by Aaron Hansel
The Vault: History from Unadilla
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 | 5:00 PM
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This season we’ve been using The Vault to take a look back at some of the history from the upcoming weekend’s featured round of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. There isn’t a better resource for diving into the history of our sport either; The Vault contains results from every single pro AMA supercross and motocross race in history. If you’re stat fanatic, you’ll be in heaven when you see the rich resource of information at The Vault that can be sorted by year, rider, venue or motorcycle brand. If you are Barry Carsten’s biggest fan, you’ll love being able to look at results from every single race he ever entered. If you’re into fantasy motocross, The Vault can provide you with just about every piece of statistical information you can imagine from every racetrack on the circuit. No matter what aspect of the sport you’re into, The Vault has something for you, so head on over there and take a look.
This week we’re using The Vault to delve into the history of Unadilla, the ninth round of Lucas Oil Motocross. Out of all of the tracks featured in Lucas Oil Motocross, Unadilla is probably the closest we have to a European track. As a result, its rough, hilly, rocky, wide open natural terrain often produces good results from racers who have made the jump from the GP Circuit. So, whether you’re from America, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Australia, France, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Japan or even Zimbabwe, tighten your helmet strap, slip on your gloves and get ready to roost into Unadilla’s history!
The first National held at Unadilla took place in 1972, and it was won by Gary Jones on a Yamaha.
Stefan Everts raced his first, and only, National at Unadilla in 1997.
Jim Sanderson photo
Yamaha has not won an overall in the premier class at Unadilla since Pierre Karsmakers topped the podium for them in 1973.
Steve Stackable took the first of his two career National victories at Unadilla. The win took place in the 500 Class in 1976.
The tour stopped going to Unadilla after 1977, but in 1989, the rocky course was brought back into the fold. Damon Bradshaw topped the 125 field that day, with Jean-Michel Bayle of France taking top honors in the 500 Class.
Mike LaRocco, Mike Kiedrowski and Damon Bradshaw graced the 125 podium in 1989.
Thom Vetty photo
British rider James Dobb secured the only National win of his career by besting Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Emig in 1993 in the 125 Class at Unadilla.
While Stefan Everts has raced in several USGPs, the one and only National he ever raced was Unadilla in 1997. He took third in the first moto, but finished fifth in the second after coming together with John Dowd and crashing in steep downhill section. He ended the day in fourth overall.
Although it isn’t the last National that Travis Pastrana raced, Unadilla can, in a way, be considered the beginning of the end of the 2000 125 National champion’s career. In 2001, Pastrana destroyed the competition in the first moto and was pulling a repeat performance in the second. Then, Pastrana went down hard on the last lap and knocked himself out. Never again would Pastrana win another AMA motocross or supercross race.
Jean-Michel Bayle won the 250 Class at Unadilla in 1989.
Thom Vetty photo
Any current fan of motocross is aware of the heated rivalry that has played out between Chad Reed and James Stewart over the past decade, but not everyone knows that it was born at Unadilla in 2002. Stewart had won the overwhelming majority of the races so far, but Reed felt that the only reason he wasn’t beating Stewart was because he was having a hard time getting good starts, a belief that Reed was vocal about in the press. Eager to refute Reed’s words, Stewart slowed down while leading at Unadilla, allowing Reed to catch and pass him. Stewart then proceeded to pass Reed back, opened a gap and went 1-1 for the overall.
In 2005, another famous incident took place at Unadilla between Stewart and another one of his rivals, Ricky Carmichael. Stewart was attempting to fight back after Ricky Carmichael had taken the lead from him in the first moto, but what can only be described as poor judgment on Stewart’s part prompted Stewart to attempt a pass that ended with him landing on Carmichael’s back, causing both riders to go down hard. Stewart was knocked cold, but an angry Carmichael picked Stewart’s bike off of his own, remounted and went 2-1 for the overall victory.
In 2010 GP rider Clement Desalle came to the United States to try his hand in the American series for one race at Unadilla. In a stunning display of skill and an amazing ability to instantly adapt to the American system of racing, Desalle went 2-2 on the day for second overall. Along the way he bested James Stewart in the first moto, who was also competing in his first National that year, and led four laps in the second before succumbing to the attacks of an unstoppable Ryan Dungey.
