Bench Racing Ammo: K-Dub Goes for 200
Thursday, February 23, 2012 | 10:30 AM
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Chad Reed’s big crash in Dallas serves as a stark reminder that anything can happen in supercross—even for a rider who has built the ultimate rep for consistency. This, then, only heightens the level of respect for what Kevin Windham will accomplish this weekend: race in his 200th AMA Supercross Main Event.
Well, Windham does have to pull of a clean transfer jump in opening ceremonies first. Then he has to qualify for the main. But let’s just say Windham makes it and races his 200th career race—that’s an amazing accomplishment in itself, but it’s taken another impressive streak to get there.
Windham hasn’t missed an AMA Supercross race since mid 2006, when he returned to action in Orlando following an off-season arm injury. That’s nearly 100-straight races since, which is by far the longest active streak in the field (Ryan Dungey has the second-longest current streak, as he has yet to miss one of the 41 races held since he moved up to a 450 full time).
So Windham is not only looking at career start number 200 this weekend, he’s looking at nearly half of those starts consecutively, and has not missed a race in nearly six seasons. To put it in perspective, as much as Reed is now praised as a long-running and consistent veteran of the game, his career starts number sits at 148, leaving him at just 75 percent of Windham’s total (and Windham should pile on more now that Reed is out). Nick Wey also sits at the 148 mark.
Windham has been the epitome of consistency throughout his career.
Photo: Simon Cudby
(By the way, we should be talking about Jeremy McGrath at some point in here, as MC never missed a single race with an injury from when he started in the 250 class in 1993 through his retirement on the eve of the 2003 season. That could have been 155 straight starts for MC, but, he sat out the 1995 Vegas Supercross as part of a rider's strike. So, no start streak for MC.)
The big number to chase is Mike LaRocco’s all-time starts mark of 228. Ironically, LaRocco is now Windham’s team manager at GEICO Honda. LaRocco was at this game for a long time, in 250 SX through every year of the 1990s and racing until he broke his wrist mid way through 2006, a season he had already decided would be his last.
Windham has said he’d like to continue racing through the 2014 season (to match up nicely with his customary number 14). If he logs ten more starts this year, he’ll sit at 210. If next year’s tour contains 17 rounds again, and Windham makes them all, he’ll have 227 at the end of the 2013 season. Will he make it to 2014 to take the record? The way Windham is riding lately, it’s looking more and more likely.
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This from a guy who almost retired permanently in 2002!!
So glad he came back. Hands down my favorite rider/person in the sport.
Keep it going KduB!
I love Kdub just like most everyone else but I don't like how down on himself he is sometimes. For instance, when he was saying he doesn't want to be at a point in his career where the opening ceremonies are a highlight of his night. His transfers at the start of the nights really do make the night even more enjoyable for the fans and I hope he sees how much (although somewhat silly to him) a little thing like that means to us fans of Supercross. And if Poto takes the holeshot and checks out, and theres little to no dicing behind him for the night. The opening ceremonies thanks to his wicked transfer could very well BE the highlight of the night for the fans as well.
It is awesome to see him still out there,I wish him the best
What more can be said about Windam. Hope he does race through 2014. Theres a pile of young pros who would love to have Windam as a mentor (ie. Canard/Ferry, Milsaps/Lusk, Barcia/Stanton, DV12/Chizzy, Seely/Ward, Tomac/Hughs).
Windham is a bum! One of the meanest guys in our sport. Just kidding! Windham gives older guys like me a reason to keep riding. If he can go that fast, no reason I can't keep pushing locally at least. Also, speedy recovery Reed. Glad you said you're definitely coming back.
Yeap, he is best personality in the sport, but,,, we have to give the credit where it is due.
We know Dottie is the one that keeps him in line!!!! haha
Best wishes in you future KW14
Kudos K-Dub, awesome stat into a high-risk sport, also really impressive; 13 years between his first 250/450F win in 1997 and his last in 2010, maybe Windham is the solution for Two-Two Motorsports? like everybody know he's a great ambasador for the sport and it will be a great motivation for the Chad Reed's team, mission? a win for K-Dub 15 years after his first win! and he will also look great on Shift/Fox!
KDUB.....might not have the most races or championships...might not be the fastest on the planet...but he is without a doubt the best "rider" I have ever seen. That is how a bike is suppose to be ridden and he does it effortlessly (it looks effortlessly). Got to see him beat RC at hangtown (insert crowd went crazy sounds here) and they were both on it, One of the funnest races to watch ever. The guy is a class act.....period. Everybody out out there ought to be REALLY glad he's not 20. So glad hes still doin it.....
happy 200th K-Dub!, get the holeshot and take the win saturday night at Atlanta!
If you hate Windham, your a racist. Plain and simple.
agreed. a racist and a baby raper
K Dub is the man! I'm hoping he pulls a holeshot and wins in Atlanta to cap off his 200th start!
Kevin has made so many accomlishments and has been such a great Ambasador to this sport, He is even now a legend in his own time! I have been a fan of his since his early days in amature.
In 2002 I decided to take the Ex and her daughter to Tyler TX for the PRO Shootout , I think it was called? I was so suprised to see Whindham, Pastrana and Reynard show up with a lot of other fast puppies, I told them they were getting to see some racing legends in action, My Ex and her daughter stil try to make it to the Arenacroass races when they are in Tulsa.
Good bench racing stufff.
I'm sure not going to be the one to compile it, but it would be cool to see a list of every different rider who has been in a 450(250ts) main event with Windham.
I forgot how Larocco at the end of his career became was a rider like Windham is now. The fan favorite vet who can still bring it, is in the main events like clockwork, and can contend for a win on occasion.
Take "was" out of 1st sentence of 2nd paragraph, and it makes sense. Spell checker should catch my extra words. LOL
Would love to see K Dub on the podium for his 200th start
Hey KDub ... why dont you celebrate this with a 200ft transfer???
That would be awsome!!!!LOL!!