Old Pros That Could Make Mains Now

toddh
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362
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USA
7/27/2026 4:48am

Sipes

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zippytech
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Bethesda, OH, USA
7/27/2026 5:17am

Does it just take one fast lap to make the main? If so, I would think just about all past champs could get a fast lap to make a main.

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Mr. Afterbar
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Green Bay, WI, USA
7/27/2026 5:21am Edited Date/Time 7/27/2026 6:19am

I was racing with Chad Johnson pretty regularly in the early 2020’s while he raced an EXC in the Vet classes. In 2024 he picked up an actual MX bike and rode a lot more. He won a Pro Am against some pretty decent local privateers. I think he could qualify for a National if he wanted to at 44 or so. 

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2
7/27/2026 5:44am

How fuckin awesome it'd be to see Pastrana on the start line!

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The Shop

Last Braaap
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Somewhere over the rainbow, CZ
7/27/2026 6:04am

Cole Seely. Might not be old by age but definetly a while since he called it quits.

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SKIDLID
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Fairmont, MN, USA
7/27/2026 6:05am

I think lots of old pros can still put in fast laps,  just their desire to take chances that they once did on a track is not there at every moment anymore.  When they feel comfortable with the conditions or the day, they can still do it.  They didn’t forget how to do it.

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Adam43
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WF
7/27/2026 7:56am Edited Date/Time 7/27/2026 7:56am

If they haven't stopped riding altogether - any big name could do it with enough time to prepare until they are around 45. 

If they had to go next weekend?

  • Dungey
  • Short
  • Canard
  • Grant
  • Musquin
  • Villopoto
  • Pourcel
  • Nicoletti
  • Osborne
  • Weimer

 

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crt32
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Oklahoma City, OK, USA
7/27/2026 8:36am

Canard could top 5 today. He still rides a lot and is insanely fast. 

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alphado
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Erie, PA, USA
7/27/2026 8:41am

Barry Carsten

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7/27/2026 8:59am
Like the title saysGary Sutherlin making it into the motos at Washougal got me thinking….we have dudes like John Dowd who kept going well into their...

Like the title says

Gary Sutherlin making it into the motos at Washougal got me thinking….we have dudes like John Dowd who kept going well into their 40s on occasional one off races.  

Gary battled Villo at Mammoth and then finished 35th ish yesterday…


What past pros could do a couple months of training and make an outdoor main? There might legitimately be 30 or more dudes retired and past their prime who could roll up and make it in pretty handily.


Look at Dungey a few years ago…or hearing people talk about RC 10 years after being retired running comparable lap times at the goat farm… when you truly have speed it doesn’t really go away.  The body changes and reaction times etc but the ability to go fast stays.  Pretty cool

web mx wrote:

How old is Sutherlin now?

Gary is 39

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7/27/2026 9:49am Edited Date/Time 7/27/2026 9:50am
Joshracing wrote:

How fuckin awesome it'd be to see Pastrana on the start line!

He might pop a shoulder out setting his holeshot device. 

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Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT, USA
7/27/2026 10:10am
ShellyMX wrote:

I think brown and Dowd could show up and make a main.

It's a good thought and would be cool, but unfortunately not happening.

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web mx
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USA, MI, USA
7/27/2026 3:29pm
Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or...

Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or [gulp] 60 and still on pace? Surely not, right? Dubach or Nicoll?

Lorusso last made it in 2012 when he was 39 or 40. He's been close recently but hasn't qualified in his 50's.

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7/27/2026 3:47pm
Falcon wrote:

Maybe Mike Brown. 

Is Mike able to ride yet ?  When he broke his neck he had a couple strokes & a lot of complications.  A spot might be open for the fastest vmxdn 125 rider.  Much bigger event that a national & theres 2 of them in the UK.  I wouldn’t mind being 1 of the 15 riders thought of for the opportunity.  My 7 broken ribs r not healing though, lung still hurts, no results on shoulder mri yet   .  

