Bench Racing Ammo: Closest Trio Ever?
Thursday, July 21, 2011 | 12:20 PM
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PrintThe best battles are usually one-on-one. Ever since the AMA switched to their current point system in 1974, the fight for the 250 (now 450) National Motocross Championship seems to come down to two riders (or a one-man domination show). But rolling into Washougal this weekend, just seven points seperate the top three riders in the series--Chad Reed, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.
How good is this? We dove into the record books from every 250/450 points chase since 1974. Amazingly, only twice in 37 seasons have the top three in points even finished within 50 points (the equivalent of one whole weekend) of each other.
The wild 2007 season ended with just 18 points between the top three, but that was a strange one since Ricky Carmichael most likely would have won by a massive margin. But he retired from racing at mid season.
That leaves only the legendary 1982 season with a close finish that can rival what we may see in 2011. We've compiled the points gap between first and third place in every 250/450 season below. Take a look for youself.
Villopoto trails Reed by six points heading into Washougal.
Photo: Brian Robinette
2010: Ryan Dungey Brett Metcalfe Andrew Short 150 point gap
2009: Chad Reed Andrew Short Ivan Tedesco 105
2008: James Stewart Tim Ferry Andrew Short 208
2007: Grant Langston Mike Alessi Andrew Short 18
2006: Ricky Carmichael Kevin Windham Davi Millsaps 139
2005: Ricky Carmichael Kevin Windham Ernesto Fonseca 202
2004: Ricky Carmichael Chad Reed Kevin Windham 156
2003: Ricky Carmichael Kevin Windham Chad Reed 131
2002: Ricky Carmichael Tim Ferry Ezra Lusk 204
2001: Ricky Carmichael Kevin Windham Tim Ferry 51
2000: Ricky Carmichael Sebastien Tortelli Kevin Windham 109
1999: Greg Albertyn Kevin Windham Mike LaRocco 71
1998: Doug Henry Greg Albertyn Mike LaRocco 103
1997: Jeff Emig John Dowd Jeremy McGrath 117
1996: Jeff Emig Jeremy McGrath Mike LaRocco 138
1995: Jeremy McGrath Jeff Emig Mike Kiedrowski 137
1994: Mike LaRocco John Dowd Jeremy McGrath 159
1993: Mike Kiedrowski Mike LaRocco Steve Lamson 58
1992: Jeff Stanton Mike Kiedrowski Jean-Michael Bayle 83
1991: Jean-Michel Bayle Jeff Stanton Damon Bradshaw 67
1990: Jeff Stanton Jeff Ward Mike LaRocco 64
1989: Jeff Stanton Jeff Ward Ron Tichenor 108
1988: Jeff Ward Rick Johnson Ron Lechien 56
1987: Rick Johnson Jeff Ward Ron Lechien 61
1986: Rick Johnson David Bailey Johnny O'Mara 50
1985: Jeff Ward Johnny O'Mara Rick Johnson 65
1984: Rick Johnson Ron Lechien Billy Liles 53
1983: David Bailey Scott Burnworth Bob Hannah 66
1982: Donnie Hansen Rick Johnson Broc Glover 6
1981: Kent Howerton Bob Hannah Donnie Hansen 100
1980: Kent Howerton Mike Bell Steve Wise 114
1979: Bob Hannah Kent Howerton Marty Tripes 139
1978: Bob Hahnah Jim Ellis Chuck Sun 81
1977: Tony D Marty Smith Jim Pomeroy 54
1976: Tony D Jim Weinert Steve Stackable 85
1975: Tony D Kent Howerton Bill Grossi 233
1974: Gary Jones Marty Tripes- Jim Ellis 170
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um, holeshot! whoop whoop...
If TP 199 was still racing, this article would be called: The 3 FIGHTING for 2nd place!!!
In the end Dungey will win it by over 25, or...............
The top three are on bikes other than a Yamaha! haha! Yamaha is not even in the top five!
