Your favorite SX/MX "I was there" experience

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Edited Date/Time 7/27/2022 3:59am
Just listened to Pulp MX and heard Roczen talk about his first MX2 win. Matthes said "I was there" and for some reason it got me thinking about my most memorable MX spectating experience. Probably have to jump in the way back machine and visit the Trans Am race in the 70s where Ohio native Denny Swartz beat The Man fair and square one moto at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio.

What's yours?
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TXDirt
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TXDirt 7/14/2022 5:09am
7/14/2022 5:09am
My bike blew up second moto at Steel City so I got to watch Reynard beat Carmichael heads up on the 125.
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nrosso391
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nrosso391 7/14/2022 5:12am
7/14/2022 5:12am
REED deciding to rename the Camelback jump at Millville into the "Chadapult". We were sitting on the spectator hill by the finish line jump and all we saw was Reed eject off his bike right at the lip. I immediately thought, "there's no way he doesn't have a broken femur. Then he GOT UP and rode his ass off. Watching all the mechanics towels fly once he came around was amazing.
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Joey_Bridges
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Joey_Bridges 7/14/2022 5:13am
7/14/2022 5:13am
Carlsbad USGP's
Saddleback trans ama's
1990 norba/uci world mt bike championships in durango.
Being part of the first 100 way freefall formation from a formation load of 3 C-130's at 17,000'.
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JeffGuckenberg 7/14/2022 5:13am
7/14/2022 5:13am
Dallas 2019 I was sitting directly across from the finish line and saw the closest win margin finish in SX history as Webb stalked Roczen and got him in the last corner.


And Houston 2019 I got my dad and I tickets to be on the floor, do the track walk and be right by the gate for the last 450 main of the night, it was a triple crown event. Getting to see all the bikes and guys so up close like that was amazing.




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The Shop

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Leave Us To 7/14/2022 5:25am
7/14/2022 5:25am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 5:25am
TXDirt wrote:
My bike blew up second moto at Steel City so I got to watch Reynard beat Carmichael heads up on the 125.
Reynard was an animal. I wasn't there but watched the Unadilla National on TV and he also beat RC. There was one corner that Robbie went through like his throttle was stuck open every lap.
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Saul Rosenburg 7/14/2022 5:25am
7/14/2022 5:25am
Watching Ryan Villopoto completely decimate the entire field of 450s while he was on a 250 at the buds creek mxdn. And I do mean “decimate”.
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Chris_Buehler 7/14/2022 5:31am
7/14/2022 5:31am
Southwick 2011. Went to watch the race in a hurricane, which obviously discouraged a lot of fans from going. The grandstands were empty so we got to sit anywhere we wanted. 2nd moto the pack comes around without Dungey. Everyone knows the rest of the story
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Kaaden'sTheory 7/14/2022 5:35am
7/14/2022 5:35am
1978 USGP at Unadilla. Americans win both motos and Tripes goes 2-2 for the OA. They passed out little American flags to the spectators and the sea of flags waving on the hillside was spectacular. A buddy and me drove non-stop from Omaha in my '75 VW Rabbit with seats that were little more than vinyl upholstered plywood. Fun times. Damn I miss the 70's!
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jonesaustin
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jonesaustin 7/14/2022 5:48am
7/14/2022 5:48am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 5:52am
2006 Dallas Supercross --

Reed, Stewart, and Carmichael locked in a tight battle, and I'm watching them skim the whoops in my direction. James makes it through fast AF, then here comes Carmichael, pinned. Suddenly, his rear tire kicks out, he loses control, and is careening off the track, straight for a wakeboard boat they had on the floor as a promotion.

I thought he was going to be severely injured or even potentially killed from the impact, but he missed the boat by what looked like inches. I've seen a lot of crashes, but that's the only time I thought the racer may likely lose their life in front of a stadium audience.

