by Davey Coombs
The List: Ten Best AMA Rookies Ever
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 | 10:00 AM
Developed in the USA and tested on the toughest tracks in the world, Maxima Racing Oils are proven to increased horsepower, prolong engine life and offer unsurpassed engine cleanliness. Maxima has been committed to MX & SX for over 30 years and is used by more factory teams, engine builders and racers. Know you’re running the best with championship winning products. Maxima – Race Grade Formulas.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
Welcome to another new regular feature here on Racer X Online, Maxima's The List. Each week we’ll do a little bench-racing here at the office and at the racetrack to come up with a list of motocross things. It could involve racers, equipment, destinations, DNFs—if it involves motocross, there's bound to be something we can bench-race about!
For our first installment, here's our list of the ten best rookie seasons in AMA history. And we're talking full seasons here as a professional, not as a class rookie (which was the theme of 2010, with Ryan Dungey moving up). With apologies in advance for some very good rookies—Trey Canard and Robbie Reynard come to mind—here are the ten best of all time.
10.) Marty Tripes (1972): It was hard to place Tripes in this list because he won the very first "stadium motocross" ever, as a 16-years-and-10-days-old Yamaha rider at the ’72 Superbowl of Motocross. But because it was the first modern supercross race ever, everyone was a rookie that night! Loaded with talent, but also with weight issues, Tripes would never actually win a title, but his natural talent is still talked about today among the old-timers.
9.) Ernesto Fonseca (1999): Has there ever been a more humble kid than Fonseca? When he showed up on a Yamaha of Troy YZ125 in the East Region, he started winning immediately, and he still holds the records for most wins to start a 125 SX career.
The "can't-miss kid" Damon Bradshaw would capture the 1989 125 East Region title.
Photo: Moto Verte
8.) Damon Bradshaw (1989): Yamaha and everyone else had Bradshaw pegged as the can't-miss kid, and he responded by winning the '89 125 East Region title. But outdoors he had his struggles, losing the title to fellow rookie Kiedrowski. He was wild and fun to watch, but he also had trouble closing the deal—a trait that would follow him through his career.
7.) Marty Smith (1974): Smith turned pro with a Honda factory ride the same year the AMA started the 125 National MX Series (125cc SX would not begin until 1985). He won three of the four races in the shortened series and became American motocross' first teenage celebrity.
Smith would become a teenage sensation after winning the 1974 125 Nationals.
Photo: Steve French
6.) Mike Kiedrowski (1989): Often overlooked as an amateur, the Honda support rider won the 125 National title over fellow rookie Damon Bradshaw, as well as the Motocross of Nations as a rookie. His #762 remains the highest of any rider to win an AMA Motocross title.
5.) Travis Pastrana (2000): Like Stewart, there was lots of buzz about Travis, and like James, Pastrana crashed a lot in supercross! But he was solid outdoors, taking the 125cc National title over Stephane Roncada at the last round. He also helped Team USA win the '00 Motocross of Nations in France.
4.) Ryan Villopoto (2006): The former Team Green standout turned pro with Pro Circuit, struggled here and there in SX, and then lit up the outdoor circuit to run away with the title. RV also helped lead Team USA at the Motocross of Nations in England.
Pastrana would crash his way out of the Supercross title, but would shine outdoors and capture the 2000 125 Nationals title.
Photo: Fran Kuhn
3.) Ricky Carmichael (1997): The writing was on the wall early: even though Carmichael seemed minicycle-sized, he had the heart of the biggest lion out there and talent to match it. He blew the 125 East SX title with crashes galore, but he dominated the 125 outdoors, winning his first of ten straight AMA Motocross titles.
2.) Ron Lechien (1983): The 16-year-old Yamaha factory rider jumped into the very deep end in of American motocross, joining the 125cc Nationals when they were ruled by the likes of Mark Barnett, Jeff Ward, Johnny O'Mara, and Brian Myerscough, taking three national wins on his #224 bike. And since there was no 125 class in SX, he went straight to the bigs, winning the Orlando SX as a pure rookie in one of his first SX races.
Lechien was a dominate force in the pro ranks as a rookie, at the ripe age of 16.