Head on over to The Vault and share your own interesting bits of Unadilla history in the comments section below.
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One of the reasons I was there in 97 was to see Everts!
I've seen almost all of these ... starting in '77 with my first MX hero, Marty Smith, winning over Bob Hannah in the 500 class.
"The tour stopped going to Unadilla after 1977, but in 1989, the rocky course was brought back into the fold." This is a little misleading, since Trans USA and GP races - and an MXdN - were held in between.
Una-Fin'-Dilla!!!
A lot of great memories ! This year will be the only 5th time I have missed since 1972 Hard to believe it seems like yesterday. My dad took me there in 1972 I was 8yrs he was incharge of the Husky opps> back then....... Seen some wild pit stuff over the years........One time we walked by a guy that was laying in an old cast iron claw foot bath tub passed out with a big fat cigar in his mouth.......... Guy looked like he had not taken a bath for months .. I got the picture somewhere !
It took Reed years to get over that.
Your forgetting the Epic RR vs RC duel in 1998 in the 125 class. Well... wasnt really Epic... RR basicly made RC his B!TCH in the first moto.
im 22 yrs old, this will be the first year since 03 that ill be missing unadilla, i really don't have a choice. as god as my witness this will be the last time ill ever miss unadilla again. the fact that all my friends will be there camping and racing this weekend without me makes me SICK TO MY STOMACH!!! DAMMIT SCHOOL. Don't forget that windahm put an end to rickys win streak here in 03. i was about 11 or twelve I WILL NEVER FORGET RC's CR250. nicest bike there ever was
Just want to give a shoutout to Mark Edwards #703 from Montauk, NY. the guy is a true american motocross hero and has gone to Unadilla every year since it began. Him and his son Erik race the amateur classic there every summer and to me they represent what american motocross is all about. Rant over.
@sef154 -- thanx for that clarification -- I know I was partying alot in those days but thought I remembered being there in '86 or '87 and watching Hannah's last race there.
I remember him doing a farewell lap blasting through the crowd that was on the track trying to get a hand on him as he rode by on his Suzuki.
Its a wonder no one got run over.
I wish they would put Binghampton back I know its not happening but I miss the Broome Tioga also...............Yeah I know u knuckle heads will say its rock city.......So stay home and dont what the TV...........
One thing people so conveinently forget about the Reed/ Stewart thing at Unadilla was that Reed had separated his shoulder a week before that race, and wasnt anywhere near 100%... So it was kind of a bit@h move on Stewarts part. But I think Reed has had the last laugh, waxing Stewart the last two years in supercross.. And has alot of respect around the racing scene.. And the same number of titles..
@Mr. Mx--I liked the Broome-Tioga track better than the Texas track, which is a gloryfied supercross track to me, flat-flat-flat.. But the owners in Binghampton gave up the race on thier own.. Dont think they want it back..
bring back broome - bring back dave kratz
does tom hurd still own the place - i heard he sold hurricane hills in clifford pa
@ therealmofo
Yes I know....... but thanks for the reminder! I was at Frestone last couple of years. Not a big fan of that or Thundervally..........I liked Kenworthy's in Ohio wrhere I lived but like you say upercross styleand you only have a visual of where you are standing at that moment ! Im a Red Bud fan,Steel City,MtMorris uy also. All I ask is to have a bolevard section like te old Highpoint Bradshaw Blvd. 4 or 5 jump section like a SX then the rest you can leave it wide openjumps which are extremely boring to me.......
