We are 99.9 percent certain that McGrath WILL extend his contract with Team 1-800-COLLECT Honda, it's just a matter of dotting the i's, crossing the t's and making room on the American Honda trophy shelf for what will most likely be his fifth straight title... But there is this ongoing rumor out there that Jeremy may just huck it all (Seth Enslow-style) and sign a personal services deal with “Suzuki of Troy” and actually ride a yellow RM250 for Phil Alderton of Honda of Troy. Crazy, huh?

Some have mentioned the reason McGrath may be teetering on whether or not to leave Honda has much to do with the brand's switch to an aluminum frame on the '97 CR250. Honda of Troy's Mike Craig has the opposite opinion. Sting Ray loves it, and he showed that sweeping both nights of the recent Geneva SX in Switzerland.  

"I love the bike, it's unreal," said Craig, who beat Kawasaki's Jeff Emig and Ryan Hughes in Switzerland. "I've got one at home for practice, and we have machined my forks to fit the clamps. None of the other Honda riders, including Jeremy, like it though. It doesn't feel like a Honda anymore, and I guess they need time to get used to it."

And in his Cycle News' op-ed column "Teardown," editor Paul Carruthers asked, "Can McGrath win on a Suzuki? Can Honda win without him? The answers on those questions will come quickly. One thing, however, is certain right now: Supercross will win big this time around. After all, curiosity may have killed the cat, but it has never been accused of killing a crowd."

Regardless of whatever brand McGrath ends up on, four out of five Cycle News editors—Paul Carruthers, Kit Palmer, Mark Hoyer and Scott Rousseau—all picked him to win his fifth straight AMA Supercross Championship. Only one editor, Cameron Coatney, picked another rider: Jeff Emig.

FRO DADDY (DC)

Cycle News asked me to interview Emig for the year-end issue, and Fro and I got to talk about his stunning win at the last round at Steel City where he took the 250 outdoor title from his bitter rival Jeremy McGrath. When I inquired who he thought might be the next two superstars after he and McGrath get ready to step down, he answered, "Well, I see Damon Huffman definitely, and Kevin Windham. He's been riding great. Huffman, Ezra Lusk and Windham, I kind of think of them as the younger guys, even though they may not be a whole long younger than me. I'm pretty old (26). I think those guys are riding real well." 

Next, I asked Jeff the bet he had with his Team Kawasaki mechanic Jeremy Albrecht: Emig promised "J-Bone" a bus for traveling if he won the title. "We decided not to do the bus," explained Jeff. "Instead it was a cash deal—he made his own decision. He decided not to go with the bus. He decided to go cashola, take the almighty dollar instead. I think he was more happy that way. I kind of wanted the bus." 

Emig is also featured prominently in the advertisements for the 1997 Kawasaki KX250, which comes with an MSRP of $5,649. Yamaha went a different route, featuring a spoof on those old kick-sand-in-your-face muscle beach characters, with Bob Hannah as the star, and teenager Kevin Windham in a side bar. 

Emig, who kept McGrath from having a perfect season in 1996, is said to have renewed his focus and plans on taking the fight to McGrath and his Honda, though Fro admits that he has a movie project coming up that will "change the way people look at free-riding videotapes forever." The plan is to shoot in and around Fresno of all places.

THE BEAST FROM THE EAST (DC)

After finally coming back full-time this past season, Damon Bradshaw hoped to finally mount a charge to get that AMA Supercross Championship that he narrowly missed out on four years ago. Now that road just got even tougher as Yamaha has decided not to renew the Beast from the East's contract. With McGrath about to sign with Honda, and former three-time FIM World MX Champion Greg Albertyn and Mike LaRocco teaming up at Suzuki, Emig and Damon Huffman together at Kawasaki, and Yamaha betting on Henry, youngsters Ezra Lusk and Kevin Windham (not to mention oldster John Dowd), and no one taking KTM seriously at this point, Bradshaw is going to go the privateer route. He will ride for Honda of Manchester and a little-known suspension shop called Factory Connection. We can't see him winning any races with this outfit--or really anyone winning with this box-van team--unless it rains or something.

