30 Day Countdown to A1: #11 Damon Bradshaw
Tuesday, December 25, 2012 | 9:10 AM
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PrintNo doubt at this point in the Racer X Monster Energy top 30 Supercross Riders countdown, your blood is boiling. We're approaching top ten status--ever--and no doubt everyone has their criteria over what makes a rider that great. Maybe you're the type that counts titles first. Or maybe wins. Perhaps you can calculate a matrix to determine how stiff a rider's competition was. Do you add points for a rider getting a lot of wins in a short span and then play the "what if he has stayed healthy?" game? Conversely, do you add points for longevity?
Or do you throw that all away and go objective on it? One insider we consulted for this list said, "Anyone can read the record book. Have you watched these guys ride?"
Bradshaw has 19 career SX wins.
Racer X Archive photo
That's where today's entrant makes huge points. You may not agree with our list, at all, but it is almost impossible to argue that Damon Bradshaw is NOT the best supercross rider to not win a supercross title. His speed and style are at the very, very top of the best to ever dissect a supercross track. His win total (19) is darned impressive, too. Did you know, also, that Bradshaw got third in his first-ever 250 Supercross (at age 16!) and then WON his second, the opening round of his second pro season, when he was just 17. That would be like Justin Barcia winning Anaheim 1 on a 450--TWO years ago.
These stats are used to prop up the argument that Bradshaw's talent and speed can help him march so high on this list, despite not winning a 250SX title. Consider two other subjects we used in making this argument:
First, Bradshaw aces the eye test. He was bad fast, and that counts for a lot.
Second, he spent considerable time garnering, "Whose the man?" status. Through his three peak seasons (1990--1992) many, many fans, riders and industry types would have answered "Damon Bradshaw" when asked, "Who is the best supercross rider in the world?" He most certainly would have won that survey in 1992.
No rider seemed more destined to dominate than Damon. And that what makes his career meltdown so bizarre. He, by his own admission, choked away the 1992 AMA Supercross Championship in the final around, at age 19. Then he took time off to rehab a torn ACL, and suddenly found that all the stuff he missed growing up in order to be a dirt bike racer were actually pretty fun. He entered the 1993 season burned out and unable to step his game up to match the new wonder kid, Jeremy McGrath. And that was it. Damon straight retired for 1994, leaving a massive Yamaha contract on the table. He then returned to the stadiums for 1996 and 1997, but he was never the same.
Bradshaw ranks #11 on our list, just outside the top 10.
Racer X Archive photo
Still, when he was on, Bradshaw was as fast as fast could be. The hardest part is trying to determine where Bradshaw's speed, skill and victories rank him on this list. Some staffers had him way, way up near the top, and consider it a travesty that he didn't make the top ten. Others had him ranked much lower, since he didn't win the title. In the end, it's very controversial--and that, actually, fits Bradshaw's career quite well.
The 30 Best Supercross Racers of All Time Tracker:#12 Mark Barnett
#13 Kevin Windham
#14 David Bailey
#15 Ryan Dungey
#16 Mike Bell
#17 Jeff Emig
#18 Johnny O’Mara
#19 Doug Henry
#20 Jimmy Ellis
#21 Mike LaRocco
#22 Ezra Lusk
#23 Broc Glover
#24 Ron Lechien
#25 Jimmy Weinert
#26 David Vuillemin
#27 Donnie Hansen
#28 Larry Ward
#29 Mike Kiedrowski
#30 Marty Tripes
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Nicley written boys. The year Bradshaw Lost to Stanton in that heartbreaker
I had won a sales contest working for Mechanics laundry in Indiana. I was able to chose my own reward and choose to watch the supercross from thier suite at the RCA Doome.Bradshaws midair getoff was right infront of me, WOW, would have killed a normall man. Sadley It did marrk the real end of his supercross days.
I would say that Damon is one of my all time favorite riders. I really used to love his style, watching him ride the bike. His battles with the Chicken and Stanton were epic.
He had such a great personality, something the sport is missing today..
I loved the "beast from the east" but after Stanton beat him in LA he just wasn't the same. Thought he was making a comeback but then hit that dam hay bail in arenacross and it was over. That crash was hard to watch, wish him the best.
Remember watching him race that crappy air-cooled WR500 at B-T. I knew he was a badass after watching him ride that thing. He got his ass handed to him that day but I think that was what made me a fan. Also got to see him unretire there as well on a YZ125. I never got to see him race SX.
I had Bradshaw coming in at #9. I know he never won a Championship and Stanton won 3, but he had more wins than Jeff and I feel he was a better Supercross rider than Stanton. Definetly the best to never win a SX title.
One thing that is different then is everyone moved to the 250 class right away, not staying on a 125 for very long.
1992 was essentially the first year I started watching sx/mx. Didn't realize he was only 19 then.