@ timi
I remember Kratz from PA.............. I saw him at the Cleveland SX IN 95 ON A KAW 125 EAST was frindswith Yezek from Pa and a few others I was doing other pro stuff til 1996 Brown won 125 MGrath Emig Henry in 250 class... Man That seemed long ago now that I think about it.........I was dating this real hottie then .............WOW
I spent a weekend at U-na-F-in-dilla for the Motocross Des Nations back in highschool. The night before lasted until the race started: Pond on fire, some guy in a beat up rice burner blasting through the pond, some beer belly dude with a steel barrel trash can bumper on his belly running to and crashing/bashing a light pole with the barrel repeatedly until the light went out and fell to the ground while the crowd cheered for more, waking up and seeing the charred rice burner upside down in the pond, people stumbling to the track yelling "show us your "T's", an upset "T' owner ninga blasting a guy in the forehead with an extremely well thrown 180 turn around beer bottle chuck, the 'T' owner's boyfriend getting pile driven-head to the ground totally upside down on the campsite path across the main road to the track,... Good times!
BillC: I don't think Reed ever has gotten over that and he's made James pay for it a few times since. I'll bet Stewart wishes he'd never done that in retrospect. It has been fuel for CR22 ever since and he has actually been the better rider of the 2 the last 3 years. And I am no Reed fan......
The caption below the pic of Bayle running a CR500R w/ yellow plates says he won the 250 class that year....................huh?
What the heck happened to the grass track that used to be Una-F'ing-dilla? The place is a rock quarry now.
Too bad we can't have Stewart & Reed out there for their ten year reunion.........battling for 3rd............
Kenworthys had awesome dirt.
Fordsburn that place was CRAZY back in the 80's!! I swear there must be bodies in the woods that have never been found!! There has to be!! LOL Can't believe no one ever died there on a saturday night!!! NEVER EVER drive a car up the hill after dark!!! Not even a Cop car or it will be burned just like the cop car was!!!
The '70s were even crazier! Kind of glad it's more tame today (I'm too old for that foolishness), but it made for some great memories.
@Over_the_Bars - Couldn't have been '87; that was the MXdN. Hannah did race again there. He was on the way out, but still made it interesting. I believe RJ won that day. But no one had a way with the trophy girls like the Hurricane!
I miss Broome Tioga, too!
I see in the Vault that when the AMA came back to Unadilla in '89, Dowdy was there!
Don't forget The KING (was his nickname) ,the Belgian Roger De Coster who not only imported but gave birth to our sport in the US and still managing on he top in 2012 (for imported KTM!)
thanks.
And now a word from our Florida fans....Gatorback! Bring IT back. The folks that run that track now really do a great job with it now.
Sef - Hannah was on the downside of his career in '87, but performed at a super high level that weekend. I believe his second moto ride on the 125 helped clinch the overall Des Nations title that day. The celebration at the finish line for Hannah was epic! RJ and Wardy were the stars of that era, but the Unadilla fans always favored Hannah. BTW, I miss Broome too, though I drove by there a couple weeks ago and it is a shadow of its former self. Doesn't look like they could hold a decent practice day let alone a D3 event. Made me sad as it used to always be primo.
Started going in '77 and still haven't seen (or never will) parties like that! Very lucky to see the stars of that era twice a year is hard to beat.
Unless I'm mistaken, and I don't think I am, JoJo Keller raced his last Pro National @ Dilla on a 125! And he got bad starts and fought his way up front. There is a good story there.
@sarofn......you need to go back and actually read some information on U.S. moto....please. @the'real'mofo...at that particular time Reed couldn't have beaten Havoc with 3 shoulders....
@tonewall... really? You must be right. (sarofn from Belgium. with all my respect and admiration for the US Motocross)
@Laker23 - I followed Hannah from the beginning. I know the story ... many were in disbelief when he was picked for des Nations that year, but the Unadilla faithful knew he could still hold his own there. The mud that day was supposed to help the Euros take back the Chamberlain trophy, but Johnson, Ward and Hannah had other ideas.
I was saying to Over_the_Bars that it was after that when Hannah rode his last race at the 'dilla. I was thinking '89, but the Vault doesn't show it, so I'm not sure.
While I miss B-T, I realize they gave up the National voluntarily. I used to race amateur races there as well, but I haven't been back since the last National.
Thanks @Laker23 for the videos you posted on the other thread -- it helped me realize the race that I discussed with @sef154 was the the '86 250GP that Hannah actually won when O'Mara ran out of gas on the last lap.
O'Mara presented Hannah with his gas tank after that one!