This gate will drop for the 48th time tomorrow at Hangtown. Photo by: Hoppenworld
Prairie City SVRA – Sacramento, California
Saturday, May 21
- This will be the 45th season of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, which was established in 1972.
- The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will celebrate 50 years of the sport of motocross in America, honoring the year, 1966, when promoter Edison Dye brought world champion Torsten Hallman to the states to compete.
- The 2016 season will feature more than 60 hours of broadcast coverage across MAVTV, NBC, and NBC Sports Network. Nearly 40 hours of coverage will be showcased LIVE, including three rounds on national network television on NBC.
- This season marks the first time in history in which both the 450 Class Champion, Ryan Dungey, and 250 Class Champion, Jeremy Martin, are natives of the state of Minnesota.
450 Class Championship Stats (1972-2015)
- Elite Company: With his third career 450 Class title last season, Ryan Dungey became the sixth rider in history to win three championships.
- Chasing History: Dungey will look to become just the second rider in 45 seasons of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship to win four titles, joining Ricky Carmichael.
- Austrian Emergence: KTM has won three of the last four championships since Dungey provided the brand with its first premier class title in 2012.
- Championship Trio: Three former champions will line up on the gate for the 2016 season – Dungey, Ken Roczen, and James Stewart.
- Most Prestigious Champions: A total of 23 different riders have won a Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship title in 44 seasons.
- Global Success: There have been five different champions of international descent – France’s Jean-Michel Bayle (’91), South Africa’s Greg Albertyn (’99) and Grant Langston (’07), Australia’s Chad Reed (’09), and Germany’s Roczen (’14).
All-Time Championships (Years)
Ricky Carmichael – 7 (‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06)
Tony DiStefano – 3 (‘75, ‘76, ‘77)
Ryan Dungey – 3 (‘10, ‘12, ‘15)
Rick Johnson – 3 (‘84, ‘86, ‘87)
Gary Jones – 3 (‘72, ‘73, ‘74)
Jeff Stanton – 3 (‘89, ‘90, ‘92)
Jeff Emig – 2 (‘96, ‘97)
Bob Hannah – 2 (‘78, ‘79)
Kent Howerton – 2 (‘80, ‘81)
Ryan Villopoto – 2 (‘11, ‘13)
Jeff Ward – 2 (‘85, ‘88)
International Champions (Year)
Jean-Michel Bayle – France (1991)
Greg Albertyn – South Africa (1999)
Grant Langston – South Africa (2007)
Chad Reed – Australia (2009)
Ken Roczen – Germany (2014)
Riders to Win Championships in Both Classes (Years Won)
Ricky Carmichael (450 Class ‘00 / 250 Class ’97)
Ryan Dungey (450 Class ‘10 / 250 Class ‘09)
Jeff Emig (450 Class ‘96 / 250 Class ‘92)
Bob Hannah (450 Class ‘78 / 250 Class ‘76)
Doug Henry (450 Class ‘98 / 250 Class ‘93)
Mike Kiedrowski (450 Class ‘93 / 250 Class ‘89)
Grant Langston (450 Class ‘07 / 250 Class ‘03)
James Stewart (450 Class ‘08 / 250 Class ‘02)
Ryan Villopoto (450 Class ’11 / 250 Class ’06)
Jeff Ward (450 Class ‘85 / 250 Class ‘84)
All-Time Championships By Brand (Years)
Honda – 14 (‘73, ‘82, ‘83, ‘86, ‘87, ‘89, ’90, ’91, ‘92, ‘94, ‘95, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04)
Kawasaki – 10 (‘85, ‘88, ‘93, ‘96, ‘97, ‘00, ‘01, ‘08, ‘11, ‘13)
Suzuki – 10 (‘75, ‘76, ‘77, ‘80, ‘81, ‘99, ‘05, ‘06, ‘09, ‘10)
Yamaha – 6 (‘72, ‘78, ‘79, ‘84, ‘98, ‘07)
KTM – 3 (‘12, ‘14, ‘15)
Can-Am – 1 (‘74)
Top 10 Winningest Riders of All Time
Ricky Carmichael – 76
Ryan Dungey – 38
Bob Hannah – 27
Rick Johnson – 22
James Stewart – 20
Kent Howerton – 18
Jeff Emig – 16
Jeremy McGrath – 15
Jeff Ward – 13
Mike Kiedrowski – 12
Jeff Stanton – 12
Ryan Villopoto – 12
There have been 64 different winners in 44 seasons of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
All-Time Wins by Brand
Honda – 134
Kawasaki – 103
Suzuki – 76
Yamaha – 76
KTM – 29
Husqvarna – 8
Bultaco – 4
Can-Am – 4
CZ – 3
Top 10 Podium Finishes All Time
Ricky Carmichael – 84
Ryan Dungey – 66
