by Davey Coombs
The List: Imported Big Bike Winners
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 | 3:00 PM
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PrintTyla Rattray did not win the 450 overall at Southwick, but he did win his first moto on a 450. Tyla of course hails from South Africa, and while he's won several 250 Class nationals here, this was his first success on a big bike, making him the latest in a long line of foreign imports who have arrived here mid-career and managed to take at least a moto win in the outdoor nationals.
Who else has done it? Let's start from the beginning, all the way back in 1972, the first year of the AMA Motocross Championship. (We’re not including 125 Nationals or Lites SX here, so apologies to Pedro Gonzalez, James Dobb, Ernesto Fonseca, Stephane Roncada, Craig Anderson, Ben Townley, Ken Roczen....)
GUNNAR LINDSTROM: A Swede riding for Husqvarna when he landed here, Lindstrom won the 1972 Hangtown 250 National. He then began working with American Honda's fledgling motocross program as a rider/manager. His son Lars is presently a wrench in Chad Reed's TwoTwo Motorsports program.
Pierre Karsmakers dominanted the 500cc Nationals in 1973.
PIERRE KARSMAKERS: The Flying Dutchman was so dominant in the 1973 500cc Nationals that the AMA passed a short-sighted rule preventing all international-licensed riders from being counted in the next year's standings, where he would have added 250 title.
JEAN-MICHEL BAYLE: JMB rode part-time in the States in 1989 and ended up winning three nationals that year—the first 250 round and the last two 500 rounds—while squeezing an FIM 250 World Championship in during the summer. He then came here full-time in 1990 and began his short but incredible conquest of America.
GREG ALBERTYN: Hailing from South Africa, Albertyn was a three-time world champ before he took up racing on the AMA circuit. While he struggled at first, he eventually found his rhythm and strengths and emerged as the 1999 AMA 250 Motocross Champion.
Greg Albertyn won the 1999 AMA 250 Motocross Champion.
Simon Cudby photo
MICKAEL PICHON: Another Frenchman, Pichon did well here on 125cc equipment for Pro Circuit Kawasaki, but he had his share of problems in the 250 Class. He did get a moto win and an overall at Glen Helen in the premier class before returning to Europe.
SEBASTIEN TORTELLI: The late nineties were the golden age of French motocross in America, as Tortelli followed Pichon, who followed Bayle, and he ended up winning the L.A. Supercross and several nationals before injuries sidelined his career.
DAVID VUILLEMIN: Yet another French import, DV934 was immediately successful in AMA Supercross, battling with the likes of Jeremy McGrath and then Ricky Carmichael, and he also took it to RC outdoors a few times. As we've written before, he spent his best years racing here, likely leaving a world title or two and numerous GP wins on the table back home.
Chad Reed circa 2004.
Simon Cudby photo
CHAD REED: The best import ever, Chad Reed has enjoyed a decade of success in America, with two Monster Energy Supercross titles and the 2009 Lucas Oil Motocross Championship in the 450 Class. The Australian has been out since February of this season, when he was battling with Ryan Villopoto for the SX points lead. He should be back at full strength come January.
GRANT LANGSTON: After scoring two 125 National Championships, it took a while for Langston to finally get himself some wins in the newly minted "AMA Motocross" class on his Yamaha YZ450F, but then the South African got on a roll at the right time and captured the 2007 outdoor title. Unfortunately, doctors discovered cancer in his eye during the off-season that followed, severely curtailing his own racing career.
TYLA RATTRAY: A small-bike specialist for the first part of his career, South Africa's Rattray was moved up to the 450 this year when Ryan Villopoto got hurt, leaving a big spot to fill for Monster Energy Kawasaki. But then Tyla, a past world champ, also hurt himself, breaking a bone in his hand at the Hangtown opener. He's now at full strength, and he got his first moto win at Southwick on Saturday in a wild second 450 Class moto.
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Hey Davey, what about Gaylon?
Jaroslav Falta
Czech Republic
1972 La Supercross on a CZ
What about the obvious CP377 Christophe Pourcel from France # 377
# 15 Dean Wilson
Scotland, United Kingdom
Was Bayle even human? Kinda wish I never saw him ride... he complicates every "best of ___" or "best ever ___" conversation, if we are being honest. It's just true.
Jeff Leisk
FROM NEW ZEALAND had to win a moto some where ! FROM 1986 THRU 1988
Bayle was simply insane, I still remember his look at Dave Strijbos at the start of the last moto of the 1988 125cc World Championship, he won it before the start.
Imola 1998, 500cc FIM world championship: pole position in front of mighty Doohan, insane. The best motorcycle rider ever, no doubt about it.
Mr. Mx- Maybe this will help.
(We’re not including 125 Nationals or Lites SX here, so apologies to Pedro Gonzalez, James Dobb, Ernesto Fonseca, Stephane Roncada, Craig Anderson, Ben Townley, Ken Roczen....)