Also during that time I think the Supercross traks were more difficult if not even more dangerous. I also have a hard time putting Bradshaw above Barnett then this is a supercross countdown and I think Barney was even better outdoors!
Bradshaw was my first favorite rider, but he flamed out right after I got into MX fandom. I know people can point to a lot of different races or moments that make Bradshaw a legend, but I think the 1989 Miami SX is that moment in my opinion of Bradshaw. I still think he is too high, since he never won a title - but he is THE BEST rider without one. No arguement on that point.
PS - I thought Damon had 19 wins.
U GUYS ARE CRAZY #11 AT LEAST TOP 5 ALL DAY!
U GUYS ARE CRAZY #11 AT LEAST TOP 5 ALL DAY!
My memory is that Damon's first SX win was Osaka, Japan. Am I correct?
Pshaw, I used to think the same way that Bradshaw was a better SX racer than Stanton, but I have been watching the series lately for fun. Yes there were times Bradshaw checked out and made it look easy, but there were so many times that they battled for 15 laps, awesome racing, only for Stanton to prevail at the end. They were pretty close, I think Damon was a little faster but Jeff knew how to pick his battles.
An awesome race was Charlotte 1990.. Those two went at it the whole race!! Blocking and banging.. Only for LaRocco to catch them from 18th place on the last lap and slip between them. Damon is definitely one of the best and robbed of a title that he deserved. Once again, unfortunately the title weighs the most..
I just can't grasp the concept, the riders without titles can be ranked higher, but who am I?? Just a fan.. But I bet if you ask Damon Bradshaw if he would trade all of his wins for Stanton's 3 titles, he would in a heart beat.
If there was no championship pts.. Just weekend racing for a purse then I would agree Bradshaw may be close to top 5, but like we have said the factories hire these guys to win a title. It should be criteria #1 in my humble opinion.
For some reason, I believe Damon is the only rider deserving of exception to that and has been well placed by Racer x.
Being as dominant of JMB was, since Racer X has gone on the "gut" factor instead of numbers, I am thinking JMB might be top 5??!! He was pretty successful
Thats B.S. Bigtime 11th ????? DB deserves way better than this, that guy was one of my alltime greats in the sport.... You guys dont know raw talent when you see it, thats what this kid was.......
I am with biker143 on this. DB should be about 6th in this. Anyone who saw him race SX in his prime would have to agree he is ahead of a lot of the ones yet to be posted.
The way this lame ranking system is going I wonder where Mc is going to land?
Don't be ridiculous biker143, if raw talent factored in highly enough to get Bradshaw any higher up this list, then Robbie Reynard and Damon Huffman would be top ten.
Rickamatuzio - I didn't think Charlotte was added to the schedule until 92. I could be wrong but I don't remember it. I will have to dig harder on Youtube!
@rdub934 Now who is being ridiculous?? Tell me how dominant Reynard and Huffman were compared to DB......... Yeah I thought so...
One thing for sure the " Beast from the East" is the all time best nickname
Good point " Have you watched these guys ride"
JimM
Pala374
http://vault.racerxonline.com/1990-05-12/250sx/memorial-stadium
Charlotte 1990 one of the best races I've seen.
No disrespect guys, Damon Bradshaw was one of the best supercross racers ever, but he wasn't successful. Talent alone, can't determine ranking.. He could have been the fastest EVER, but never winning a title in the premier class says something. James Stewart is arguably even better than Bradshaw in raw talent and speed for his generation, but if he doesn't have the coconuts upstairs to put the whole package together, it sadly drops them down a peg.
Seriously, if results didn't matter Guy Cooper would easily be on this list too..
@biker143, I was referring to raw talent being the heaviest factor in the voting for this list. Reynard never won a SX race in either class but had one of the best riding styles ever. Damon Huffman only won a single 250 race, but again, had perfect technique. These dudes had more talent than most, but lacked in other, more important areas that are required to be on THIS list. You mentioned that we didn't recognize raw talent when we see it.
Everyone that makes it to the pros has "raw" talent. The greats refine their talent.
@rickamatuzio, I just finished watching the race on Youtube. You are right, that was a great, race long battle. A good defining race for both DB and LaRocco. Damon is going to be fast, make mistakes, fly off the pegs, and block pass. LaRocco is going to get a terrible start, turn faster laps than anyone in the race, and make passes right up until the finish regardless if he has banners in the back wheel or not.
Merry Christmas & Happy New year to all.
I hope that we all have a safe 2013 and beyond !
http://www.pulpmx.com/stories/tell-us-another-story-damon-bradshaw#comment-2419
One thing is for certain: Of all the guys that did not win a title in AMA Supercross, Bradshaw was the unanimous pick as the highest-ranked rider among them.