Kevin Windham – 55
Mike LaRocco – 53
Chad Reed – 45
Rick Johnson – 43
Bob Hannah – 41
Jeff Emig – 39
James Stewart – 38
Jeff Ward – 35
Jeremy McGrath – 35
There have been 128 different podium finishers in 44 seasons of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
All-Time Champions
2015: Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / KTM
2014: Ken Roczen, Germany / KTM
2013: Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
2012: Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / KTM
2011: Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
2010: Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / Suzuki
2009: Chad Reed, Australia / Suzuki
2008: James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki
2007: Grant Langston, South Africa / Yamaha
2006: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Suzuki
2005: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Suzuki
2004: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda
2003: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda
2002: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda
2001: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
2000: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
1999: Greg Albertyn, South Africa / Suzuki
1998: Doug Henry, Oxford, CT / Yamaha
1997: Jeff Emig, Independence, MO / Kawasaki
1996: Jeff Emig, Independence, MO / Kawasaki
1995: Jeremy McGrath, Sun City, CA / Honda
1994: Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN / Honda
1993: Mike Kiedrowski, Canyon Country, CA / Kawasaki
1992: Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI / Honda
1991: Jean-Michel Bayle, France / Honda
1990: Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI / Honda
1989: Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI / Honda
1988: Jeff Ward, San Juan Capistrano, CA / Kawasaki
1987: Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA / Honda
1986: Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA / Honda
1985: Jeff Ward, San Juan Capistrano, CA / Kawasaki
1984: Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA / Yamaha
1983: David Bailey, Axton, VA / Honda
1982: Donnie Hansen, Canyon Country, CA / Honda
1981: Kent Howerton, San Antonio, TX / Suzuki
1980: Kent Howerton, San Antonio, TX / Suzuki
1979: Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA / Yamaha
1978: Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA / Yamaha
1977: Tony DiStefano, Morrisville, PA / Suzuki
1976: Tony DiStefano, Morrisville, PA / Suzuki
1975: Tony DiStefano, Morrisville, PA / Suzuki
1974: Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA / Can-Am
1973: Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA / Honda
1972: Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA / Yamaha
250 Class Championship Stats (1974-2015)
- Back to Back: Jeremy Martin is the first back-to-back 250 Class Champion since Ryan Villopoto in ’07-’08.
- Seeking the Three-Peat: Martin will look to become the fifth three-time champion in 250 Class history, joining Mark Barnett, Ricky Carmichael, Broc Glover, and Ryan Villopoto. All four riders did so consecutively, as would Martin if successful.
- Five by Five: Martin has won five races in each of his title-winning seasons. A total of five different riders have earned victories in each of the last two seasons.
- Setting the Standard: Honda and Kawasaki are tied for the most 250 Class championships in history with 14 apiece. Honda won 10 titles from ’83-’96, while Kawasaki has won nine since the 2000 season.
- Rarified Air: In 42 seasons of 250 Class competition just two internationally born riders have won the championship – South Africa’s Grant Langston in ’03 and Scotland’s Dean Wilson in ’11. Langston’s title was the first ever championship for KTM, it’s only in the 250 Class.
- Rookies to Watch: Talented amateur graduates Austin Forkner and Tristan Charboneau will make their anticipated Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship debuts at Hangtown.