Photo: Paul Buckley
1.) James Stewart (2002): No rider hit the professional ranks with as much buzz and excitement as James Stewart did in 2002. Riding a factory Kawasaki KX125, he won his second race (aged 16 years, 21 days) and then took the AMA 125cc National MX Championship by winning ten of twelve races (and his engine seized at Southwick!). What Stewart did in 2002 is the standard for great rookie seasons.
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
i cant belive no trey and no dungey in the spot. every body in Racer x, speed, and all big companies behind motocross looks stewart like a god, and always say bad stuff about riders like Ryan D, why everybody said he is not a true champion, he is a champion, a really true championand a great 450 rookie. And trey for me was one of the best rookies. And what about Mc, damm you really dissapoint me this time.
you are right. really dissapointed too. pushing out the rookie class RD. Racer X dont like to talk about dungey because they dont think RD is a true champion.
Tonny, you obviously misunderstood the article. It was about first rookie seasons not first year in a class. Dungeys championship was not his rookie year and neither was MC's. It was their first year in the Supercross (previously 250) Class but not their first year as a pro racer. They apologized to Canard befor the list, and couldn't include everyone. Did you even read the intro or just goto the list??
tonnyfs: what did tray and dungey do in there rookie yrs?? This top 10 list is frist year as pros. not frist year in big class. Good list by the way, u just need to have Bradshaw up one or two more spots. Remeber he beat Rick Johnson in a sx race in japan.
Did you guys read the article at all? This was rookies fresh to the pro-ranks, not class rookies...read the first couple paragraphs. Dungey didn't set the world on fire in his rookie season, and if I'm not mistaken, neither did MC. Canard won the lites SX title, but didn't make it through the entire outdoor series...Can't disagree with this list. Hard for some to remember anything but the present. Stewart was a dominant rookie, no doubt. All the hype and he delivered...
AMAZING people don't read and just start WHINING!!! key words ROOKIE YEAR (Of their carrer)!!
Btw...seeing Fonseca on this list just brings thoughts of what could have been. He was really hitting his stride in the premier class when he had the accident. He rode in the RC years, which was tough for anyone, but he was consistently pulling Top 5 finishes at that time.
Dungey was 5th in Supercross and 5th in Motocross in 2007 his ROOKIE year...
NOTREED - ROOKIE YEAR BUDDY...ROOKIE YEAR. How could you argue with the topspot? Look at what he has done for the sport...good and bad.
I am a die hard MC fan, but his rookie year in 1989 was far from spectacular, 8th in 125cc West Supercoss and 50th in 125cc motocross... Even his second year as a pro 1990 he was 2nd in 125cc West competition and 44th in 125cc motocross... Get your facts and READ A FULL ARTICLE before bashing a writer or an entire website as being biased...
NOTREED- Sorry man. Meannt TonnyFS.
BTW Great article Davey...sure to spur some debate but I think you hit the nail on the head.
Racer X is not saying that RD isnt a true champ... They always write great articles on him but what this is about is the ones who lit the world on fire in one aspect or anther their first season... RD was decent his first SX season.. he's one of the greats now..but he's not a rookie now. Next time...read what the article is about before you go putting words in other peoples/companies mouths...
What about Chad Reed? Didn't he only lose like one race his rookie season? I mean, I know he was already a pro overseas, but his frst season in the US (which I personally would call his rookie season), I thought he dominated.
Maybe this isn't the proper forum but damn why does Tony D. always get dissed? He was a badass in rhe mid 70's. 3-Time 250 Champ almost won the 500 class before he was of age. Just watched Legacy of Motocross. What a crock, not one mention. I broke the dvd in half and threw it in the trash.
@ Retlaw7 My best freind was on the YOT team with reed that year in 02' #103 he did win the east title and won a bunch of races but wasn' t dominant then in outdoor he had all sorts of problems with the #259 maybe unadilla comes to mind?? And yes he wasa a factory kawi 250 rider and came here to contest our lites class.
Really, no canard on the list after beating out RV51 (at the time) in his rookie season. hmm
Disregard..it was RV2 then. but still.
Hey DC , wasnt "Hurricane" a rookie when he took MS down ? By the way , in my opinion "Beast from the East" is the best nickname ever.
