The classic bad ass motorcycle racer thread

[budman]

Danny Hamel - the Desert Superman

Danny Hamel—just those two words should be enough to say it all. Nobody ever represented the beauty of going fast in the brutal desert environment better than Hamel, who has the distinction of being the last rider ever to win the fabled Barstow-to-Vegas Hare & Hound in 1990.

Pics were hard to come by so a couple of awesome youtube vids.

[youtube]AbeJPhjHsN0[/youtube]

From the top 10 desert racer article above "The personification of Superman when on his motorcycle, Hamel was sheer Clark Kent off of it, a truly humble and easy-going individual adored by fans on both sides of the border".


“It was amazing to watch him ride,” Hodges says. “Hamel was a big guy, and he handled that KX500 like other guys rode 125s. That was his kind of bike.” Snipped from the AMA HoF profile.

His AMA HoF youtube

[youtube]eF8xUtmSkMM[/youtube]

The desert bad ass.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Troy Bayliss was pretty bad ass...

Don't call it a comeback, been here for years...

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/troy-bayliss-australian-superbike-championshpi-2018/

 

[budman]

Steve Morehead -- The Findlay Flyer

Steve Morehead, aka the "Findlay Flyer," was one of the leading AMA Grand National dirt-track racers from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. His career spanned 26 years and he won 23 AMA Nationals. He finished in the top-10 17 times.
[youtube]ejEyUk9eMGg[/youtube]

Morehead was the king of the privateers! He rode for both Harley-Davidson and Honda. I got to see him win the San Jose Mile twice, once in ’79 and once in ’88. The Findlay Flyer (named by Dave Despain) began his third decade with his best-ever year in 1994. He put up a strong challenge for the Number One plate and finished a career high third. Some no names beat him out… Scott Parker and Chris Carr That year he won three half-mile Nationals which were where he really was at his best. He finished with his career-best marks with 14 top five finishes and 17 top-10 performances at 39 years old.

When he hung up his steel shoe he was ranked tenth on the all-time AMA Grand National win list and was one of the oldest riders on the dirt-track circuit. 43 years old I believe. Way to go old man!!

 

[budman]

Bruce Oglivie -- A Baja legend for four decades

He became one of the greatest desert racers ever come out of the AMA District 37 in SoCal.

Form his AMA HoF Profile: Not only did Ogilvie and his father work and ride together, they also raced together in local District 37 events, with Bruce’s sisters running the pit area. One of Ogilvie’s most memorable rides with his father dates back to the early 1970s: Starting out from their home in Riverside, Calif., Bruce and Don rode the entire Baja 1000 course to La Paz and back with only the motorcycles they started out on and the gear they carried, sleeping on the ground along the way.

Bruce won Baja events over four decades. Ogilvie who passed in ’09 will be remembered for his skill in Baja events. His first win came at the Baja 500 and also the overall victory in the Baja 1000 in 1975. He had plenty of more wins, but his last win in the Baja 1000 came in 2003 when Ogilvie was 51 years old.

American Honda hired him to coordinate the company’s off-road racing efforts in 1984. He was also a senior test evaluator for their Product Evaluation department. He also helped developed some of the best racing talent of the next generation and the machinery they raced on.

 

[budman]

Dale Singleton - The Flying Pig Farmer

Dale Singleton was an winning privateer bad ass, who twice won Daytona 200 (1979 and 1981)on his Taylor White-sponsored No. 30 Yamaha TZ750 . He also won the AMA Road Racing Championship in 1981. Singleton was well liked in the paddock and was dubbed the "Flying Pig Farmer" by a fellow racer. Singleton played into the nickname by carrying baby pigs into the Daytona winner's circle during podium celebrations.

[youtube]yUHCmNb577Y[/youtube]


His success landing him in the AMA Hof.

[youtube]bUqCE-VtUGQ[/youtube]

I was at Sears when Singleton got first podium in 1977. He ended that season ranked fourth in the standings.

In 1978 he finished runner-up in the final standings and got his first career win at the Loudon. Singleton started racing abroad in ’78 as well as part of the American team in the annual Anglo-American Match Races. He also contested select GPs and international invitational races.

Singleton’s bright career was cut short when he was killed in a plane crash in 1985.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Classic privateer BADASS!

 

[89fj]

Troy Corser........