BAD-SHAW (Matthes)

As DC alluded to earlier, Damon Bradshaw's return to the factory Yamaha ranks didn't go as great as some of us "Bad-Shaw" fans would've liked, but he made some podiums early in SX and spent the year getting his feet wet. We're liking Bradshaw's move to the MHR Honda because he just whipped up on everyone over in Japan in a supercross event. Looks like the Honda's are more agreeable to him and yeah his win was on the steel-framed '96 model, but the '97 looks cooler, is lighter and will still have that Honda motor. What could go wrong? Look out pits, Damon is coming back and he's not taking any prisoners!

ONE-RACE WONDER (DC)

There's still some confusion over how exactly Ricky Carmichael was named 1996 AMA Rookie of the Year even though he only rode one race, the Steel City 125 National, and finished 16-6 in the two motos. Carmichael had already been named the AMA Amateur Athlete of the Year for his wins at Loretta Lynn's, but in a weird quirk in the way the award is given, his eighth-place overall finish gave him more points than any other rookie in the field, all summer long. Now that he's a full-time professional, he will likely find the going much tougher in 1997, when he goes up against Steve Lamson, easily the best 125cc rider on the planet, and heavy favorite to win a third straight AMA 125 National Motocross title. The best Carmichael will probably do—if he can keep it on two wheels—is some podiums and maybe a moto win or two, though his longtime friend and sponsor Scott Taylor told me on the infield at Loretta Lynn's in August—and this is a direct quote: "He will break every record there is in motocross.” Stamp it!

Motocross Journal ran a small Carmichael photo up front in their “Top Dead Center” section. They asked the kid what his biggest dreams were: "To win a 125 National? To win a 125 National Championship? To win a World Championship?" Carmichael answered, "I want to win on The Price is Right. I want to win the grand prize. I'm good at it. I can beat all of the people on it when I watch." Sounds like Carmichael's priorities are a little off, but then again, this is a kid who said in the last Terra-Firma video that his favorite restaurant is Dairy Queen.

And speaking of Motocross Journal, their version of “The Feed,” called “Pit Board Signals,” included this letter: 

Wonder if this is the same "Jason Weigandt" that's been blowing up our fax machine from his dorm room in New Jersey with all those letters about Damon Bradshaw?

Carmichael, fresh off of getting a wake-up call at his professional debut at Steel City, the last 125 National of the year, is now tempering his expectations. The once-ballyhooed minicycle prospect is even handing out the "Don't Believe the Hype" t-shirts that Mitch Payton made for him after his mediocre day at his one and only professional race so far.

"I think Ricky lacks the focus to ever really do anything in supercross, let alone motocross," wrote Payton in a fax to the Racer X Office (which is my old bedroom at my parents' house). "We are actually starting to look ahead at other kids for his spot on the team. Billy Payne comes to mind, maybe one of the Tedesco brothers, Gio, I think... But I do know that our best bet in 1997 and beyond is David Pingree."

Payton added that his hope for the future is a 12-year-old kid from Maryland.

And we should say congrats to Mitch and everyone on the Splitfire/Pro Circuit Kawasaki squad on their new HQ. Payton moved his hop-up shop out to the east on the 91, from East LaPalma Avenue in Anaheim to a brand new building in Corona. It's a quick and easy drive, with little traffic from the area around Anaheim Stadium (which is under construction for the next few years). There are all kinds of open riding spots in the hills east and south of Corona, with occasional mini-cities like Riverside and San Bernardino leading you up into the mountains. Stop by Payton's new place, which has all six of the team's #1 AMA 125 Supercross plates on display, and tell him Racer X Newspaper sent you!

PRO PERSPECTIVE (Jason Thomas)

JT$: Goodbye amateur racing, hello to the big show! I still can't believe in just over a month I will be lining up for my first ever AMA Supercross when the East Coast series kicks off at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

It's going to be a big leap for me. I just moved up from the B class a couple of months ago and dove head first into the deep end. I haven't really done any supercross testing but I think my outdoor suspension should be okay if my dad turns the clickers all the way in. I have been fortunate to ride down at Brian Swink's supercross track in Ocala quite a bit, so hopefully that will help. I don't really know what to expect but if it's anything like the Mini Os supercross track, I should be right as rain!

It's going to be quite the experience for me, as I will be doing many things for the first time. Of course the race will be exciting but I'm also going to fly on an airplane for the first time and also see snow for the first time, too! Maybe one day I will have a job where I get to travel and live in the mountains. I doubt it but anything is possible, right?