JimM
I remember watching Bradshaw and Lechien at the amateur nationals.. They were by far the fastest amateurs I've ever seen..
While I do like the picks and appreciate showing some respect to the old-school racers, omitting Eli Tomac and Trey Canard seems unfair. There can only be so many spots in a "top ten" list but, their accomplishments are big time top ten worthy. Usually you forget the old timers so yeah, I guess I complain either way. My pick for the top spot is still Lechien. There was no "acclimation" class in his day, you went right into the deep end. He stepped up, competed, and won, in fields filled with the sports' legends. Bradshaw is second. He had the weight of the whole southeastern U.S. on his shoulders competing in a time dominated by the "Cajon-zone" and California racers. His battles with "MX kid" & "Chicken" are stuff of legend. I'm done campaigning, watch some old tape & get your minds blown!
Retlaw 7 Reed raced the GP'S for two years as a pro before his debut...therefore NOT ROOKIE.
To Dungey's Credit he did win his first ever sx race...so did Canard + East Championship but they didn't set the scene ablaze like #7. Dude fell three times and finished second...beastly. RV in first race led 17 laps..finished second...not so beastly.
Simple stuff really.
I had never put together the similarities between Stewart, Pastrana, Carmichael, and Villopoto's rookie seasons. All struggled in supercross and then went out and put together some awesome rookie motocross seasons.
how about ryan dungey to the premier class with 2 titles in one year. ***** off
Thats because SX is new to a rookie..
tommy,,, do I really have to explain that to you ???
@Carlsbad, Eli Tomac didnt turn pro and set the series ablaze did he? Not sure if he even won another race after Hangtown.
Thanks to those who actually read the intro before going negative on the list. Chad Reed was not a rookie in '02, as he had been in Europe for some time. We just named Ryan Dungey our Rider of the Year two years in a row, so no one disrespected him here -- he's a class act, but his 2007 does not measure up to some of these other riders' first professional seasons.
Look for more fun lists like this each week, and thanks to Maxima for partnering with us on this very interesting new regular feature!
Thanks DC,, that ought to shut them up for awhile...
Canard was a rookie..... the previous outdoor test run he did the summer before cant count.... as it cant be counted for anyone that turns 16 during the spring and summer months.... totally unfair to leave him off this list....... He won half the East Lites races right out of the gate!
I personally think Reed should have at least been mentioned. He may have raced GP's, but those are NOTHING like supercross. He owned the 02 East series. Then beat the "GOAT" 7 times in his first premier class season.
To 99% of people in this industry, Stewart is a stud, and Reed is a dud.
All Stewart did in his rookie year was crash his brains out. He barely even made the top 5 in point standings in 02 West.
Very disrespectful article if you ask me.
These guys get so fired up over a fun list. You'd think this was the Nobel Peace Prize or something!! Geez. Interesting article, good work RacerX!
Cool, like the flashbacks....88 Osaka SX Bradshaw over Johnson....Now we need a top 10 of Rookies who should have, but didnt do squat.....
Josh... I agree.. Reed shud have been mentioned on the list.
However... Where did you get your stats regarding Setwart? In his first season in 125 class.. He just missed the championship by 7 points to Preston... Another rider who has faded to nothing by the way. Despite the many crash's.. Finishing 2nd is not too bad... And in the outdoors 125.. Stewart basically trounced Reed big times.... But again.. Reed was always more focused on the SX anyway. And he proved it in the 03 season by giving a run to RC for the title.
A LOT of talking going on --on this one. Good work Davey....
Ummmmm, yeah, wasn't Hannah a rookie in the 125s when he won his first title? No mention at all? Or is it because he wasn't 16? Lists are a bad idea as some that belong aren't recognized and others end up slighted in one way or another. If Stewart is first, how does Lechien fit between him and RC? Why is Fonseca here and not Canard? Tripes is here based on one SX win, in the first year of SX ever? It looks like Donny Schmit also won a 125 West title in his rookie year, but he wasn't 16 either at the time.
LOL... too much complaining. We're lucky to have these magazines give us the lo-down with updates almost every hour. Go home whiners.