 

[budman]

Jammin Jimmy Weinert AKA "the Jammer"

"Jammin’ Jimmy" Weinert was a pioneering motocross and Supercross champion during the early years of the sport in America. In the 1970s, Weinert won a total of 22 AMA nationals races and three AMA championships during his 11-year professional racing career. In November of 1973, Weinert became the first American to beat the international riders in the Trans-AMA Motocross Series. That victory marked one of the turning points that brought American motocross up to par with the then-dominant Europeans.

His nickname, "Jammin’ Jimmy," or "The Jammer," came from the editor of Cycle News Gary Van Voorhis.

Weinert was a dirt tracker as an amateur and traveled the circuit for a time with legendary AMA Grand National racer Gary Nixon. An injury or two took his focus to motocross turning pro in 1970.

In 1973, at a muddy motocross track among many of the finest motocross racers in the world, Weinert made motocross history when he rode his factory Kawasaki to victory to become the first American to win a Trans-AMA. In 1974 he had a solid season winning four AMA 500cc motocross nationals in a row and winning the championship. He won again in 1975.

[youtube]yKqklJr3TGk[/youtube]

Weinert’s won the Supercross title in 1976 and the Superbowl of Supercross at the LA Coliseum in ’77 after suffering threw some injuries.

In 1979 I was in Oakland for the Supercross season opener, which turn into one of the most memorable races in the history of the series. The Jammer wearing a neck brace (see pic below) had his bike was shod with a rear paddle tire.

[youtube]HfnCE_dTmVA[/youtube]

I had the pleasure of attending his Jammin USA MX School at Sandhill in ’82 and it was not long before he had me clearing Godzilla hill. The big table top jump, which had a second table top part way down took some balls to try to clear. That was the same jump that Magoo crushed his bike by absolutely ski jumping it to the flattened portion at the bottom of the hill. Brad Lackey showed up to the school, the new 500 MXGP champ and was a big draw for us fans too.

Weinert was legitimate.

 

[dtrides]

I saw him at Carlsbad GP in 75...It was awesome!http://supercross.com/1975-carlsbad-grand-prix-were-you-there/
DT

 

[Eric B]

Great stuff!
Look at the rake on that KX 450.?

 

[budman]

Great stuff!
Look at the rake on that KX 450.?

Good call! I did not notice.

A bit of a MX choppa

 

[budman]

Jeff Emig was one of the top AMA Motocross and Supercross riders of the 1990s. In all, Emig won four AMA national championships, an FIM World Supercross title and was a six-time member of the U.S. Motocross des Nations team. Emig helped mold the MX lifestyle that came to prominence in the 1990s and was characterized by a style of dress, music and a love for the sport of motocross. He earned a fanatical following of fans who wore giant fake afros in honor of Emig’s popular nickname "Fro."

In 1996 Emig kept Jeremy McGrath from having the perfect season in AMA Supercross by beating him at the St. Louis Supercross. Dozens of friends and family watched Emig take the win over McGrath in an epic race. Vid below.

[youtube]jFb8QgRY1sI[/youtube]

Emig and McGrath carried their battle on to the outdoor nationals in the 250cc class. The duo traded wins early with the defending champ McGrath taking the early advantage. Then McGrath was injured at the Millville, Minnesota, round, giving Emig the opportunity he needed to get back in the title hunt. It appeared that Emig would easily pass the injured McGrath in the points and win the title, but McGrath healed quickly and won the second-to-last round in Binghamton, New York, setting up a battle at the final round in Delmont, Pennsylvania.

Emig and McGrath were separated by only two points and Emig recalls the tension was thick in the air with anticipation.

"That race was hyped so much," Emig said. "This was the battle the fans were waiting for." Just like it had been in 1992, Emig knew he had to win both motos to clinch the championship. A record crowd showed up that day, saw a great battle between the top two riders and it was Emig who emerged the victor, closing out one of the most exciting seasons in AMA Motocross.

Emig race for 11 years earning 37 AMA national wins. When he call it quits due to a serious injury that left him temporarily paralyzed was fourth on the all-time AMA 250 National Motocross wins list, sixth on the all-time AMA 125 motocross list and tied for seventh on the combined AMA Motocross/Supercross wins list.

Emig was hired by SPEED Channel to team up with another announcer with bay area ties. [url https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Sheheen]Ralph Sheheen was the AFM announcer when I raced in the 80’s[/url].
I enjoy watching the pair on Saturday nights for the Supercross series.

