by Davey Coombs
The List: “Eject! Eject!”
Thursday, February 21, 2013 | 5:00 PM
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Eject? Crashes epitomizing that verb happen all the time in Mad Skills Motocross, proud new sponsors of today's list. (Check out today's Round 6 track for Tournament 3!) It also happens in real life....
Zach Bell in Dallas.
James Lissimore photo
Martin Davalos in Phoenix.
Ryne Swanberg photo
James Stewart in Vegas.
Simon Cudby photo
Carmichael at Washougal.
Tony Scavo photo
Chad Reed at Millville.
Andy Kawa photo
If you were one of the 54,000 people at Cowboys Stadium last Saturday night, or the millions watching live at home (or at the Racer X Viewing Party in Indianapolis), then you probably already figured out what this list is about: memorable big-air crashes that can best be described as ejections. That's the kind of bizarre crash suffered by SX debutant Zach Bell of the GEICO Honda team, captured on film here by James Lissimore. Here are a few that of recent vintage that we recall; if we missed any, add them in the comments!
Zach Bell in Dallas.
James Lissimore photo
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Martin Davalos needed to have a good night in Phoenix last month after crashing out of the Anaheim opener right off the start. But in the heat race, Martin lost control of his bike as he headed into a banked left and launched his motorcycle over the walled berm in epic fashion, as captured by Vurbmoto's Ryne Swanberg. The good news is that he wasn’t hurt, and Davalos actually ended up qualifying through the LCQ and reaching the podium in the main.
Martin Davalos in Phoenix.
Ryne Swanberg photo
In our book, James Stewart is the fastest 125cc motocross and supercross rider of all time. He was prolific in the ways he won indoors and outdoors, setting records in both. But when he crashed, well, those were epic too. None may have been more spectacular than his crash over the bars at the 2003 East-West Challenge in Las Vegas, when he pushed it too hard and got out over his bars in the last rhythm section. The crash, captured by Simon Cudby, cost James a broken collarbone and basically that summer's 125 National Motocross Championship—once he returned, he won every single moto, and in the process debuted the “Bubba Scrub” at Budds Creek.
James Stewart in Vegas.
Simon Cudby photo
When Greg Albertyn was still trying to figure out supercross after three FIM World Motocross Championships in Europe, the South African legend was on a steep learning curve. He was as fast as anyone in the corners, but whoops and rhythm sections could be a real challenge. Crashes came often and with profound … ejectivity? At the Orlando '96 SX opener, during which #111 was still a sophomore in supercross, he was looking much more comfortable than before when—“Eject!”—he lost country in a rhythm section and went flying. Steve Matthes remembers it well:
“That Albee crash in Orlando is close to my heart. Last lap in the semi, he's holding the 5th and final transfer spot. Behind him is Ty Birdwell on a Matthes-tuned KX250. We were done. But then, Albee being Albee, on the last lap he totally ejects and Birdwell/Matthes make it into the main event. Poor Greg but a happy Steve, who was on a bonus program where he got 200 extra bucks.”
Yes, Matthes being Matthes, he refers to himself in the third person when it comes to the nineties!
Old-schoolers will remember Jason Upshaw's epic somersault ejection in the Los Angeles Coliseum at the first East-West Shootout, in 1985. It took place as part of the Rodil Cup, an early attempt at a “world supercross championship” by the FIM. He was coming down off the Peristyle into the stadium when got out of shape on the jump at the bottom and did a complete flip in the air. It's still a gem of a find on YouTube.
Another YouTube favorite is Mickael Pichon's step-through crash in Atlanta one year when it became obvious to him that he was not going to clear the big triple. The Frenchman landed so hard after he ejected that he blew his goggles off! He's lucky it wasn't worse.
“He looked like a gymnast coming off a trampoline!” shouted Art Eckman just a moment past 49:00 in this YouTube link from Unadilla '99. He was talking about Nick Wey, and if you watch it, you’ll see why.
Travis Pastrana's ugly crash on the last lap of the second moto at Unadilla in 2001 was one of the wildest, most unexpected ejects we've ever seen. Pastrana was so far out front he was cruising on the #1 Suzuki RM125, but he still pushed it too hard, and that led to a crash that would reshape his career—as we've written before, who would have ever guessed that the first moto earlier that day at Unadilla was the last major moto or race that the then-17-year-old Pastrana would ever win?
