/2026 2:42pm

Your age does have a lot to do with it, I get it, but I still think the racers of today are a bit less interesting. 

In the 80s and 90s, I had little interest in the riders of the 70s, although my interest has grown over time. I worked in a bike shop around 1990 and we were talking moto one day and one of the shop guys told us he was a mechanic for Jimmy Ellis. He asked if we knew who he was and all the moto guys said we didn't. He gave us a look of disgust and walked away and never really talked to us much after that. Now I know that Jimmy Ellis was a pretty well-known and accomplished rider and I now feel really stupid for saying that.

So I get it. Still, I can't think of hardly any interesting anecdotes from the guys I listed above. Maybe because motocross got so hardcore after the RC era and riders just practiced and trained all the time instead of leading more colorful lives. 

7/22/2026 3:13pm Edited Date/Time 7/22/2026 3:14pm

Actual instant videos documenting every race and rider move(good and bad/on and off track)is awesome.On the other hand not having that made riders of the past into the mythical legends we probably made out to be bigger,crazier,more amazing,etc than maybe they really were?We have lost that writing our own story but I will take the abundance of video and info we have today.Too much reality and facts not always a good thing?! lol

sandman768
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7/22/2026 3:19pm

No….there is no mystery or mystic these days due to the excessive social media updates and/or media outlets from said stars….back in the day we had very little information on the stars so we were eager to hear whatever we could….this created our fascination with said stars…IMO….

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skypig
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7/22/2026 3:24pm

To a kid in the ‘70’s - Being a fan and following a rider for 3-5 years seemed like a lifetime. Waiting for the magazines to find out the result. Waiting for the local round to catch a glimpse, or hear a word from their favourite rider.

Today - with the instant gratification, and so many distractions: last years champ is almost forgotten the moment the “next big thing” is arrested for doing burnouts in his R8. Then he’s forgotten a year later when he retires due not being able to win every weekend, and “look” these two Yamaha team mates are making Kooky videos and winning everything, for now.

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ARM670
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7/22/2026 5:15pm
BAREIN wrote:
Mcgrath had a lot of exposure in the 90's being on ESPN, Speed and other outlets. Back then you would find non fans of the sport...

Mcgrath had a lot of exposure in the 90's being on ESPN, Speed and other outlets. Back then you would find non fans of the sport watching a SX or Moto flipping through the TV. people that were not fans would know his name. So if you were a fan in the 90's you are always going to remember MC. I'm burned out on streaming services and wish it would go back to the old days of a SX being aired at a random time and  shows like Motoworld

And calling 1-800 - pro- race for results. Mc had a phone number to call . He had a recorded race break down of the weekend...

And calling 1-800 - pro- race for results. Mc had a phone number to call . He had a recorded race break down of the weekend.  IMG 5858.png?VersionId=MU9VzrQO0.PaoVx6bUotp1iu

I always called 1-900-INF-MOTO

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