 

[budman]

The Emde’s

The only family of racers to have 3 people in the AMA Hall of Fame

Dad
Floyd Emde was the son of a California motorcycle police officer who also raced. Emde went on to become one of the foremost racers of the 1940s. He won many motorcycle races during his decade-long racing career, but none was bigger than his victory in the 1948 Daytona 200. Two decades later his three sons followed in his footsteps to become third-generation motorcyclists and racers. When his son, Don, won the Daytona 200 in 1972, the two became the only father and son to have won America's most prestigious race. Without a doubt, the Emde name is one of the most popular in the history of the sport.


Emde state his pro career in the early 40’s, but WWII halted that for a bit. After it Emde was back chasing his passion and winning. A victory in the 1946 Pacific Coast TT Championships was followed in 1947 by a wine at the AMA 10-Mile National Championship on the Milwaukee Mile.

Emde was but one of the 153 starters for the seventh running of the Daytona 200 in 1948 that included five former winners. Emde led from flag to flag, the first time that ever happened and it also marked Indian Motorcycle's final win at the historic race.

Son
In 1972 Don Emde became the first son of a former Daytona 200 winner to win the Florida classic some 24 years later. Emde went on to become author of "Daytona 200," the authoritative book on the history of America's most famous motorcycle race.

Don hung at Dad’s shop and help his older brother Bob during his race career. He rode scrambles and flat track winning an amateur national on the dirt half-mile in Oklahoma City and a bunch of local SoCal events. He started club road racing too and the diverse skill set launched his success obtaining a pro road race license while still an amateur in the flat track realm.

Emde earned his very first AMA national podium that year and was a threat in the 250cc class. At the Talladega 250 Grand Prix he beat Gary Nixon and Cal Rayborn in one of the closest races of the season.
IN 1971 BSA signed Emde part of the huge BSA/Triumph Daytona 200 effort which included Mike Hailwood, Dick Mann, David Aldana and Jim Rice. The Triumph team featured Gene Romero, Don Castro, Tom Rockwood, Gary Nixon and Paul Smart. Emde emerged a podium finisher, taking third in the 200 behind Mann and Romero.

In 1972 he rode a Daytona specific Yamaha 350. In the race, Emde rode steady and gradually made his way to the front of the field as attrition took its toll on the early leaders. With 5 laps to go Emde took the lead for good and went on to victory, which marked a number of Daytona firsts. It was the first 200 victory for Yamaha; the 350cc engine was the smallest ever to win; and it was the first time a two-stroke-powered machine had won the race. Times were changing.

The Daytona 200 victory was the pinnacle of Emde's racing career.

The young son:
David Emde was among the best roadracers in the late 1970s--a time when the strength of the field was unmatched, filled with the likes of Kenny Roberts, Steve Baker, Gary Nixon and Yvon Duhamel. His speed and skill helped him win the 1977 AMA 250cc National Roadracing Championship and become a force at the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race.

At the same time that he was chalking up numerous National victories in AMA 250cc roadrace events in the late-1970s into the 1980s, Emde established himself as one of the pioneers of the then-new segment of the sport known as Superbike racing, battling stars such as Reg Pridmore, Cook Neilson, Steve McLaughlin and others. He also played a role even later in the newly created Battle of the Twins class.

After starting racing in scrambles and TT races in the early 70’s Next came roadracing he won the Daytona amateur 250cc races in 1975 and 1976. He also took WERA Western Regional Championships in three classes in ’76. A pro racing license took him to AMA National competition. Emde began challenging the top stars such as Kenny Roberts, Steve Baker, Gary Nixon and others fits in the 250cc class. I was at Laguna in ’76 when he took second place behind Kenny Roberts in the 250 class.

1977 brought him the AMA 250cc National Roadracing Champion which included Gary Nixon, Randy Mamola and other top stars. I got to see him take 250cc AMA National wins at Laguna Seca and Sears Point . In 1979, Emde won 17 of the 24 250cc events in the AFM series. He entered the new superbike class and finished second in the Daytona Superbike event. His team also won the AFM 6-Hour Endurance race.

In ’78 he entered the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race on two-stroke Yamaha TZ750 taking second overall.

’79 brought Emde back to Daytona riding for the now famous Yoshimura team. His teammates included Wes Cooley and Ron Pierce. Emde missed his Superbike Heat Race due to a crash in his 250 heat race which meant he had to start the 100-mile Superbike Final in the 63rd and final starting position. Emde raced his way through the field from last to finish third behind his two teammates on identical Yoshimura Suzuki’s, giving the team a 1-2-3 sweep.