Ricky Carmichael had some real doozies over the years, but the strangest one we recall is still the late-race, all-alone, over-the-bars eject he did at Washougal in 2007. It was the GOAT's last visit as a racer to the Huffman family's beautiful motocross park in Washington, and he seemed to have the win in hand. But then he got a little squirrelly—okay, A LOT squirrelly—as he raced up to the big jump in the middle of the facility. The bike shimmied and shook so violently that it threw him up and over the bars, costing RC the overall win and eternal infamy—he kept his hand on the bars for as long as humanly possible!
Carmichael at Washougal.
Tony Scavo photo
This one is the stuff of legend, as maybe just a few thousand people actually saw it—no video or photos exist—and it was downright crazy. One year in Las Vegas (maybe 1994), the track actually went up and over the old locker-room at the open end of the stadium. Late in the race Damon Huffman was going past Shane Trittler just as Shane got himself all out of control as he crested the peak of the building and did a somersault off his motorcycle. The crazy thing is that Shane—and he swears it, Huffman swears it, Ping swears it, and a whole bunch of other people who were there swear it—somehow landed on the back of Huffman's bike, passenger-style! Huffman didn’t crash, but rather rode to the bottom of the obstacle and let Trittler jump off the back.
A personal favorite: Brandon's First Race. No matter how many times we watch this, it's worth all 1:32!
Now we're down to the podium, and we think Zach Bell's crash might already have third spot nailed down. Number two came just two years ago at Spring Creek. Chad Reed's remarkable crash combined everything you want to see on a list of eject-style crashes like this: altitude, amplitude, jaw-dropping timing, a live global TV audience, no real injuries, and the man riding off like the champ he is. That was #22 on the first lap of the second moto, as he was leading the points in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and battling Ryan Villopoto for the lead. It was insane!
Chad Reed at Millville.
Andy Kawa photo
But the most notorious crash in at least outdoor national history must still be Doug Henry's incredible leap at Budds Creek in 1995, when he charged what's now called Henry Hill as he battled with Jeremy McGrath late in the moto, slipped off the back of his seat, and ended up twisting the throttle instead of letting go. In other words, he didn't actually eject. Henry didn't walk away, either—but he would a few weeks later. He landed from about six stories up, feet on the pegs, and the impact broke his back. Within a year he was racing again, within two years winning again, and in three years he was the series champion. Simply amazing. Here's the world's most overqualified pit reporter discussing it a couple years ago.
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I think Doug Henry's crash was way scarier than Reeds was.Man I'll never forget those two crashes.
Boy, you guys missed a good one. Probably the worst!! Greg Albertyns crash in 1996 at Houston:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDniLM2bvHE
Fast forward to 13:30. Holy cow was that a crash, makes Bells look easy
I seen both of them happen live. Doug's was way more intense. It was like watching a nightmare come to life in front of me!
Good stuff Rick!
Where's the footage of Brandon's second race? Bet that's the last time anyone parked their truck there . . . that was a good one.
I hope we never see anything like Henry's launch again, that was nasty. Seems like that was yesterday.
rickamatuzio.. bells is still worse
Damon Bradshaw, Indy SX 1992. Leading the main event going away with a large lead in series points, miss-timed the triple then double pumps the handlebars before ejecting and carting huge. Systematically leading to his demise in the '92 title Jeff Stanton would win at the final round in LA.
Doug F'n Henry.... That was by far the worst crash, EVER. No other rider would have continued racing after that.
@jgbvr from time to time for the past 30 years I wake up from a nightmare where I've over jumped a jump like Henry's and landed in a big g-out.I've only seen Henry's jump on tv and it really wigged me out.
Recent honorable mentions would have to go to Josh Grant's bike nailing the truck at Red Bug (2010?), and Stewart's Dayton crash (he may need his own list) where the bike cleared the double without him.
Henry's is for sure the worst. I can't imagine seeing that live.
Red Bud, that is. Thanks again, auto-correct
RV2 at St Louis in 2010, when he broke his leg, was a pretty epic "eject, eject" crash.
Clasic RC, Hand still on the bar!! The dude NEVER let go till the ride was over!! That dude rode away from some EPIC crashes. He must have big strong bones!!
and when Doug broke his back people did not come back from that, he was the first to show it could be done. His back surgery was on CNN because it was so new at the time. What a dude!!