Regardless of how it goes, this motorcycle thing will be short-lived for me. I will be starting college next August and I can't see myself racing for more than a year or two. I'm excited to give this racing world a whirl while it lasts, though!

CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITE? (Matthes)

I know he didn't have a great ‘96 and probably the highlight was him wearing the JT Racing baggy gear at Washougal (although he blew out his knee shortly after), but I've been talking to Timmy Ferry of the factory Suzuki team and he's eager go after a 125 East Region SX title. He's had race wins before but can't seem to close the deal. Now he’s in the last year of his Suzuki contract. He'll ride the East Coast and I'd look for his steadiness, veteran presence and consistent results to put him right up there. That Carmichael kid is rumored to be riding East as well and he'll be fast but sometimes rookies take a bit of time to figure things out.

Ferry says he doesn't know anything about McGrath coming on-board but predicts that with MC on-board, riders like Mike LaRocco should benefit and everyone will get along perfect. Ferry's had three years on the factory Suzuki now and it's his time to shine or time to move up, most likely not on a factory team. I like his odds to be champion in '97 but there is an issue—If he wins, he’ll be getting kicked out of the class, but we're sure that will sort itself out. The hardest part is winning.

NEW CYCLE NEWS (DC)

Cycle News has announced their 1996 Rider of the Year, and it's Camel Pro Grand National Dirt Track Champion Scott Parker, who just won his seventh title on his Harley-Davidson XR-750. But the more disturbing news was on Page 3's “In The Wind” section, with this headline: "California two-stroke ban stands."

"Citing concerns over the state's air quality, officials of the California Air Resource Board (CARB) have decided to go ahead with a plan that will prohibit owners of two-stroke motorcycles and ATVs manufactured after January 1, 1997, from registering their vehicles with the state's 'green sticker' program, effectively banning such vehicles from use except at closed-course facilities," wrote editor Paul Carruthers. To express your opinion on the matter, write or call Governor Pete Wilson, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814, or call (916)-445-1682. There is no word on how seriously the manufacturers in Japan are taking this impending ban, though it's certainly appears to have pushed at least some of Yamaha's engineers to the drawing board. We’ve already mentioned that Yamaha YZ400F “unicorn” that Yamaha has been working on, and Keith McCarty told Cycle News that the plan was to let Doug Henry try to ride it outdoors next summer.

"Our goal is to race all of the nationals and if Doug rode the bike and said, 'Man, this thing is really good and I'd like to ride it in a supercross race,' then that's not out of the question," said McCarty. "We just haven't planned for that at the moment.

"We're optimistic and hope that things are going to go really well," added McCarty. "Really it is a look to see if technology has caught up in the four-stroke area has technology moved forward enough to compete on a heads-up basis with a two-stroke."

RANDOM NOTES

At the last PJ1 Arenacross race of 1996, Michigan's Todd DeHoop blasted to his first win of the series at the Metro Centre in beautiful downtown Rockford, Illinois. Other main event winners included Buddy Antunez (Friday night 250 Pro), Cliff Palmer (Saturday 125 Pro), Grayson Goodman (Saturday 250 Pro), Denny Stephenson (Sunday 125 Pro), Chad Pederson (Sunday 250 Pro), Andy Bowyer (Monday 125 A) and his fellow Team Green rider Nick Wey (Monday 250 Pro), Clifford Adoptante (Tuesday 125 A), Mike Katin (250 A), Doug DeHaan (Wednesday 125 A) and Mitchell Kumpstein (250 A).

