Who is your Mount Rushmore for the best single event/race performances?.
For me, I started paying attention in early 2000 and never paid enough attention to MXGP so my list is probably missing races I'm not familiar with but I thought this would be an interesting discussion.
I'm sure there are races I'm not remembering at the moment but the single event performances that immediately come to mind are
Ryan Villopoto - 2007 MXDN 250
- Absolutely dominating both motos on a 250f vs 450s. How could you not include this?
James Stewart - 2014 Toronto Supercross
- Stewart has a lot of impressive performances but this one stands out to me by the way he was able to pick apart the riders and come back to win.
Ricky Carmichael - 2006 Millville
- Lapping the entire field is insane. Although it was a mud race, I don't think this has ever been done so it's hard to not include this.
Zach Osborne - 2017 250 SX East Las Vegas Finale
- To go down in the first corner, come back and make an epic pass on Savagty in the second to last corner for the championship was one of the most exciting races I've ever watched
Honorable Mentions
James Stewart - 2011 Daytona Supercross Wall Jump
- This would be better off on a Mount Rushmore based on most memorable moments considering his result wasn't great.
Ryan Dungey - 2013 Minneapolis Supercross
- This was one of the most impressive races of Dungey's career, where he legitimately caught and passed Villopoto for the win. I don't remember any other races like this for Dungey.
Ryan Villopoto - 2011 Monster Energy Cup
- To win three races for the million makes it hard to not list as an honorable mention.
for American moto/sx, Eli hangtown 2015 has to be in the Rushmore. Sorry Zach. Other ones are solid. I feel like James had better races when he was on Kawi but 2014 Toronto is iconic because he was doing all the different jump combos
Herlings 1-1 at Ironman is up there.
3000 pager
Man McGrath had one when he first went to 250's last to first in SX then the one with the lights on the back of his helmet and Bradshaw's mechanic put on the pit board "he's coming" or something like that, it was a long time ago so my memory is hazey.
Someone remind me.
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Marty Moates at the 1980 Carlsbad GP.
Roczen at Millville in 2016 is always my goto
"Ryan Villopoto - 2007 MXDN 250
- Absolutely dominating both motos on a 250f vs 450s. How could you not include this?"
You didn't even mention the guys that beat the 500s on a 125. There's a thread in here about the 1996 MXoN you should check out lol
Tortelli Glen Helen 1999
Magoo Trophee and Mx des nations 1 - 2. No question about it. He had no chest protector, Roger asked where is your chest protector. Danny stated he wasn't going to be behind anybody, so he didn't need it. 16 yr. old Marty Tripes laying wood to the world's best in the stadium is 3rd. Suprised nobody mentioned JMarts last race, Rick Ryan and Brayton's Daytona win, Hannah's Unadilla DesNations on a 125, Weinert's paddle tire win, or Carla stopping for a beer yet.
2003 Budds Creek, Bubba a distant 40th off the start to 1st place against a stacked field.
That is a really overlooked race when it comes to moto history. Lammy flat smoked everyone. Didn’t a few guys start complaining about him jumping the big downhill double, so he started throwing heel clickers during practice?
Sexton 2024 hangtown.
Tomac first 2 races of 2015.
They don't have the impressive circumstance factor of MXDN or title winning races. But for shear domination, impressive show of speed they rank up there.
James last to first on a 125 has to be one of the most bad ass things ever. 2004 I think, Buds creek.
Both motos.
robbie reynard unadilla '98.
Eli Hangtown 2015, RV 07 Budds mxon, James Budds 03, Ricky 06 Millville.
Also, fuck AI slop. Please just stop.
'Ryan Dungey - 2013 Minneapolis Supercross
- This was one of the most impressive races of Dungey's career, where he legitimately caught and passed Villopoto for the win. I don't remember any other races like this for Dungey.
Dungeys ride at Southwick in 2011 will always be a favourite of mine. To start almost a full lap down and finish 7th - on a brutal track - was amazing.
And he still managed to finish on the podium with a 3rd overall.
Pit Row
Got to witness that first hand, it was flipping unreal. Was lucky enough to witness the Stewart 40-1st romp too.
I've watched that moto over and over again. Sometimes twice in a row. The way David Bailey just breaks at the moment of the scrub "ahhh... Alright... I gotta what". Instant chills.
Anaheim 1995. McGrath had a bad start, but made his way through the field.
It was Larry Ward's mechanic. Then MC triples past him for the lead and gives him the "aht, aht" finger wag.
Some worth mentioning..
Stew 40th to 1st at budds outweighs Toronto 2014 imo
Sexton 40th to 1st at hangtown
Herlings at Ironman
Marty smith at the mxon on his 125, don’t remember the track
The girl that beat RV on 125s at Airway Heights way back when
Jason McCormick 125 class Washougal moto 1 (1998 or 99)
That one time Larocco actually got a holeshot and won the Indy SX
Lechien 1-1 at 1988 MXDN in France on the KX500 to secure the 8th consecutive Team USA win.
I was there for that race; bike wouldn't start for the longest time. He is not allowed to start the race more than a lap down; as the leaders were coming up it was oh so close to him being DQ'd for the moto. The most exciting non-competitive moto thing I've ever seen.
Followed closely by that other race at SW where Dungey fell, gap cap fell off, lost alot of gas, had to re-enter pit for a refill like an XC rider.
Herlings in 2012 at Lierop, a DRY race, lapping every single rider except Van Horebeek, including Anstie, Searle, Zacho, Coldenhoff, Ferrandis…
In the first moto JVH was 2:07 behind, and 2:04 behind in the second moto. Sheesh.
Dunge Southwick 2011 x4 not up for discussion
Like a lot of others have said, I’d go:
Roosting off track today = Vital meltdown..
Magoo winning all 4 Moto's at the Des Nations when it was two events is worthy!!!!
The gas cap incident was at Southwick also.
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