Also, has anyone ever crashed as many times as Bradshaw did -- four or five times at the '89 Miami 125 SX -- and still won the race?!
And his first win was Osaka, when he was 16, though it was not an AMA Supercross. It was his third pro race -- he had raced to fourth in his debut at the late August '88 125 National at Millville, and then I believe top 15 at the last round at Washougal. Then he did Osaka with all of the other factory riders at the time and and won.
DC
MX Sports
One of my fav riders of all time.
Bradshaws first win. Main event at 32:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PLhu0MBWHQ&list=PL0FD95F31B09282A5
Bradshaw come from behind San Jose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUtXjxh8lf4
DB last win. High Point '97
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCU3XnmYa-U
He fell twice, but it was still impressive. I used to love watching these races back in the early nineties, we were pulling our hair out at the infamous coliseum race and wondered if his career would have ended up the same had he won.
I am not capable of ranking Bradshaw above Kevin Windham....just can't do it.....but he was the first I ever saw run his bars in a more correct position...and was a great rider no doubt...saw him flat out L A U N C H the giant jump at Gainesville racing RJ and Stanton..balls power....
@pinkfld42 - All the riders on your list are very, very good, but too much emphasis on current riders IMO.
I would put Hannah and RJ ahead of Stewart all day long and twice on Saturday night.
My top 5 are:
1. Mc
2. RC
3. Hannah
4. RJ
5. RV or Stewart
Ahh, the beauty of bench racing.
Bradshaw was so much fun to watch. Saw him at Charlotte in '92 and '93 and was very impressed.
Also remember McGrath riding to 5th and noticing just how much lower he was in the air over the triples than Bradshaw and Stanton.
Next 5 10. Ward
9. Reed
8. Stanton
7. JMB ( would be higher if he stayed off streetbikes) Most gifted other then MC!
6. Rv or stewart
Just a guess???
I place Emig in front of him but that's it so far ...sad you have to write such a long excuse ridden prelude to your announcement of his place on the list but for good reason....he was my favorite rider in 91 and 92 ..I raced a hot summer nights race at perris the night of the LA coliseum race in 92 when he choked that title..I remember vividly hearing Tony Alessi the perris raceway announcer at the time say Stanton won the title tonight...I was actually fixing my gate for my moto and was so bummed that Bradshaw and Yamaha didn't win ..remember Honda won every year back then and I rode a Yamaha ..was dying to see a #1 on a Yamaha so bad
All I can say is I was a huge fan, and still am. I'm so very happy he is still enjoying himself racing monster trucks in stadiums across America! I believe he lives in Idaho and enjoys scaring the bejesus out of unsuspecting journalists in his plane. I think he last raced a KTM SX350 a year or so ago... and won! So again, for all the ups ad downs he's gone through, its extremely pleasing to see him happy and aging well. Kudos on an awesome career, and even better post career!!
Damon left a mark on SX, but this ranking seems a little high for what he actually accomplished.
Slotted right between Jeff Emig and Mike Bell feels about right to me.
When athletic stars are judged, it is how many rings--ask Le Bron James. MX should be no different. In this sense, as far as I'm concerned, you not shown enough respect for American riders from the 70's. Jimmy Ellis won 2 titles back to back, yet he was 20th. Only 5 others have ever done that, and they are all insided the top ten. It wasn't his fault the sport could not support a 17 race schedule. No way Bradshaw should be 11th without a title.
When athletic stars are judged, it is how many rings--ask Le Bron James. MX should be no different. In this sense, as far as I'm concerned, you not shown enough respect for American riders from the 70's. Jimmy Ellis won 2 titles back to back, yet he was 20th. Only 5 others have ever done that, and they are all insided the top ten. It wasn't his fault the sport could not support a 17 race schedule. No way Bradshaw should be 11th without a title.
@pinkfld42 - What? You forgot Hannah and RC?!?! They say memory is the first thing to go. lol
Damon is by far number 1, him and bob hannah, damon should of won the title the year he came up short on the table top and breaking his ankle i think he had won the first four or five races, what was unreal is he was 17 and beating RJ, Jeff Ward, The Chicken, Stanton, JMB that was unreal. Honda and Kawasaki always stacked the field to. Damon had Dubach, Kawasaki had Mike Kied, Jeff Ward and The Chicken. Honad had Jeff Staton, Rick Johnson and JMB. I think 92 would have been different if they would of had to post pone L.A. due to the riots, there was to much time between the last 2 rounds. Damon was faster than stanton by far he will always be in my book the best.
1.Bob Hannah #1 70's Bad @ss
2.Ricky Johnson #1 80's Style King,Class act !
3.MC. 90's Won it all !
4.RC>00's Style,Bad @zz,Win;s
5.R.Villopoto 2010's "STUD"
I'm lucky enough, to have seen all of these riders win.
In there prime.