The Fox 50 - California
After taking a few weeks off to focus on the end of the motocross series and the Motocross of Nations, we're back with a new state for The Fox 50. California is by far the most successful state in AMA Motocross—its riders have claimed fifty-nine AMA National Championships to date. Its climate and large desert stretches provide the perfect environment for a rider to grow up in, and it’s also home to the U.S. offices of the top motocross manufacturers—back in the day, it was easier to get the factory teams’ attention if you were racing locally in the Golden State. As a result, the list of the fastest racers in California history is so long that we had to leave off some very big hitters: Danny "Magoo" Chandler, Donnie Hansen, Micky Dymond, Marty Tripes, Darrell Schultz, Mike Bell, Bob Moore....
You can vote for who you think is the fastest rider from California at the bottom of this page, and we’ll tally them up and post the results online next week. (And if we missed anyone you’d like us to mention, please email us at letters@racerxonline.com.)
In no particular order, here are our nominees for the Fox Fifty all-time list of California’s fastest:
Jeremy McGrath (Eight AMA National Championships, including a record seven 250cc supercross titles in eight years, and one 250cc National MX title. Current record holder in total AMA Supercross victories at 72. Also, he was a two-time 125cc West SX champion and two-time winning member of Team USA at the Motocross des Nations.)
Bob Hannah (Six AMA National Championships, including one 125cc National title, two 250cc National titles, and three 250cc supercross titles. In addition, he has one Trans-AMA Championship and the 1987 Motocross des Nations championship to his name. Former record holder in total AMA Supercross victories at 27.)
Rick Johnson (Seven AMA National Championships, including two 250cc supercross titles, three 250cc National titles, and two 500cc National titles. Also, a four-time winning member of the U.S. Motocross des Nations team. Former record holder in total AMA Supercross victories at 28. Was the 1981 AMA Rookie of the Year.)
Jeff Ward (Seven AMA National Championships, including one 125cc National title, two 250cc National titles, two 500cc National titles, and two 250cc supercross titles. First and only rider to win the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc National Championships as well as the 250cc supercross championship. Record seven-time member of winning Team USA squad at the Motocross des Nations. Has also won two AMA Supermoto championships and two X Games Supermoto gold medals.)
Broc Glover (Six AMA National Championships, including three consecutive 125cc National titles and three 500cc National titles. Won his last supercross at the L.A. Coliseum in 1988, and won the final moto of his one-year Grand Prix career in 1989 for KTM. Winning member of 1984 Trophee des Nations team.)
Brad Lackey (First American World MX Champion, winning the premier 500cc title in 1982. Also first AMA 500cc National MX champion in 1972.)
Danny LaPorte (1979 500cc National Champion and 1982 250cc World Champion. Member of first winning team for the USA at the Motocross des Nations in 1981.)
Johnny O’Mara (Two-time AMA National Champion, including the 1983 125cc National title and 1984 250cc supercross title. Won the 1980 125cc USGP as a rookie.)
Gary Jones (Four-time consecutive 250cc National MX champ, including 1971’s title given to the top American in the European-dominated Inter-Am Series. Won the three official AMA titles on three different bikes: Yamaha, Honda, and Can-Am. Winner of the 1971 Baja 500.)
Mike Kiedrowski (Four-time AMA National champ, including two 125cc National titles, one 250cc National title, and one 500cc National title. Four-time member of the winning Team USA at the Motocross des Nations.)
Marty Smith (Three-time AMA National champ, including two consecutive 125cc National titles and one 500cc National title. One of few racers to score wins in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, and Trans-AMA Nationals. Two-time consecutive winner of the 125cc USGP.)
Steve Lamson (Two-time 125cc National champ in 1995 and 1996, former record holder for most 125cc National wins in a career at 21. Only rider to win a Motocross des Nations moto outright on a 125cc machine, in 1996 in Spain. Four-time winner of the Hangtown 125cc National. Fourth on all-time 125cc National win list behind Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Mark Barnett.)
Ron Lechien (1985 125cc National champ, two-time member of Team USA at the Motocross des Nations. Dominant winner of 500cc class at 1988 MXdN. Winner of 26 AMA National events, including wins in all four divisions: 125cc National, 250cc National, 500cc National, and 250cc Supercross.)
Jeremy McGrath is one of California's finest.
photo: Racer X archives