Emde continued to win in 250cc class and was signed by San Jose BMW to ride a BMW Boxer the new Battle of the Twins class.
Emde continued to touch a few of us at the DP school.

 

[budman]

Bernie Schreiber - American Trials icon

Bernie Schreiber was the first observed Trial Rider inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in (2000). Schreiber won the world championship in 1979 and talled 20 wins in a decade of competing in the world championships. Schreiber also won the U.S. National Trials Championships in 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1987.

Schreiber started competing in trials at the age of 10 in 1969 and by the time he was 15 he was already the top-rated trials rider in SoCal. Schreiber developed a hard-charging style that was very different the slow and meticulous norm.

Schreiber started riding for Bultaco in 1977 and hit the world championships for the first time. His rookie season was a solid debut. Schreiber scored points in nine of the 12 world rounds and earned podium finishes in Spain and Germany. He ended the year ranked seventh.

1978 brought him won his first world championship win in France and he went on to score three more wins to finish the season ranked third. During this period, Schreiber flew back to the United States to contest the non-conflicting U.S. National Trials rounds winning the American title that year too! Schreiber made history in 1979 when he became the first and only American to win the World Trials Championship. After a slow start to the season Schreiber put together four wins and three additional podiums out of the last eight rounds to take the title. 1980 saw a midseason switch from Bultaco to Italjet and Schreiber ended the season on a high, winning the last four rounds, but not quite enough to retain the title finishing second.

See his full history here

 

[bikeama]

Saw Bernie at the Intl trails at Donner Ski Ranch years ago. There was one section where the riders had a narrow path across a almost vertical wall to go up. Bernie went over and talked to a marshal and and asked a question. Got back on his bike, rode away and then came back at speed. Headed straight for the granite face, pulled a wheelie just before he ran into the face and when straight up 20 feet and over the top. Damn impressive, all the other international riders used the same line after that.

 

[budman]

Chris Carr - the "Prince of Peoria"

Bill posted about his buddy here, but with such a storied career I had to elaborate

Chris Carr was the dominant rider in the AMA Grand National Championship during the early 2000s. Through the 2007 season, the Northern California native won seven national championships and was second on the AMA Grand National all-time wins list. He rode for Harley-Davidson as a factory rider for much of his early career, but gained the majority of his success as a private team owner. He was also one of the few riders in his era of Grand National racing to attract major corporate sponsorship, being backed by Ford Motor Company. In 2006, Carr became the fastest man on two wheels when he set a motorcycle land speed record of 350.884 mph piloting Denis Manning's BUB Enterprises streamliner at the AMA/FIM International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The Seven-time AMA Grand National Flat Track Champion, 2003 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year, 1985 AMA Rookie of the Year and
motorcycle land speed record holder started racing at 6 years old. He spent his early Flat Track racing career chasing older Northern California riders such as Doug Chandler and Fred Merkel. Carr at 17 he had earned numerous Northern California and national amateur championships.

In 1985, Carr turned pro and his first national appearance was in the Houston Astrodome TT finishing in the top 10. That year he had quite few top-10 finishes, including podium results at the San Jose Short Track and Peoria TT ending the season ranked seventh in the championship and the AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year. ‘86 took him to fourth in the final Grand National standings and scoring his first national win in the Peoria TT. It was the first of many wins at Peoria for Carr and he went on to became known as the “Prince of Peoria.”

Carr’s scored two more wins in 1987 and continued to be a race podium challenger finishing 1988 ranked 3rd. That landed him with a full-fledged Harley-Davidson factory rider in 1989. In 1990 he was unable to match teammate Scott Parker's late-season drive and settled for the runner-up spot in the final standings. In 1991, it was even closer between Carr and Parker and the two tied in the final standings. Parker won the title based on more the # of wins. ’92 brought Carr’s his first AMA Grand National Championship.

Carr joined the Harley Factory road race team in 95 and gave the AMA Superbike Championship a shot. Carr raced in both series and still took third in the Grand National Series. He won AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year in 1995 and in 1996 gave Harley-Davidson its lone AMA Superbike pole at the Pomona round. I had the pleasure of seeing his best Superbike result at Sears (5th). The Harley never had the guts to be really competitive even with the talent that ended up giving it a try. Carr took his seventh AMA 600cc Dirt Track Championship the same year… busy man!