We didn't get a chance last time to go over all of the results from the recent Winter National Olympics at Gatorback, better known as the Mini Os. This was the 25th year of the event, with four disciplines: TT, Stadium Motocross, Motocross, and finally Grand Prix. The Scott Golden Goggles Award, presented by Bevo Forti, went to Albuquerque, New Mexico's, Keith Johnson while Florida's own Anthony Pocorobba won the Dunlop Silver Tire Award. There was some controversy through as former Kawasaki factory rider Robbie Reynard, now on a Honda CR125, topped the Expert classes, even though he is a professional rider. Other class standouts throughout the week included Cobra rider Davi Millsaps, who won some great Pee-Wee class battles with LEM rider Jason Lawrence, and 65cc Stock TT winner Kyle Chisholm. Pennsylvania's Broc Hepler also picked up some 65cc wins, as did California's Bobby Bonds. Florida's own James Stewart was a standout in the 85cc (10-11) classes aboard his Team Green Kawasaki, and Josh Woods and Justin Buckelew took turns winning in the Senior mini classes. Michigan's Nicholas Wey was the frontrunner in the 125cc Schoolboy classes. The 125cc B Class battles all week long were between Kodak-sponsored Costa Rican import Ernesto Fonseca (who also rides for BSY Yamaha), Team Green's Brett Racine, and Pennsylvania's Branden Jesseman. Some of the vet classes had some recognizable names, including Keith Bowen (+30), Mark Barnett (+35), John Ayers (+40) and Barry Higgins (+50). Mike and Anne Adair supplied the words and photos for Cycle News.

"This is my first pro year that I didn't have time off for surgery," explained Reynard of his decision to race against the amateurs in Florida. "I had a choice, stay home and ice skate in Oklahoma or have some fun down here." 

"Donnie Hansen coached me and I got some great holeshots," said Bucklew, who's father Clyde earned the Mechanix Wear Award for best mechanic all week long. 

And in one of the cooler moments of the entire 1996 Mini Os, Johnny O'Mara, who works for Oakley and has been helping Ricky Carmichael get ready for his professional debut, borrowed Matt Walker's Honda CR125 and took on Keith Bowen in the Grand Prix off-road event. Bowen ended up getting the edge on the former AMA 125 National and AMA Supercross Champion. (Carmichael himself did not race, as he's been out on California trying to figure out supercross.) And it looks like Bowen is headed to Europe to race the 500cc Grand Prix series on a private KTM team.

MotoWorld2 host Jerry Bernardo is said to be in the running for a Cable Emmy for his 11-day trip to Peru, in which he rode around without a shirt, bearded cattle on a Husaberg and then did that "air guitar" thing with his hat turned sideways.

Dave Despain, host of Motoworld, is considering retirement.

The rumor mill is in full effect surrounding the Gatorback National, which will open the 1997 AMA 125/250 Motocross National Championship Series. The event is not a big favorite of the race teams because they have to get their outdoor testing dialed in during the middle of the supercross season. They take a week off for Gatorback, then Daytona, then right back into the rest of supercross. The second national doesn’t even happen until May, which is why MXA has taken to calling it “the orphan national.” But for us fans back east, it’s a very cool race and a right of passage. We road-trip down to the Atlanta SX, and then skip down to Gainesville for the outdoor opener. After that it’s Bike Week at Daytona (by way of Orlando, of course) and watching all of the crazy bikers that cruise around on Harleys. It’s a great way to get out of the cold and so some riding and bench-racing.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any easier for everyone who is trying to focus on supercross, and when they overlap like this, injuries in one series can really screw you up for the other. (If you don’t believe that, ask Ricky Johnson about 1989.) The reason the rumor is picking up steam though is the fact Tampa wants a supercross race, and it would fit nicely in the Gatorback National slot. And if Gatorback is not part of Bike Week, they may not get the crowd they have now, so this is a touchy subject for everyone at the AMA, PACE Motorsports and World Sports in St. Pete, which produces both supercross races and the Gatorback National. Stay tuned.

MORE WEBSITES (DC)

In the bold new world that is the worldwide web, a few moto-related companies are jumping in, boots first, with online websites: Motion Pro is up and running with www.motionpro.com and the American Suzuki Motor Corp. has just "launched" www.suzuki.com. And keep an eye on U.S. Maico's new virtual address: www.nti.net/maico. More and more companies getting online now, which is smart because it gives you a fighting chance to be ready when the Y2K bug hits. 

BRAND NEW ISSUE (DC)

The latest issue of Racer X Illustrated is out: Volume 7, Number 9 (Dec '96). The cover is probably going to get some people talking: It's extreme sports rider Larry “the Wombat” Linkogle doing a no-footed can-can at a new competition that promoter Shane Trittler called simply Free-Style Motocross. The contest took place near Castaic Lake in California and attracted about one thousand fans, according to our contributor Eric Johnson.