DC- Great article! However I am too young to have witnessed some of those guys rookie years I couldn't argue with the list at all. I was at Stewarts first Sx race and he was out of this world but we in the amateurs knew that was going to happen! Also remember after his San Diego win at A2 he fell in the first turn and came all the way back to 2nd that was incredible, he was passing two three people in one turn! Just blew my mind
no.kidding,hey lets break the ice with some trivia,who's behind lechien in the photo ??there are 11 ama titles between the two..
1. Lechien, 2. Bradshaw, 3. Stewart, 4. Carmichael, 5. Villopoto, 6. Kiedrowski, 7. Pastrana, 8. Swink .... (JMB & Reed were pro in GP before their AMA career), sorry for my bad English
Hannah didn't win the 125s his rookie year. he did win the next year, though (I'm pretty old, so maybe I'm misremembering).
John430,,, to easyyyyy,...... Barnett and Wardy..
Turbo Trey!!!!
Trey started out as a pro, primed to be on that list, but didn't follow it up afterwards. Winning the first 3 sx's he ever entered, but won his lites sx title when rv2 hit the aluminum pole. His only other title came at the very end of his lites career, when cp broke his arm. He is a great rider, and getting better, but this list goes all the way back to the origin of mx/sx in the united states, so there are a lot of riders to account for. If it was a list of riders who started with the biggest bang, he would probably win it, hands down.
Carmichael should be 1st he won 125 national champ as a rookie with production suspension remember how he would swap for 35 minutes ever moto. Stewert 2nd he also won 125 nation champ as a rookie with factory kawa villipoto and kiedrowski and pastrana also did national champs trump those who didn't for me
yeah Jim, no hannah????? When he beat smith, no one even knew who he was then.
1976 outdoor nationals........"who the hell is bob hannah?"
oldguy,, This is not just about the nationals,, you have to take SX into consideration also..
trivia answer: omara and barnett??
No,, its Barnett and Ward....
hannah didn't race the full season in his first year, so it doesnt count. Someone who can remember that far back, please correct us if we are wrong.
One interesting note about that trivia photo: look at the moto fans and how CLOSE they are to the action. Never had to fight for a good viewing spot back in those days, and you could read the stickers as they went by.
people must not have watched stewart as a rookie, he was obviously on another level than all the other riders in his rookie season, in sx he crashed alot, and outdoors he completely dominated with lap times faster than 99% of the 250 riders, how could he not be number one on the list? chad reed raced the 250 on the west coast for a few rounds before going to the east on the 250f, tomac is an awesome rider and so is trey, but this isnt the top 10 favorite rookies of all time, its the 10 best
For those of you that think Hannah should be on this list...
Hannah'a first year (1975) as a pro he had a couple of top 10's only. His second year (1976) he was number 39 and that was the year he took down Marty Smith.
One thing to remember, if a rider has a two diget number its not his rookie year.
Good work Davey!
Thanks for the fresh memory cells, zoom804. I didn't forget, i just never knew, I guess. Back then, we only had a couple of magazines, not like it is today, with instant info everywhere. So, if Marty Smith won the first 125 title in 1974, and there were only 4 races, then what exaclty happened in 1975? Was it a longer series yet, and did hannah run the whole thing? I had heard that he was a CMC local hotshoe, and that's where he came from. He was good enough to get #39, so how come we never heard of him, in '74 ?. That was a long fricken time ago.....help me out here, if you can. Thanks.
ooops, i mean "so how come we never heard of him, in '75?.
Trick (and anyone else interested in old school MX) - go to mxworksbike.com. Terry Good has a TON of great info on the early days of Marty Smith and Bob Hannah. Comparing '70s to now is tough given the rise of SX over the past 20 - 25 years. DC has a good perspective since he grew up with the sport.
To all of you complaining, this list counts both SX and MX, and all you disapointed ones, Dungey did not do very good on his rookie year neither did McGrath. I dont think Fonseca should have been there, if I'm not mistaken KW did much better on both . and definitelly Barnett should be there.
thanks for the tip cr500af. awesome site!
I love how all you guys get on here and cry abouy the status of James Stewart. Bottom line if he was white you would not have a word to say. The stats do not lie,so like it or not he is the truth. Oh and yes he is BLACK gety over it and give the man credit!