The jump that Albe crashed on was 60 feet longer than Bells triple, it was actually a quad. Did you see the whiplash Albe got when he hit his head? His head hit the ground with much more force than Bell... and guess what, he laid there. he didn't get up and run off the track!
I have to go with RC in 2001 at Glen Helen when he literally flipped off a cliff. He then proceeded to race back to fourth place I believe.
carmichaels crash at washougal was in 2006.... ill just go with a typo on that one lol
Brandon's First Race. Definitely my favorite. No matter where he was on the track, he was only one or two jumps away from his next crash. Fortunately he landed the last one close to the truck, so loading up was quicker.
brandon was rippin!!!
Malcolm Stewart is working hard biting turf almost every race, trying to take Albees "and he walked away" crown.(even though from time to time he didn't)....its amazing how you walk from some of the worst and yet the little ones will "git ya" some times.....
Seeing Bell lawndart into blue groove actually caused me to feel pain, and I was seated on a nice soft couch. I can't believe he rose from the dead and then whisky throttled his way through the LCQ. Nobody can doubt how bad he wants to win, and by gosh is the little guy is obviously durable! He landed like a sack of potatoes - heck I whine like a drunken sailor when I bang my knee, and this little dude smacked down, sacked up and rode like a champion. Impressive, young Skywalker...
The Henry crash hurts me every time I see it. Dang!
@loose02--correct, RC's crash was 2006, because in 2007 he ran 5 Nationals I think in his "farewell tour" and won every overall..
@MXBob--I think the Grant crash was Steel City or maybe Budds Creek when his bike "ghost rode" itself into somebodies truck.. Because I watched it on TV, and I never miss Red Bud..
Ok let's not forget villopoto at st. Louis in 2010
The one where Trittler lands passenger on Huffmans bike is classic and i know tv footage of it exists. It happened back when Supercross was on espn and they would occasionally run that clip. That's my favorite eject of all time by far!
@rickamatuzio yeah they were both bad, the only thing i could say is that albee caught the downside, bell went to flat.
BD25 Hey whats up will be in Atlanta in the morning ... Henry I seen them all!!! worst ... Man has ATTITUDE for sure .... Albee in Charllotte in the mud coming up short on triple was a jaw breaker ..... wish I was in Wichita.... I left yesterday in the snow was out in Arizona golf in the snow with some friends.. lol
RC was also up and running for his bike, in one motion, before his bike even stopped tumbling! That was the thing about RC; when he was off his bike he was like a fish out of water, and didn't waste anytime getting back on and going again. He had the mind of a true champion of all ages, which he was.
Anybody remember a mid to late 90s supercross race where someone managed to land on the starting gates? I think it was Swinkster. Must have gone off the back of a berm or something as I recall. I may have to go through some of my old VHS tapes of the races when they were on ESPN.
The next LIST of crashes should be 'ground and pound'. (eg. Mike Craig, Washougal [?])
Am I the only one that saw Lechien scrub at the 1:00 minute mark of the '85 LA Coliseum with the Upshaw endo? Bubba learned it from the Dogger!!
My Bad...its the 16 second market, my flux capacitor wasn't fluxing
Shit im drunk, it is the 16 second mark, not market...
rickamatuzio, I was thinking about that one also. Albee was good for quite a few good ones.
fred, I have that dream too, usually on a street bike.
For some reason I think the Grant/pickup crash was High Point.
What about the Chicken at the Michigan double header in 91, leading JMB, who just couldn't get by him, then he had to do an eject eject move. His missed the next nights racing cause his feet were too sore!
I like the idea of a 'ground and pound' list. Craig definitely gets the nod for that one.
Or what about incredible saves?? Somehow i think the Motogp boys on road bikes have more spectacular saves. Randy Mamola comes to mind....
@VistaJim the funny thing is that I always wake up before the landing.When I saw Henry's crash I got to see what happens when you land.Thats why Henry's leap had such an effect on me.It was like watching my dream happen in real-time.
motocrossone.blogspot.de you can get other news there!
Was that a DirtWurx track Brandon was riding?
I was thinking that Roczen had a pretty good launch over a jump and onto the concrete during his first Supercross season,
The thing about the Henry crash that still bothers me (besides that it was scary to watch) is that it was predictable and preventable. The mix of location, jump trajectory, the potential of mechanical failure (like a stuck throttle) and/or eventual rider error meant someone would launch themselves into orbit.