In '98 he returned to racing full time in AMA Grand National Championship. He still did select road races and had a runner-up finish in the Laguna Seca Formula Xtreme race aboard a Muzzy Kawasaki. He again led the Grand National Flat Track Series most of the season, but ended up losing the title by two points to Parker.

In ‘99 Carr ran as a privateer and dominated, garnering 5 wins and nine podiums, going on to finally beat his rival and win the C’ship. In ’01 Carr began one of the most dominating runs in AMA history. He won every Championship from 2001 through 2005 on route to gaining the second most wins in AMA history.

September of 2006 brought him to the Bonneville Salt Flats and he was the first motorcyclist to crack the 350 mph barrier taking the BUB Enterprises streamliner to 354 mph. After losing the record he came back to take it back.

Flying_Hun and I went to see him on his fare well tour in ’11 at the Salinas TT. Good times..!

Chris was a bad ass for more than two decades.

 

[dtrides]

Let me bring a little more Dick to this thread...
Dick Burleson!
Whenever we were out trail riding and pulled off some hair-ball maneuver (that we should of crashed our brains out )..we would shout out " did you see me just pull off that Burleson?"...good times

 

[budman]

Stefan Everts - Europe's GOAT

Stefan Everts is the son of four-time Motocross World Champion, Harry Everts. He started riding at 4yo and at 17 he made his debut in the 125cc World Championship. At 19 he secured his first world title. Everts rode in a standing position much more frequently than other riders, even in very tight corners. Stefan ran his engine in a higher gear to torque his way around the track, as opposed to revving it out hard in each gear.

Everts never placed much focus on American-style supercross tracks, but proved to be competitive with top US riders. Everts repping his Belgian Team in the MX of Nations raced with Ricky Carmichael 4 times, beating Ricky when he was on a small bike, but the GOAT came back to beat him twice when they were on the same size machine. 1993 had Everts winning the USGP at Budds Creek. He preferred the more natural tracks that Europe had vs. the man made features that US tracks put in. He never came to the US for full time race season, there were 20 GPs but the US Series had 17 supercrosses and then 12 Nationals. He felt the rigors of travel and all the racing led riders to retire early. In an interview he recently pointed out Dungey, who he felt would have had a lot more years of racing if he was doing it in Europe. He felt that riders are at their best between 28 and 34 pointing to the 8 time champ Antonio Cairoli as an example.

In the later stages of his career, Everts' vast experience helped him to reach an impressive consistency, making erratic movements or mistakes very rare, as illustrated by the fourteen-to-one win-loss record in his final season.

Here is a fun video of a charity race in 2014 that features the EURO GOAT and the USA GOAT,
There is a nice slo-mo near the beginning showing Everts standing around a corner just like he did when he raced.
Stanton was one of the major attractions at the Charity event and if you are an OG like me you will recognize a couple others.
https://vimeo.com/101361974

The Belgian made the most of his 16 year GP career.
10 times World Champion
101 GP victories in total
14 out of 15 GPs won in the 2006 during his final season
He won world titles in 125/250/500cc
Only rider to become World Champion on all four Japanese manufacturers (Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha).
5 times Belgian Sportsman of the year (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, only surpassed by Eddy Merckx), plus a Lifetime Achievement award

 

[budman]

Jim Pomeroy was another classic Moto X bad ass "back in the day"...

RIP Jim.

This guys deserves another nod because he was an MX ground breaker.

From his AMA HoF profile.
Jim Pomeroy is responsible for a number of firsts in motocross during the 1970s.
His record of first includes:

* The first American to win an FIM World Championship MX Event (Spain 1973)
* The first rider to win his debut World GP MX race (Spain 1973)
* The first American to lead the World MX Championship (Spain 1973)
* The first rider to win a World MX GP on a Spanish MX bike (Bultaco)
* The first winner of an indoor Supercross race (Houston, 1974)
* The first American to lead the Trans-AMA Championship (1975)
* The first American to win a moto at the U.S. 500cc GP race (Carlsbad 1977)
* The first non-world champion to win the Trophies des-Nations event (1974)

By age 13 Pomeroy was a proven winner and he kept on winning in flat track, motocross and hillclimb events. He won a Canadian Championship at 16 but would have to wait until he was 18 to join the AMA Pros.