BK-R, its because Fonseca still holds the record for the most wins to start a supercross career. Canard does not. He won the 125 east title his rookie year, but didnt do it the way Ernie did. He kinda dominated.
Jamesfan1, get that racist crap out of here. NOBODY gives a crap what color he is. If a white guy isnt a fan of his it automatically makes him a racist?? BULL!! Does that make every black guy at the races in head to toe Stewie gear a racist for not cheering for a white rider?? Your a racist for your comments. Just assuming a guy is racist for not being a die-hard fan of Stewie.
bd200 first of all im 38 and grew up cheering for Jeff Ward and Ricky Johnson (if you know who they are) every weekend, I'm fsar from racist. My point is right you can say all you want but if he was a blonde "bra" there would be no problem whatever place he was in. Easy for you to say it makes no difference but the fact that if he does not win "he is whashed up". I watched for month as you and the likes had endless comments about him being washed up. Well I guess winning two of four is washed up, please someone tell me I'm washed up!
DC really dropped the ball. Carmichaels Rookie year was not '97 when he dominated the 125 class. It was '96, he was rookie of the year in '96 and only rode one race. Also, Hannah wasn't a rookie in '76 when he won the 125cc championship like alot of people think, so Hannah shouldn't be on the list.
zoom804 and cr500af, i found some stuff about hannah in 1975.......
Hannah was born on September 26, 1956 in the rugged Mojave Desert town of Lancaster, California. His father was a motorcyclist and Hannah grew up riding on the handlebars of his dad’s bikes. When he was 7, Hannah got his own bike and rode countless hours in the high desert surrounding his hometown. The one thing Hannah did not do in those early years was race. He explains:
"My father was against racing. He did not mind me riding, but at the same time he didn’t want me getting hurt. So I never raced until I was 18 years old and living on my own."
By the time Hannah hit the motocross tracks of Southern California, he was more than ready. Even though he didn’t have racing experience, he had practically lived on a motorcycle since grade school and likely had more hours on a bike than any of his fellow competitors. Hannah won his first and only race in the amateur ranks. After his dominating debut, local racing officials told the young Hannah he would have to move up to the expert ranks.
In 1975, his first full year as an expert, Hannah rode in just two AMA nationals. His best finish was sixth overall in the AMA 125cc National in San Antonio, Texas. Not bad for a rider with less than a year’s racing experience under his belt.
In 1976, Yamaha took a chance on the 19-year-old Hannah, who was largely unknown outside of the local Southern California motocross circles. Yamaha signed Hannah to race the 125cc outdoor nationals. He started out the year with some success on a 250cc machine in the AMA Supercross Series, but his real strength was on the 125cc bikes at the outdoor motocross circuits.......etc, etc,
so...... he only raced 2 of the 8 (?) nationals against marty smith. Does that make him a true rookie for 1976?
I know we are talking about 'rookie as a pro', and not 'rookie in a series', but it works the same anyway. Is Canard a rookie in the sx 450's, even though he already did 5 races last season? I guess we need a clarification of what a 'rookie' is.
Awesome to Marty Tripes still listed on top ten lists, and today is a fantastic person...
Is rv2 going to be considered a 'rookie' in the outdoors this summer? He only has 2 races to his credit so far, on a 450 outdoors, and it was 2 years ago... see my point?
wtf is a rookie?
Awesome to Marty Tripes still listed on top ten lists, and today is a fantastic person...
Trey Canard and Ryan Dungey did nothing special as rookies. Dungey won sx title last year because RV and JS were injured and Trey rides over his head in every single race he takes part in being the reason of why he spends so much time on the ground.
It says FIRST FULL YEAR..... RC was #70 as a rookie. RV was #51.
Now if you ask the AMA... Most AMA rookies of the year weren't full year riders. They were kids just moving up after LL and Ponca. Great article!
Best 1st pro supercross race... Bradshaw vs rick johnson in Japan.
Was stewart a 'rookie' in 2006 sx, when he came up 2 points shy of a championship, against the 'greatest of all time'? Stewart only had one 450sx race to his credit, and it was one of the muddiest sx's in history. Also, he was racing a four stroke for the very first time, when he lined up at A1 2006. All of the riders who ever graduated from lotetta's, and went to millville the following weekend, racing the last few rounds, does that remove their 'rookie' status for the following year?