I raced Budds long before Jonathan Beasley changed the track to add the spectator tunnel that created this jump. Before the tunnel was installed, the hill formed a natural drop away jump where you floated down for 40-50 ft. Easily one of the most fun obstacles I've encountered on a track.
I ran into Mr Beasley at the Lake Sugar tree national in '90 or '91 when he was there to put fliers on windshields to promote his events. When I saw him, I went over and introduced myself, and offered my opinion that he should relocate the spectator tunnel because having a jump with a short, steep face at the top of a hill at the end of a long straight was really dangerous combination and that eventually someone would launch themselves and end up badly hurt (and I'll bet that I wasn't the only one to tell him that). He didn't say much other than that he didn't think the jump was that bad.
I don't think Jonathan Beasley is a bad guy (I don't know him). I know that he put in the tunnel for spectator access to the infield (a good thing). But I do wonder why and where else track owners (National or otherwise) have taken short cuts in solving other issues that end up producing questionable obstacles like this one. I know it would have taken Mr Beasley more time to dig down further to set the tunnel lower in the hill, but it also would produce a safer track because the jump face would be flatter.
I know we all accept risks when we swing our leg over the seat, but there are things that track owners and riders can anticipate and do to reduce these risks.
End rant.
Brandon's first race shows how easy it is to start a two stroke. It started on the 2nd kick, in gear, with the clutch out! Let's see a four stroke match that.
"if you aint crashin you aint goin fast enough" - technique of motocross.
why dosent someone film the races with multi cameras pinned on the top riders the entire race then edit in some slow motion like NFL films or Warren Miller skiing, todays coverage sucks the music sucks with all this new techno video crap childs play the best they can do is go backwards ? but with Fox as speed`s new owner we might not get any races soon
KDub's crash in Houston 2012 was NASTY - Technically it's not an 'ejection' at takeoff, but at landing - the one that basically ended his career. He was never the same after that.
Bell's crash was very similar, in that his foot was pulled backwards while scrubbing the jump. Bell's airtime was more spectacular, but the impact for Windham was just as bad as the bike mashed him into the dirt too.
As a followup - Neither Henry nor Windham 'ejected' they tried to ride it out till the end, as the best are apt to do.
I vote for Reed's true 'ejection' as the best. He tried also tried to ride it out as he pedaled through the air - but he didn't have much of a choice - his bike just wanted him off ;)
@NicolaTesla:
Yep, you're correct about the lost footage of Shane Trittlers flip onto the back of Damon Huffmans seat (I have seen it, but it was years ago). Someone needs to dig that video footage up.
I was in Vegas when Trittler landed on Huffman's bike over the dressing room building jump, it was the baddest!!! I saw it in person! What a privilege to catch that one. A few years later, I had forgotten it was Trittler, and was telling Trittler about it at his track in Castaic. He said, "That was me!" I said, "Oh YEAH!" Ha ha ha ha ha...he told me his POV version of it, he rode on the back of Huffman's bike to the bottom of the landing and Huffman stopped in the left hander, Trittler got off and went back up to get his bike, totally uninjured!
That picture at the top, the one of Chad Reed's get-off, always makes me think that SOMEBODY needs to come up with the CHAD REED DANCE, put it on youtube and start a fad.
Alessi crah at Hangtown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUNEHf_haI
what Larry Brooks didn't make the list?
if you post late at night....and a day old....does it make a sound? I have a comment for almost every post..seems like I have seen it all. The wildest crash that i ever eyewitnessed [that may be the first time i ever tried to spell eyewitnessed..??]
it was a 4 wheeler that catapulted off a jump that was designed to slow the riders down for a 1st gear corner immiedatly after the the 7 ft jump. well ....he came down the 5th gear straight...which had a little chicane right before the jump and the rider gased it just to aliange himself.....and the throttle stuck..! OMG! He launched 30 ft up and 75yds out..landed on all 4 wheels missing a flag girl that had her back turned because she was flagging in a totaly different section of the track by inches.....!! OOOMG! I know its not an eject crash but a launch crash....thats ok because no one will read this. oh...my Larry Brooks story is when he landed on Jeff Stanton at Pontiac Silver Dome. Jeff retired shortly after that...he had a concussion and he had saved his money wisely...and said enough. I predict that Poto may do something simaler.