It’s a track absolutely soaked in history. Unadilla—AKA Unadilla Valley Sports Center or Unadilla MX—has been in business since 1969, making this 2019 season a 50th year celebration of what’s become one of the world’s most famous tracks. Davey Coombs wrote about the history behind Unadilla MX, which has been synonymous with motocross in America, in the September issue of Racer X Illustrated. The piece tracks the roots of this place through international events like Trans-AMA and Inter-Am races through USGPs, a Motocross of Nations, and today’s spot on the AMA National Motocross roster. If you missed it, no worries, you can read Coombs’ piece here.
Motocross really started growing in the U.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, courtesy of the Trans-AMA and Inter-AM races that brought the superstars from Europe into America. Unadilla hosted races in those series, and thus its place in motocross lore began. As those series’ faded, Unadilla transitioned into hosting United States Grand Prix events (part of the FIM World Motocross Championship, today’s MXGP). The 1987 hosting of the Motocross des Nations was also a breakthrough because it was the first time that race was ever hosted on U.S. soil. It was muddy soil that day, though!
Because Unadilla is the rare track with deep roots in both FIM Grand Prix racing and AMA National Motocross, you could easily argue that more superstars have turned laps at this facility than any other in the world. Every major American racer has raced here, and so have plenty of Europe’s best, from Roger De Coster in the early days (his battles with a young Bob Hannah at Unadilla are legend) to even Stefan Everts, who made a one-off appearance in 1997.
Davey Coombs compiled this list of all the major race winners at Unadilla (in 1969 the track hosted a local event, it joined the global scene in 1970, where this list begins). Who will add their name in 2019?
Every Unadilla Winner Since 1970
1970-1979
Year | Class/Race Type | Rider/MXDN Team | Machine |
1970 | Trans-AMA | Jeff Smith | BSA |
1971 | Inter-Am | Vlastimil Valek | CZ |
1971 | Trans-AMA | Adolf Weil | Maico |
1972 | Inter-Am | Arne Lindfors | Hus |
1973 | Inter-Am | Heikki Mikkola | Hus |
1974 | Trans-AMA | Roger De Coster | Suz |
1975 | Trans-AMA | Roger De Coster | Suz |
1976 | Trans-AMA | Roger De Coster | Suz |
1977 | Trans-AMA | Roger De Coster | Suz |
1977 | 500 National | Marty Smith | Hon |
1978 | Trans-AMA | Roger De Coster | Suz |
1978 | 250cc USGP | Marty Tripes | Hon |
1979 | Trans-USA | Brad Lackey | Kaw |
1979 | 250cc USGP | Kent Howerton | Suz |
1980-1989
Year | Class/Race Type | Rider | Machine |
1980 | Trans-USA | Kent Howerton | Suz |
1980 | 250cc USGP | Kent Howerton | Suz |
1981 | Trans-USA | Broc Glover | Yam |
1981 | 250cc USGP | Neil Hudson | Yam |
1982 | Trans-USA | Billy Liles | Kaw |
1982 | 250cc USGP | Kees Van der Ven | KTM |
1983 | 250cc USGP | David Bailey | Hon |
1984 | 250cc USGP | Ron Lechien | Hon |
1985 | 250cc USGP | Johnny O’Mara | Hon |
1986 | 250cc USGP | Bob Hannah | Suz |
1987 | MXoN | Team USA (Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward) | N/A |
1988 | 250cc USGP | Rick Johnson | Hon |
1989 | 250cc USGP | Rick Johnson | Hon |
1989 | 125 National | Damon Bradshaw | Yam |
1989 | 500 National | Jean-Michel Bayle | Hon |
1990-1999
Year | Class/Race Type | Rider | Machine |
1990 | 250cc USGP | Jeff Stanton | Hon |
1990 | 125 National | Guy Cooper | Suz |
1990 | 500 National | Rick Johnson | Hon |
1991 | 250cc USGP | Jeff Stanton | Hon |
1991 | 125 National | Guy Cooper | Suz |
1991 | 500 National | Jeff Ward | Kaw |
1992 | 250cc USGP | Jeff Stanton | Hon |
1993 | 125 National | James Dobb | Kaw |
1993 | 250 National | Mike Kiedrowski | Kaw |
1994 | 125 National | Ryan Hughes | Kaw |
1994 | 250 National | Mike LaRocco | Kaw |
1995 | 125 National | Ryan Hughes | Kaw |
1995 | 250 National | Mike LaRocco | Kaw |
1996 | 125 National | Steve Lamson | Hon |
1996 | 250 National | Greg Albertyn | Suz |
1997 | 125 National | Kevin Windham | Yam |
1997 | 250 National | Jeff Emig | Kaw |
1998 | 125 National | Ricky Carmichael | Kaw |
1998 | 250 National | Jeff Emig | Kaw |
1999 | 125 National | Ricky Carmichael | Kaw |
1999 | 250 National | Mike LaRocco | Hon |
2000-2009
Year | Class/Race Type | Rider | Machine |
2000 | 125 National | Stephane Roncada | Yam |
2000 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Kaw |
2001 | 125 National | Grant Langston | KTM |
2001 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Kaw |
2002 | 125 National | James Stewart | Kaw |
2002 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Hon |
2003 | 125 National | James Stewart | Kaw |
2003 | 250 National | Kevin Windham | Hon |
2004 | 125 National | James Stewart | Kaw |
2004 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Hon |
2005 | 125 National | Broc Hepler | Suz |
2005 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Suz |
2006 | 125 National | Ryan Villopoto | Kaw |
2006 | 250 National | Ricky Carmichael | Suz |
2007 | 250 National | Ben Townley | Kaw |
2007 | 450 National | Kevin Windham | Hon |
2008 | 250 National | Ryan Villopoto | Kaw |
2008 | 450 National | James Stewart | Kaw |
2009 | 250 National | Christophe Pourcel | Kaw |
2009 | 450 National | Chad Reed | Suz |
2010-2018
Year | Class/Race Type | Rider | Machine |
2010 | 250 National | Trey Canard | Hon |
2010 | 450 National | Ryan Dungey | KTM |
2011 | 250 National | Dean Wilson | Kaw |
2011 | 450 National | Ryan Villopoto | Kaw |
2012 | 250 National | Marvin Musquin | KTM |
2012 | 450 National | Ryan Dungey | KTM |
2013 | 250 National | Eli Tomac | Hon |
2013 | 450 National | Ryan Villopoto | Kaw |
2014 | 250 National | Christophe Pourcel | Yam |
2014 | 450 National | Ryan Dungey | KTM |
2015 | 250 National | Joey Savatgy | Kaw |
2015 | 450 National | Ryan Dungey | KTM |
2016 | 250 National | Cooper Webb | Yam |
2016 | 450 National | Ken Roczen | Suz |
2017 | 250 National | Jeremy Martin | Hon |
2017 | 450 National | Marvin Musquin | KTM |
2018 | 250 National | Dylan Ferrandis | Yam |
2018 | 450 National | Marvin Musquin | KTM |