Final standings of the 125cc nationals 1975:
Smith won it over (in order) tim hart, danny turner, nils arne nillson, bruce mcdougal, gary wise, mike kessler, mickey boone (claimed smiths bike), warren reid, and tommy croft. In 1976, hannah beat all those guys, plus billy grossi, danny laporte, and broc glover, to win his 125cc title. The following summer was the 'let brock bye' incident. Here is part of a story by jody weisel of mxa...
For the 1977 season, it is often said that Hannah had bitten off more than he could chew. Instead of the Hurricane just trying to back up his 1976 AMA 125 National Championship, Yamaha had him contesting all four title chases. Hannah split his time between the 125 Nationals, 250 Nationals, 500 Nationals and 250 Supercross series. Believe it or not, if it hadn’t been for scheduling conflicts, Hannah might well have pulled off the quadruple. In the end, the AMA feared a Hannah sweep of every Championship so much that they stopped holding single class Nationals—choosing to combine them on the same day. It was a blatant anti-Hannah move by the AMA, but perhaps the greatest compliment that a sanctioning body could pay a rider.
ok, enuf cut-n-paste. Bedtime.
I mostly agree with the list but I always have felt that Carmichaels rookie season was the best. People point to the number of wins that Stewart had, but I go by how tough the competition was. If you look at the people each of them had to beat for the title, Ricky had to beat a former champ and a bunch of guys who previously had won races. If you look at who Stewart beat in his rookie season very few of them had any race wins, and there were no champs. Still no disrespect to James, I'm a big fan of what he did also, I would switch those spots though.
No doubt folks, learn to read. This isnt about rookies moving from Lites to SX class. It's straight up first year racing any pro circuit, and dominating them. Grats to all the nominees. Damn good Riders....still say Ricky Carmichael should be #1 though.
James Stewart is an excellent rider by any means. The man has a hell of a lot of talent. He's just to arrogant and pushes too hard, often taking himself and others out of entire seasons. He has alot of maturing to do. I'd love to see K-Dub whoop his ass. Especially since there's a good chance this will be his last year, but who knows.
Good points windhamMX. Stewart is probably the fastest guy to race SX, he does amazing things on a bike. Carmichael is, without a doubt, the fastest guy ever to race outdoor MX. Stewart ran with him a few times outdoors, the best fight anyone ever gave Ricky, but if you were there you could see that Stewart really had to push to run RC's pace outdoors. I think that one of the reasons Stewart goes so fast is that he pushes so hard, but thats also why he's missed so many races with injury.
thats wardy white gear barnett number 1 and i bet the track is bimington see those hand guards great article DC
Jamesfan, I know you are making up B.S. now. You can ask arouind. I have NEVER said Stewe was done or washed up, just the opposite actually. I said just because he was injured last year --why would he all a sudden be slow?/ He was even my pick to win the opening race. So do your homework and quit assuming if I'm not a fantard, I hate the guy or dont recognize how fast he is. And Iam not a racist, and neither are the majority of fans out here. How many black fans at the races would be there if Stewie wasnt racing?? Probably none, but nobody mentions that.
Jamesfan, by the way, I'm 42 and have been racing and following racing and moto my whole life, so dont be a smart as#. Can we have a dissagreement without being childish as@es?? My kids still race when they have time, and I still ride every chance I get. So no, I am not new to this sport by no means.
Hannah raced a DG Suzuki in the 125 Nationals in 1975. He even ended up on the cover of a magazine (I believe Popular Cycling). He was signed to a Yamaha factory deal for 1976 and went on to have an incredible season, but I think that's considered his sophomore season.
Rick Johnson was a Yamaha Support rider in 1981, wearing #212. He scored enough points (including winning the last moto of the year in the 125 National at Carlsbad) to earn a Yamaha factory ride and #22 for 1982, when he had an exceptional season, though again, I think that was his sophomore season -- RJ was named "AMA Rookie of the Year" for 1981 in the 125cc class.
That said, it's hard to go by "AMA Rookie of the Year" honors because it was inconsistent for some time. RC won in '96 only though he only did one race -- the last national of the year -- and finished eighth. His first full season was 1997, which is why he's on this list.