More from the AMA HoF
“In 1971, Pomeroy competed primarily regionally, but he did run an Inter-AMA and a Trans-AMA race. While Jim’s top-20 overall finishes may not have been notable, his riding style was attracting notice. The Trans-AMA race Pomeroy competed in was held at Boise, Idaho. The track included a 450-foot downhill. The other riders would come over the top cautiously and then be careful not to pick up too much speed before the tight corner at the bottom. But not Pomeroy. He would crest the top of the hill, land partway down slope, shift up two gears and pin the throttle wide open. As Brad Lackey watched Pomeroy on a practice lap, he thought there was no way he was going to make the corner. But the brash Pomeroy made it and then he did it again the next lap, and the next. Lackey brought Jim Weinert over to watch. These two riders soon understood that if they were to beat Pomeroy that day, they would have to ride the downhill the same way.”

As a privateer Bultaco racer he caught the factories eye and in 1973, Pomeroy and was signed as s support rider. That included a trip to Europe to race before the U.S. season started. Pomeroy arrived at the Spanish 250cc Grand Prix in ’73 ready to show the Europeans what he could do. He got a top 10 start and put his flat track experience, to work passing the entire the field on the first lap. The victory had Bultaco quickly signing him to a contract to compete in the World Championship. (see the Bultaco congrats ad below) He quickly proved his victory was not just luck. The 20 yo yank had strong finishes all season and finished the year ranked 7th.

1973 to compete in several American races and he finished second at the Los Angeles Coliseum indoor race that brought us SX. He finished the AMA 250 Motocross championships ranked 10th even though he only hit 1/3 of the 15-race series.

In 1974, '75 and '76, Pomeroy was focused on the World Championships in Europe, but competed in U.S. races that did not conflict with the GP’s. 1974 started with Pomeroy winning the first indoor Supercross race held at the Houston Astrodome and he finished the year becoming the first non-World Champion to win the Trophies des Nations.

In 1977 Pomeroy joined Honda’s factory race team and returned to full time racing in the US and finished the year second overall in Supercross and third in the outdoor 250cc series.

In 80 he went back abroad to race for Bultaco, but the Spanish manufacturer was losing out on the Japanese competition and pulled the plug on Jim. After finishing the season with Beta he retired.

He left a mark on Europe and set a standard for other US racers to chase their World Championship dreams too.

Bad ass indeed.

 

[budman]

Donny Schmit - "Peanut" - American MX Grand Prix Champ

Donny Schmit emerged from the unlikely environs of Minnesota to become one of the most successful American racers ever to compete in World Championship Motocross. Schmit was a two-time World Motocross Champion also winning the 125cc title in 1990. When he retired, his 15 career victories in World Motocross Grand Prix were the most ever by an American rider. Schmit retired from full-time racing after the 1994 season. Schmit died two years later from complications of a rare disease called aplastic anemia at only 29 years of age.

He had great success in the amateur ranks in ’85 riding for Kawasaki’s Team Green. In 1986 as a pro he won two AMA 125cc West Region Supercross races en route to earning the championship on his first try. ’87 brought him his first AMA Motocross National win in the 125cc class also winning the 125 national at his home track in Millville. He finished the season rank 5th in the outdoor series.

1988 took him to the 250cc AMA Supercross division but go hurt and decided to stay away from Supercross and focused on the outdoor 125 series. He had seven podium finishes including a victory at Millville finishing the year ranked second was named AMA Rookie of the Year.

In ‘89 1988 Suzuki cut him loose so he bought a Honda and hit the AMA outdoor nationals as a privateer. He finished 1989 ranked fourth in AMA 125 Motocross and was the top-ranked non-factory rider. With that success he landed a ride with Team Bieffe Suzuki to contest the 125cc world championships.

Schmit found immediate success on the world circuit. He won four Grands Prix en route to earning the 1990 125cc World Motocross Championship. The American quickly became a favorite rider among the European fans. In 1991 he looked like he would defend his title, but an injury kept him from repeating as world champ.

In 1992 Schmit moved to the 250cc Motocross World Championship riding for Chesterfield Yamaha and won his second world title. He won 5 GPs that year and stayed with Chesterfield Yamaha for the next two seasons though he never regained the world title. He finished 1993 ranked third behind rivals Stefan Everts and Greg Albertyn. 1994 brought more injuries to “Peanut” and he ended up ranked 7th.

You can catch some awesome video of Scmidt here: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...=f8b6abbfac71d4ac6384294fe91b071f&action=view The sound of two strokes smell so good!

He returned home and did some racing before fully retiring from the sport. Reading about his training ethic in the AMA HoF profile had me laughing.

Another bad ass that died too young.