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ShipLap
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Moab, UT, USA
7/27/2026 3:50pm
Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or...

Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or [gulp] 60 and still on pace? Surely not, right? Dubach or Nicoll?

Guy Cooper

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7/27/2026 4:16pm
Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or...

Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or [gulp] 60 and still on pace? Surely not, right? Dubach or Nicoll?

ShipLap wrote:

Guy Cooper

Air Time Coop,s choice of ride is a 05 cr125 . How cool is that .  

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7/27/2026 4:31pm

Would be pretty awesome to see a bunch of "household name"old professionals trying to break an age record every year.Would be plenty of interest I think and a great story line on broadcast.

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The Wolf Man
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Suburb, NSW, AU
7/27/2026 8:02pm
Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or...

Who is the absolute oldest that could still qualify on a good day? Lorusso made it at 52 right? Brown is 54. Anyone late 50s or [gulp] 60 and still on pace? Surely not, right? Dubach or Nicoll?

DeCoster, 81 years old. 

Against most of this field, no problem.

 

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Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT, USA
7/27/2026 8:58pm
web mx wrote:

Lorusso last made it in 2012 when he was 39 or 40. He's been close recently but hasn't qualified in his 50's.

Unfortunately, I think that ship has sailed.

Ob917
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Cardiff, CA, USA
7/27/2026 9:07pm

Tickle 

1
7/27/2026 10:46pm
Joshracing wrote:

How fuckin awesome it'd be to see Pastrana on the start line!

He might pop a shoulder out setting his holeshot device. 

Just to see the '199' there.  He's such a cool dude with the right attitude.  Let's see Deegan try to know him down! Or Vince Friese!

blockhead17
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Tokyo, JP
7/27/2026 11:06pm
crt32 wrote:

Canard could top 5 today. He still rides a lot and is insanely fast. 

So is Eli Tomac, and he is nowhere near the top 5 (sadly)

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ohh_454
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Nuevo, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/27/2026 11:35pm
Wo Phat wrote:

James Stewart not mentioned yet?.....strange

I mentioned him after you and got downvoted, he said he was riding again, I bet you he still has speed to burn. 

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The Wolf Man
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Suburb, NSW, AU
7/27/2026 11:39pm

This old bloke...

AI generated image

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Ktmscout
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Prosper, TX, USA
7/28/2026 5:12am
Falcon wrote:

Maybe Mike Brown. 

100% Brownie could do it. That guy is an absolute savage. 

rsd47
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632
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Location
GB
7/28/2026 5:25am
Would be pretty awesome to see a bunch of "household name"old professionals trying to break an age record every year.Would be plenty of interest I think...

Would be pretty awesome to see a bunch of "household name"old professionals trying to break an age record every year.Would be plenty of interest I think and a great story line on broadcast.

We need to start a petition to get RC to race a national at 50 

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davistld01
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Location
Springfield, MO, USA
7/28/2026 8:21am
crt32 wrote:

Canard could top 5 today. He still rides a lot and is insanely fast. 

Agreed. I imagine HRC keeps him in their factory tester spot because he can ride at "alien speed" almost like the Lawrence brothers, and weed out setup issues in their bike. He could definitely do a top-5 finish if he got some breaks. 

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KHNC
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East Flat Rock, NC, USA
7/28/2026 8:50am
Falcon wrote:

Maybe Mike Brown. 

Is Brownie out of rehab and riding yet? 

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kxking
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Location
Oakville, Ontario, CA
Fantasy
7/28/2026 8:50am
Joshracing wrote:

How fuckin awesome it'd be to see Pastrana on the start line!

He might pop a shoulder out setting his holeshot device. 

Lets be honest here TP199 did 3 laps at Carson Browns track and was dying of exhaustion, a 1 lap heater MAYBE, but he would finish 5 laps down if he finished at all.

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