Jeff Stanton, Kevin Windham, Donny Schmit... They all deserve honoroable mention on this list, but the riders in the top 10 all accomplished more, in our opinion. Thanks for the great bench-racing!
Next week? Ten Best Imports!
DC
bd200,,, once again ,, you are wrong.. I have a handful of friends that HATE,, I mean HATE JS just because he's black.. You are showing your ignorance if you dont think there is racism towards JS..
I swear some people are either can't read, just like to argue, or are just plain idiots.
1. FIRST FULL PROFESSIONAL ROOKIE YEAR - not class rookie, not "DC dropped the ball and listed Carmichael becasue he raced the final national in 06" or "anyone with a national number is not a rookie. Carmichael raced one national in 06 and scored enough points to earn a national number. Last year WAS NOT Dungey's first PROFESSIONAL year, just first year in the 450's. If the next trivia was first year in premier class, Dungey would be #1. So until then, quit whining about Dungey.
2. Reed had a good AMA Debut, but it was not his rookie year as a professional.
3. I think "personally" that Lechein was too high up, as I believe winning a title is worth more than race wins. Winning a title means you are more consistent.
4. I think Canard should have beeen on the list, but again, there were only so many spots on here.
5. Trick... what do you not understand about "First full year as a professional"? It's really not that hard.
6. I personally think it is really close between Stewart and RC for top spot.
7. And finally, Jamesfan1... if this were my forum I would ban your ass for even bringing race into this topic. I have a feeling you use that excuse in life every time something does not go your way.
DC, great article, its a shame so many people have nothing better to do than complain, especially when they don't even bother to read the into. Kepp up the great work!
@ Motohead279 "5. Trick... what do you not understand about "First full year as a professional"? It's really not that hard."
This is what I don’t understand, and YES, it IS that hard…
one poster says:
"It says FIRST FULL YEAR..... RC was #70 as a rookie. RV was #51.
Now if you ask the AMA... Most AMA rookies of the year weren't full year riders. They were kids just moving up after LL and Ponca. "
another poster says:
"Carmichaels Rookie year was not '97 when he dominated the 125 class. It was '96, he was rookie of the year in '96 and only rode one race. Also, Hannah wasn't a rookie in '76 when he won the 125cc championship like a lot of people think, so Hannah shouldn't be on the list."
So, i'm thinking, we need a reputable moto authority to clear this up. Wtf is a rookie?
Then DC says: (and at this point, I am considering him to be a 'moto authority'...)
" I think that's considered his sophomore season.", when describing hannah, even though we know that he only raced 2 nationals in 1975.
Then DC goes on to say:
"RC won in '96 only though he only did one race -- the last national of the year -- and finished eighth. His first full season was 1997, which is why he's on this list."
So, even DC is being contradictory in his post.
In '76, Hannah is in his sophmore year because he raced twice in '75, but Carmichael MAKES the list, because his first full season was 1997?
He also says: " it's hard to go by "AMA Rookie of the Year" honors because it was inconsistent for some time. "
So, pardon me, but I don't think I'm being a dumbass here. None of it is clear to me, and if it IS clear to you, then can I have a little bit of what you are smoking??
trick,,, I must say, that was an awesome post !!!!!
Motohead279 get your head out of you a** I said that the convo would be different if he was not black. I need no exscuses for anything he was 1 and is 1 in the points what excuses do I nee to make. Do not be an a**hole,it is what it is. Like it or not his stats will never go backwards only forwards. So wait until I need an excuse before you show your ignorance.
Trick, first off, my post was not meant to be disrespectful to you, so appologies if it came across that way. The not so hard comment was not directly only at you, but the people pissed off that Dungey was not on the list. I was going by what DC said in his opening paragraph, "For our first installment, here's our list of the ten best rookie seasons in AMA history.*** And we're talking full seasons here as a professional, not as a class rookie*** (which was the theme of 2010, with Ryan Dungey moving up). With apologies in advance for some very good rookies—Trey Canard and Robbie Reynard come to mind—here are the ten best of all time. I totally agree about the Hannah question, as it does appear that 76 was his first full year. sounds like that was more of a mistake on facts on his part. My question to you is why were you bringing up Stewarts 2006 season on a 450? That is not his 1st full season as a "professional"?