Carmichael talks about it on Emig's show here (53:35):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtKTFipaUM
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HondaFan33
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HondaFan33 7/14/2022 5:57am
7/14/2022 5:57am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 6:42am
Freestone 2009 watching Mike Alessi dominate the field by 30 seconds each moto. Nobody that day was even close to touching him. That was his year had he not gotten injured I think he would be a 450mx champ.
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ProbablyDave 7/14/2022 6:07am
7/14/2022 6:07am
Flew from the UK to Atlanta to see my brother. We drove all the way to Budds Creek to watch our first National. Got to see Tomac get his third championship in a row! Pretty incredible day. The weather was ridiculous. Thought I was actually going to melt.
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DeStouwer
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DeStouwer 7/14/2022 6:13am
7/14/2022 6:13am
MXoN Ernée 2005. RC, Everts, Pichon, Tortelli, Windham, Tedesco, Strijbos, Ramon, Vuillemin,.. And the best atmosphere I've ever witnessed. For me, this race was the benchmark for every other MXoN that came after, but none of them could match that year (imo), and I've attended almost everyone since then.
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JeffGuckenberg 7/14/2022 6:21am
7/14/2022 6:21am
jonesaustin wrote:
2006 Dallas Supercross -- Reed, Stewart, and Carmichael locked in a tight battle, and I'm watching them skim the whoops in my direction. James makes it...
2006 Dallas Supercross --

Reed, Stewart, and Carmichael locked in a tight battle, and I'm watching them skim the whoops in my direction. James makes it through fast AF, then here comes Carmichael, pinned. Suddenly, his rear tire kicks out, he loses control, and is careening off the track, straight for a wakeboard boat they had on the floor as a promotion.

I thought he was going to be severely injured or even potentially killed from the impact, but he missed the boat by what looked like inches. I've seen a lot of crashes, but that's the only time I thought the racer may likely lose their life in front of a stadium audience.

Carmichael talks about it on Emig's show here (53:35):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtKTFipaUM
I remember that one I was there as well. I thought for sure Carmichael was a goner as soon as I saw him come off the track. Were you by chance at Dallas SX the following year when Stew went through the sand section Out of control off the triple and off the track? He landed on the plywood off the side of the track. He landed like it was completely normal, looked to make sure the track was clear and just pulled right back on…. It happened in practice. Absolutely bonkers lol
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Jeremy A.K.
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Jeremy A.K. 7/14/2022 6:23am
7/14/2022 6:23am
Mine is not nearly as spectacular but I guess for me it would be when Kdub dropped down to ride a 250f at Unadilla.
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Chris_Buehler 7/14/2022 6:33am
7/14/2022 6:33am
HondaFan33 wrote:
Freestone 2009 watching Mike Alessi dominate the field by 30 seconds each moto. Nobody that day was even close to touching him. That was his year...
Freestone 2009 watching Mike Alessi dominate the field by 30 seconds each moto. Nobody that day was even close to touching him. That was his year had he not gotten injured I think he would be a 450mx champ.
Red Bud was 2008 when he got ran over. He got hurt practicing prior to Thunder Valley I think in 2009. I agree he was on point in 2009. I don't think Reed could have beat him. At the same point I don't think Mike would have beat RV if he didn't get hurt
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Press516
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Press516 7/14/2022 6:34am
7/14/2022 6:34am
Probably the 1979 USGP at Carlsbad... Mike Bell out front in moto 1 and Wolsink making it happen as he often did there. And I got to meet DeCoster and ask him about the Ribi...

But the 2018 Red Bud MXoN is right there. The racing was ok, but the spectacle, the fans, the event in general was awesome. So much so that we are going back this year and to France next year.
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Guetterman 7/14/2022 6:41am
7/14/2022 6:41am
Not racing related but in 2006 I was watching one of my buddies compete in xgames best trick and we seen this steep ramp a little closer to the landing. The rumor going around was that it was Pastrana’s double flip ramp and we said no way in hell. Well sure enough the dude comes out and lands the first double flip right in front of us. The atmosphere in staples center right after he rode away was something I’ll never forget.
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Jack_Wagon
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Jack_Wagon 7/14/2022 6:43am
7/14/2022 6:43am
Number one for me would have to be the 1990 Atlanta SX. I remember leaving and thinking "what did I just see?". Honorable mention to the 1989 Atlanta SX (Stanton's first win) and Gatorback 1993 when a veteran Kehoe held off McGrath for a Moto win and launched the finish line.
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Log Hopper
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Log Hopper 7/14/2022 6:47am
7/14/2022 6:47am
nrosso391 wrote:
REED deciding to rename the Camelback jump at Millville into the "Chadapult". We were sitting on the spectator hill by the finish line jump and all...
REED deciding to rename the Camelback jump at Millville into the "Chadapult". We were sitting on the spectator hill by the finish line jump and all we saw was Reed eject off his bike right at the lip. I immediately thought, "there's no way he doesn't have a broken femur. Then he GOT UP and rode his ass off. Watching all the mechanics towels fly once he came around was amazing.
I was standing next to the fence on the hill above the jump holding my son. I was yelling, "Oh shit!" I was certain I just watched someone die. Fun fact: You can see us in the RacerX picture of the incident.

