There is no doubt that history contains many magnificent motorcycling moments. Perhaps you are now spontaneously thinking of a specific moment. In our new blog series Bridgestone moments, we would like to take you on a trip down memory lane. Are you ready to relive a series of great stories that detail some of the most memorable moments in motorcycle history, in which Bridgestone played a significant role? Sit back, relax and enjoy these epic throwbacks.
Jeremy McGrath is known as the King of Supercross. He’s the man with the most titles in this spectacular sport and holds the all time record for SX wins: 72. In 2000 MC raced to his last title to set a record that may well never get beaten. He did it on Bridgestone tyres.
McGrath began racing motocross at the age of 15 after a successful career in BMX. He placed 8th in the 125cc West Region Supercross season of 1989. In 1990 he won his first supercross race and placed 2nd in that season. McGrath won the 125 West Supercross title in 1991 and 1992.
The King
It’s safe to say Jeremy McGrath owned the nineties. He won his first title in 1991 and in the early nineties the Californian raced outdoor MX as well as Supercross, winning races and titles in both disciplines. But MC prefered supercross. After 125 cc regional titles in ’91 and ’92 ‘Showtime’ McGrath started a winning streak in Supercross that would never be equaled. He won seven titles in eight years and some argue that he also should have won the 1997 SX title if it hadn’t been for some really bad luck. Anyway, McGrath came back with a vengeance, created his own private team and won titles with his Chapparal Yamaha team in 1998, 1999 and 2000. This made him the first man to win an AMA SX title without being on a factory team.
Number 7
Going in to the 2000 season, Jeremy McGrath was on top of his game. Ricky Carmichael, the man that would beat him in 2001, was never a real threat to MC. He only won one race and was on and off the podium the entire season. McGrath was fast and consistent, winning 10 out of 16 races and only missing the podium twice. He won his seventh title with a 35 point margin over France’s David Vuillemin. The Bridgestone tyres were a part of this succes. Today Bridgestone still produces premium MX tyres for all surfaces.
Nothing lasts forever
After winning his seventh title, nothing indicated that The King wouldn’t set an even more impressive record. He even won two of the first three races in 2001. But then his new nemesis, Ricky Carmichael, found an answer to McGrath’s dominance and won 13 races in a row, equaling MC’s record from 1996.
However, nobody ever came near the 72 Supercross victories and seven SX titles. He also won the 1995 250 Outdoor Motocross Championship and had the 1996 title in sight before a late-season injury handed the title to Jeff Emig. He described this loss as follows: “I get mad at myself a little bit because I should’ve won the ’96 title too, but I was thinking I was invincible and tried a jump at Millville that I never should have attempted and got injured.” McGrath also participated in two victories by the U.S. team at the 1993 MX of Nations in Austria and 1996 in Spain.
These are his career numbers:
- 250cc AMA Supercross Championships: 7 (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000)
- 125cc AMA Western Region SX Championships: 2 (1991 and 1992)
- 250cc AMA National Motocross Championships: 1 (1995)
- FIM World SX Championships: 2
- Member of Winning US Motocross des Nations Team: 2 (1993 and 1996)
Overall AMA Career Wins: 89
- 250cc AMA Supercross wins: 72
- 125cc Western Region SX wins: 13
- 250cc AMA National Motocross wins: 15
- 125cc AMA National Motocross wins: 2