LOOK AT HOW BUBBSY WUBBZZZZYYY SPANKED EVERYONE IN 2008, GUESS THERE WAS NO COMP FOR HIM, HE HAS ONE THE CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE BIGGEST MARGIN WITH 208 PTS SINCE 1975 NEXT WOULD BE CARMICHEAL WITH 202 AND TONY D BACK IN 75 SPANKED EVERYONE BY 233 POINTS DAMMM
JW, very cool data! I love stats for sure... BUT this could all change reall quick. this would be great if it were the final points but it's just past half way and the way these guys are pushing right now, it could blow up to a huge points lead for any one of the top 3 guys real fast with a couple of mis-placed wheels. I hope this doesn't jinx the tight racing!! If it does..... I'm grabbing my pitchfork and torch and i'm coming looking for you JW!!! lol! You can't say stuff like this, Look what you did to Jason Anderson this summer!!! HAHA!
OK. Who's name is listed more than any other on that list?
That's right.
Carmichael should have completed the 07 season.....he had easily won.....Seeing Langston as the champ that year was WEAK!!!
After this weekend I think it will be even tighter!!
@CHIZZLLEE - You really should learn to read stats. Those numbers are the difference between first and THIRD. The gaps between first and second weren't listed.
A couple of interesting things I noticed:
- This will be the first time since '06 that Andrew Short hasn't stood on the championship podium. (Was he there in Lites that year?)
- K-Dub was second or third in the series seven out of eight seasons beginning in '99.
The funny thing about that tight '82 season was - I believe - Yamaha had multi-time champ Bob Hannah back on a 125. (One of the dumbest moves I've even seen.) Just think if he was in there, too!
Bill C - It will be tighter for sure unless Reed goes 1-1. Both RV and RD have the chance at stealing that Red Plate from Reed if he has a 3-3 or worse type weekend and RV and RD take the top 2 spots....Hopefully there isnt a tie in O/A points coming out of Washougal so Reed doesnt piss and moan again about red plates.......
Lets not forget about Canard people.He will be a major spoiler for the trio hopefully in Reeds favor.
If we still had the Grand NationalChampion[GNC}.That was the rider that had the most points after totaling SX and MX points together..The rider would then get to wear a number one plate.The plate was blue background with gold number1.If we had still been doing that Short would of had that plate for something like 3 years in a row.He would of had that from like 2007-2010.Since so many riders did SX only Short would of be the number one for years.
Man... I like Short, but it looks like it'll be another year.
Will he ever get a title?
BUBBSY WUBBZZZZYYY would be a distant fourth in this years group. That is precisely why he stayed home.
yzpilot62,I would say no.Maybe if he ran the GPs.That would probably be a no to.
Not sure the Langston/Alesi/Short battle really compares. The RV/RD/CR is all champions.
Did Stewies 24-0 season have any past champions??
lets quit saying JS7 woulda coulda shoulda when the fact is HE DONT, he did not win SX, he doesnt even line up for MX, staying on 2 wheels counts just as much as raw/uncontrollable speed and last time i looked theres no points for a yard sale every race...sure he may win 3 or 4 races here and there but titles are won in 12 or 16 races
Chizzlee - I JS7 would be right there with these guys trading moto wins and overalls even if he did race on that roach YZ450 ........I am an RV geek, but JS7 is a frickin beast outdoors. If he was on his 08' Kawasaki, he would probably beat these guys...... Like Reed has said on multiple occasions this year, if your not happy or "feelin it 100% " with the bike, then your not going to want to race if things are not right.....Reed threw in the towel for this very reason last year....JS7 made some attempts at making the outdoors and the bike just wasnt coming together enough for him to feel "right" and be his usual self outdoors... but he would still be right there I think and show moments of brialliance just like in SX.....Would he dominate like he has in the past, probably not .....I think we'll see a new JS7 in just a few months.....