That one kind of makes me sick so my favorite moment was the last race at the Metrodome where Dungey and Villopoto were going at it. It was so loud in there! The cheers followed the racers like the wave. I couldn't talk for a week.
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500 Mike
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500 Mike 7/14/2022 6:58am
7/14/2022 6:58am
Watched Ryan Hughes push his Kawie with the broken chain up the hill at Steel City to cross the finish line . Was right along the fence, 30 ft away, screaming my head off.

Watched Grant Langston ride his bike to the mechanics area with a trashed rear wheel to lose the 125 championship at the final round at Steel City.
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Graybeard
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Graybeard 7/14/2022 6:59am
7/14/2022 6:59am
I was there when Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman came up with this crazy Idea to show off the new Maico frame, and taped a baby bottle with gas and a line to the carb, then turned Magoo loose to hit a few jumps while we shot the pics for Dirt Bike Magazine. After we were done with the test and photos, I got to take it home and race it for a few weeks, too! Good times!

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Sunhouse
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Sunhouse 7/14/2022 7:03am
7/14/2022 7:03am
MXDNs 2006.
Cairoli passed Tedesco for the win right in front of me. Whole place went bonkers. People from everywhere just high fiving and hugging. Unreal atmosphere.
Then I was standing on the hill facing the turn where Everts passed JS for the win last moto. So much luck. Really bummed I didn’t go to Budds the following year to watch RV get his insane revenge.
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ratbeagle139
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ratbeagle139 7/14/2022 7:04am
7/14/2022 7:04am
Redbud 07’ getting to see Carmichael spank Stew while on his retirement tour. RC’s 2nd Moto last-lap whip over the leap was absolutely disgusting, it’s burned in my brain.
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walent215
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walent215 7/14/2022 7:12am
7/14/2022 7:12am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 7:22am
Was in Vegas when the lights went out and Ryno and Emig won their mains.
Was also in Vegas when Henry won on the YZM 400
Was at the coliseum when Tortelli won the main in 99 or 2000?? Cant remember what year that was...lol
Saw Tortelli win a moto at Glen Helen
Watching Larocco win Anaheim was pretty cool too
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FWYT
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FWYT 7/14/2022 7:26am
7/14/2022 7:26am
Seeing the USA win at the 2000 MXdN in St. Angely, France. Watching a race in Europe
should be high up on any moto fan's bucket list.
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davis224
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davis224 7/14/2022 7:30am
7/14/2022 7:30am
ratbeagle139 wrote:
Redbud 07’ getting to see Carmichael spank Stew while on his retirement tour. RC’s 2nd Moto last-lap whip over the leap was absolutely disgusting, it’s burned...
Redbud 07’ getting to see Carmichael spank Stew while on his retirement tour. RC’s 2nd Moto last-lap whip over the leap was absolutely disgusting, it’s burned in my brain.
Came here to say the same thing
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DoctorJD
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DoctorJD 7/14/2022 7:33am
7/14/2022 7:33am
1990 Atlanta Supercross. I don't think the fans sat down the entire main, I know I didn't. Greatest SX race of all time IMO.
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Prntscrn
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Prntscrn 7/14/2022 7:34am
7/14/2022 7:34am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 7:44am
For me it's probably MXoN 2005 at Ernee. Fantastic atmosphere that I don't see how it could be beaten, it was nuts both around the track and in the pits.

From a pure racing perspective it's probably Villopoto at Budds Creek 2007, also RCs last race? Or atleast one of the very last.

I'm also happy I got to experience Namur and walk around that place back in 2001 before it got closed down. Maybe not a "I was there" moment at that specific time, just happy I have gotten to see some racing there, it's special.
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Magoofan
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Magoofan 7/14/2022 7:46am
7/14/2022 7:46am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2022 7:48am
Graybeard wrote:
I was there when Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman came up with this crazy Idea to show off the new Maico frame, and taped a baby bottle...
I was there when Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman came up with this crazy Idea to show off the new Maico frame, and taped a baby bottle with gas and a line to the carb, then turned Magoo loose to hit a few jumps while we shot the pics for Dirt Bike Magazine. After we were done with the test and photos, I got to take it home and race it for a few weeks, too! Good times!

...and I personally thank you for my avatar! One of the coolest MX shots of all time.

Refresh my memory....I believe that was taken at Indian Dunes. (the background sure looks like it)

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