And Jamesfan1, I stand by my remarks to you.You want to come into a motocross forum and then start blurting out about race. Why are you bringing up race?? Who the F... cares what color he is?! They are all "RIDERS" not black or white riders. So all of the Dungey haters out there... they are all, what?! Racist against their own color?!? And why are you bringing up his wins and stats to me?? For your information, I live not far from him, rode at the same tracks as him when he was growing up, talked to his parents many times, and just talked to him for a little bit at a car show that we both attended this past year. And for your info I am a fan of his, and for one never doubted him running at the front once he was healthy again. For you to call people racists for not being a fan of his, you are the one showing the true ignorance. And let me guess, everyone who does not agree with Obama are all racists too, right?
Motohead279, This whole thread is a little screwed up, since the author of the article said in his post: "Hannah raced a DG Suzuki in the 125 Nationals in 1975", as if he was unaware that hannah only raced twice in 1975. The way he worded it, it sounds like hannah raced the whole series, so his post was kinda confusing, so that is why i was trying to tell you that it wasn't my fault, for being confused.....And, i am interested in it, because i was there at the time, and i just want to know what went down that year. There are some 'smart asses' on here, and I just thought you were one of them. my bad.
As for stewart, I was just trying to lay out some contradicting scenarios, to prove my point, that DC was contradicting himself in his post (no hard feelings DC). Stewart WAS a rookie at supercross, in 2006, since he only had one sx race the previous year, and that is comparative to carmichael's having one race in '96, then being put on the list, because of his '97 accomplishments. Sounds stupid, but what if a rider turned pro for the first round of the outdoor nationals, and ran the full series. Then next January, he lines up for his very first sx race.... Is he a rookie, or is the "year" over with, so now he can't be a rookie anymore? He IS a rookie at sx, isn't he? So, in THAT context, stewart would have been a sx rookie in '06, since he had only raced once before, a full year earlier. Since we have 2 different types of racing in our sport, does each type have its own rookie period, or is it determined by the calendar?
Hannah rode all of 2 races in 1975. His first full season was 1976, where he made history by dominating the 125 nationals and being a virtual unknown to unseat the champ Marty Smith. Everybody made a big thing about how great Dungey's "rookie" year was last year, but remember he rode several 450 races in 2009. If Hannah wasn't a rookie in 76, then neither was Dungey last year.
That telling em ahhhh me Davey. thats why your DC MX mover and shaker and im helmets dont stop concussions.
JimM
Well, from what I read it seems to me Hannah was a rookie in 1976. I think the "unknown" factor of him racing twice in 1975 makes it all the better. I've known who RC and Stewart were since they were on their little PW 50s and KX 60s, talking about DQ Blizzards, Rice Krispies, and DeeDee Burns. Imagine in today's MX world an 18 year old coming from the desert somewhere and dominating a series, ala Hannah? Broc Glover also won the title his first "full" year, but he raced a lot of the previous year as he turned 16 in May.
LOVE that color pic from 1974. Marty Smith on a silver tanked elsinore, with a 3 digit number. Absolutely classic!
That was the first year that they thought of moving the shocks forward, on the works bikes, and started a revolution of hacksaws, and oxy-acetyline garage welders, across the nation......The white tanked works yamaha's were the first mono's too (hakan anderson & pierre karsmakers?) By far the most important time period of our sport. Forget about EFI, upside down forks, and water cooling and dics brakes. Imagine going thru the millville whoops, with 6 inches of rear suspension travel, and no shock cooling. And, we didn't have an asterisk medical mule either.
mxmofo, it doesnt suprise me that you have friends like that. And I dont care what your friends do. If you would quit being so quick to argue, you would actually read(if you can), I said "the majority" of fans arent racist. And everyone who doesnt cheer for Stewie is a racist. I dont cheer for him bercause of his huge ego. Just like yours. So take your hateful ifnorance comments and stick them up your hateful as#.
"And we're talking full seasons here as a professional, not as a class rookie" ...
What about Chad Reed's rookie season? He almost won every race in the 125 East Coast Supercross series and I think he won an overall in 125 motocross too!