2007 RC was smoking the field.. Trend Killer, my opinion on Stewie outdoors is he never beat a champ for the title, and the field was just as "weak" as the year Langston won. Who else was there in 2008 that wasnt there in 2007?? Except Stewie himself, so that was a weak year also. And the YZ 450 the guys are riding is fine. Stewart won 5 supercrosses and every heat race on it, so it must be fine. Millsaps is doing good on it. It seems to be alright, I just think Pourcel cant handle the size, because he isnt riding the Kawi 450 worth a damn either. So I think Pourcel is the problem, I bet Stewie would be fine on it outdoors if he didnt have the supercross only contract. I believe he would be up front at times, but he wouldnt be leading, these guys are as fast as he is outdoors.. Last year for the one race he rode, he wasnt anywhere close to being ready.
Nice work JW . . . I was wondering how good we had it this summer. I'm going to go on record and asterick summer 07. Nothing against Langston, he earned if fair and square in the final moto, but I wasn't even interested outside of my local race Washougal. That was no where near the level of excitement that we have seen and there are still 10 motos left (hopefully TwoTwo Airlines has taken it's last flight). That said, this is THE BEST summer of MX in 29 years, arguably of all time (I started tuning in with Pops in '85 when I was 8, didn't catch the MX bug til then.) Top 3 need to go down to the wire, may the best man earn that plate . . . whoever it ends up being, the dude earned it! have been pullin' for RV since the leg break, but after moto 2 last week, i'm seeing CRF RED! Stay healthy, keep it clean and then let it all hang out at Pala moto 2 . . . winner take it all!
RC twice with a 200+ point lead over 3rd place!!!!
RC's seven straight titles were won with a 142 average points lead over third. DAM!
BD - Valid points regarding the Stewart and the 08' season, however he won every moto quite convincingly.....Unidilla last year is hard to compare with anything this year.....JS7 was off along time with the wrist and came back racing too early I think......He set the fastest lap that day and ran up front most the first moto but faded and the bike was a bucking bronco once the track roughed up....I still think Stew would be up with RV and the boys this year on the YZ450, but I think he wants to do better than just " be up there" and I dont think his bike can meet his demands......we'll see what happens in the future...I would love to see JS7 up in the mix and have a 4 and 5 guy battle outdoors.....Watching anyone go 24-0 gets boring after it has happened 3 times the past 5 years...
I hate to bring up past trauma but remember when we all knew that Hannah was done even tho he was still racing? Well,,, Stewart is done. AND he is not even on the gate.
@Dirt Napper why are you talking about RC4's seven championship point average over the third place guy? Who cares about the average points over 3rd place.Whats your point?
@ Trend Killer,You realy need to use the word "was" more when talking about JS7 ,If you want to "see him in the mix " just YOU TUBE his old stuff & keep living in the past
There's guys in the top three that hardly got any attention at all, like Tim Ferry or Mike Larocco...they are really good riders but were nice guys and didn't caused enough trouble or win enough so they are lost to the fans.
I was at Atlanta Supercross in 2005 and no one cheered when they announced Ferry, why not? He was a hard charger but maybe they didn't want to forget how he beat Dowd in the 90's Lites without winning a race. Consistency is applaudable too.
Larocco is now a legit team manager and he's been riding for us since before I was born, I think the MX community owes him more fans. He could pass anyone so we shouldn't pass on him.
Sooo, if chad goes 2-2 and poto goes 1-1, the points are tied, who gets the Red plate?? Of course I doubt this result will happen but there's a higher chance there can be a tie some other way,
Points were pretty close through the 80s and early 90s. Also interesting to note that neither Carmichael's two perfect seasons nor James' one perfect season topped the list as the biggest points gap.
if canard was healthy all year....RC wasnt racing cars/trucks in circles, and james stewart well....wasnt being a weak dick to put it lightly.... it would be epic....!! we'd have network coverage every week and nascar would look like toilet bowl racing!!
Yeah, throw Bubba and "a full season" Canard in there.....plus keep Windham racing, a healthy Tedesco....Hell, throw in J-Law for all that matters.....The more guys healthy and the more guys willing to win is what makes for a great motocross season. Give the fans their money's worth. I go to races to see "racing" not domination. Until the happens, sadly, MX or SX will never go mainstream.
@Nice Guys Definitely Finish Last - Ferry "beat Dowd in the 90's Lites without winning a race"? Yes, but why single out Dowd? He also beat RC and Roncada.