@Chase Stallo
I seen the bold print
Sx Jaroslav Falta 250 Pourcel 250 moto's sorry I'm thinking of 250 class not lites........ I wish they would just go back to the old classifactions............It the mind that goes first ......Sorry
MrMx...So true, the mind begins to play tricks on you, memory lets you down, then some young fella has to correct ya...it just isn't fair...lol
Hope you are feeling and healing well!!
Not realy but thanks anyway
Mr Mx Sorry to hear that, I hoped you were on the road to recovery.. I have missed chatting and your informative posts over the last few weeks, always enjoy both! Since I saw you back online, thought maybe you had turned that corner
I'm in reverse at the moment.................Had to travel back home my nephew sistres kid 30 died..........took of life support.........Was at a big outdoor party place like a woodstock kind of thing....Something happened between him and so real redneck group and got the hell beat out of him and and his friend and shot them and caught them on fire with gas.....he was in a coma for about a month.My moms car also just moved back home from Las Vegas after being out there affter collage..
I guess thats what happens today with these kids getting mesed up and come across peolpe that dont value anything or anybody or life it self.....Very sad..........Time
Mr-Mx, my condolences, that is horrible and justice will be served here or in the hereafter.
I was going to bust Mr-Mx on the mistakes but, pass.
Tortelli was a hands-down, bar-none, outdoor ringer. His (MX) speed was stupendous!
Albee was a bulldog and after so many injuries in SX, I thought he would've thrown in the towel long before he did. His 250 MX title was well deserved. I also think, without dispespecting Doug Henry, that Albee should've been the '98 250 MX champ as well. Politics muddied that water.
It seems to me that Tyla has been wasting time in the 250F's as he looks to be the type that would do well on a 450. I've been waiting to see him put in a season on the big bikes. If he survives SX 2013, the 450 MX title chase will be stacked!!!
Manes, folks think that Bayle bombed when he went road-racing. They don't know. He was on the 250 Hondas the years they were slow, then the 500 Yamaha when they couldn't make their tires last, but yeah; he won poles on them when nobody could win a race on one. He had the GP guys worried he would get on the right bike the right year. Then he got hurt. Doohan has said this.
Before he even motocrossed, he was French Trials champ. Best motorcycle racer ever, but nobody wants to hear it here in the USA.
Yes I know the typing is off I'm doing it one handed. I dont know if ts my ompteror the web ste on typing but I knowMy wife is going to reformat this new computer, she has givin it all kinds of really quick fixes like Bio's and hat ever els seig she fools with tis stuff 24 7 but we have not been aound to fool with it.......... Sorry
Brett Metcalfe ? Though don't think it was a Moto win, but won an overall at Southwick
Mr Mx So sorry to hear of the tragedies that have befallen you and your family. Life seems so unfair at times, dishing on those who already have a full plate. It is not much, but I am sure you have the support of your moto family on here. If there is any thing we can do let us know...Wish all the best to one of the best!!
BD25
Thanks.........Just get out and ride.........or something along those lines....... or as Welker would say "Lets Race" I think we are a few day early on that one though. Sounds good !
@Mr-MX....my condolences for you and your family.
@Mr-MX Thats horrible. People are savage. Do they have no value for human life? Hope things get better!
Thanks all !!!! got to get to bed early for once......Thanks again
@Mr-MX: Wow, sorry for your loss. Unfortunately bad things can, and do, happen to good people. Hang in there.
@ CR500AF Thanks........ and thanks to all again..........
Never forgot when Bayle passed Wardy in the 500 nationals on that off camber inside line. He was such an incredibly talented rider.
ELSINORE RACER: good words dude, I remind you of the fact that Bayle also rode a factory Aprilia 250 alongside Max Biaggi, who dominated the scene in those years. He was not very fast but they were his first years and also I strongly doubt he had the same equipment as Biaggi. I saw him ride the 500 Yamaha and it was a pleasure to see him, I have always considered him the best motorcycle rider. His Yamaha was not at the same level as the factory Hondas, he was hired by Kenny Roberts to develop it because he was high skilled and his ability to make a motorcycle fast and rideable was well recognized by all the technicians. Roberts wanted him on the 3 cyclinder Petronas, too, he was the man. You're right, the tyres were the only problem, Dunlop has always been below Michelin in that class. I think that, as a rider, only Doohan was better than Bayle.
Bayle was awesome. But some comments say best ever? dont know about that, just keep in mind he happened to come over here after a guy named RJ ruled, and right before McGrath ruled. He was great and his timing was perfect too.
Langston only has 1 125 national championships, not 2. He won the 2003 title over Ryan Hughes when the final round at Troy was flooded out. He nearly won the 2001 title but lost to Mike Brown.