All-Time Championships (Years)
Mark Barnett – 3 (‘80, ‘81, ‘82)
Ricky Carmichael – 3 (’97, ‘98, ‘99)
Broc Glover – 3 (’77, ’78, ‘79)
Ryan Villopoto – 3 (‘06, ‘07, ‘08)
Micky Dymond – 2 (‘86, ‘87)
Doug Henry – 2 (‘93, ’94)
Mike Kiedrowski – 2 (‘89, ‘91)
Steve Lamson – 2 (‘95, ’96)
Jeremy Martin – 2 (‘14, ‘15)
Marty Smith – 2 (‘74, ‘75)
James Stewart – 2 (‘02, ‘04)
International Champions (Year)
Grant Langston – South Africa (2003)
Dean Wilson – Scotland (2011)
All-Time Championships By Brand (Years)
Honda – 14 (‘74, ‘75, ‘83, ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, ’88, ’89, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘10, ‘13)
Kawasaki – 14 (‘84, ‘91, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘01, ‘02, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ’08, ‘11, ‘12)
Yamaha – 7 (‘76, ‘77, ‘78, ‘79, ‘92, ’14, ‘15)
Suzuki – 6 (‘80, ‘81, ‘82, ‘90, ‘00, ’09)
KTM – 1 (‘03)
Top 10 Winningest Riders of All Time
James Stewart – 28
Ricky Carmichael – 26
Mark Barnett – 25
Steve Lamson – 20
Ryan Villopoto – 19
Guy Cooper – 16
Blake Baggett – 14
Broc Glover – 14
Jeff Emig – 13
George Holland – 13
There have been 77 different winners in 42 seasons of 250 Class competition in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
All-Time Wins by Brand
Kawasaki – 143
Honda – 108
Suzuki – 87
Yamaha – 79
KTM – 20
Can-Am – 1
Top 10 Podium Finishes All Time
Steve Lamson – 47
Mark Barnett – 40
Guy Cooper – 40
George Holland – 35
Ricky Carmichael – 32
Johnny O’Mara – 31
Ryan Villopoto – 31
Mike Brown – 30
Erik Kehoe – 30
Jeff Emig – 28
Broc Glover – 28
James Stewart – 28
Jeff Ward – 28
There have been 156 different podium finishers in 42 seasons of 250 Class competition in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
Rookies of the Year (Since 1979)
2015 – Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, OH
2014 – Matt Bisceglia, Tualatin, OR
2013 – Jeremy Martin, Millville, MN
2012 – Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, CA
2011 – Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, FL
2010 – Dean Wilson, Scotland
2009 – Justin Barcia, Monroe, NY
2008 – Nico Izzi, Rochester, MI
2007 – Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN
2006 – Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA
2005 – Juss Laansoo, Chatsworth, CA
2004 – Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA
2003 – Brian Gray, St. Augustine, FL
2002 – James Stewart, Haines City, FL
2001 – Bobby Bonds, Bakersfield, CA
2000 – Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, MD
1999 – Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica
1998 – Nick Wey, Dewitt, MI
1997 – Brock Sellards, New Philadelphia, OH
1996 – Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL
1995 – Paul Currie, Naples, FL
1994 – Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, LA
1993 – Robbie Reynard, Moore, OK
1992 – Tim Ferry, Largo, FL
1991 – Butch Smith, Society Hill, SC
1990 – Buddy Antunez, Ontario, CA
1989 – Damon Bradshaw, Charlotte, NC
1988 – Donny Schmidt, Bloomington, MN
1987 – Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI
1986 – Larry Brooks, Alhambra, CA
1985 – Billy Frank, Orange, CA
1984 – Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK
1983 – Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA
1982 – George Holland, Kerman, CA
1981 – Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA
1980 – Scott Burnworth, Jamul, CA
1979 – Larry Wosick, San Jose, CA
All-Time Champions
2015: Jeremy Martin, Millville, MN / Yamaha
2014: Jeremy Martin, Millville, MN / Yamaha
2013: Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO / Honda
2012: Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, CA / Kawasaki
2011: Dean Wilson, Scotland / Kawasaki
2010: Trey Canard, Shawnee, OK / Honda
2009: Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / Suzuki
2008: Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
2007: Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
2006: Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
2005: Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, NM / Kawasaki
2004: James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki
2003: Grant Langston, South Africa / Kawasaki
2002: James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki
2001: Mike Brown, Johnson City, TN / Kawasaki
2000: Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, MD / Suzuki
1999: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
1998: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
1997: Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
1996: Steve Lamson, Camino, CA / Honda
1995: Steve Lamson, Camino, CA / Honda
1994: Doug Henry, Oxford, CT / Honda
1993: Doug Henry, Oxford, CT / Honda
1992: Jeff Emig, Independence, MO / Yamaha
1991: Mike Kiedrowski, Canyon Country, CA / Kawasaki
1990: Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK / Suzuki
1989: Mike Kiedrowski, Canyon Country, CA / Honda
1988: George Holland, Kerman, CA / Honda
1987: Micky Dymond, Yorba Linda, CA / Honda
1986: Micky Dymond, Yorba Linda, CA / Honda
1985: Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA / Honda
1984: Jeff Ward, San Juan Capistrano, CA / Kawasaki
1983: Johnny O’Mara, Simi Valley, CA / Honda
1982: Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL / Suzuki
1981: Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL / Suzuki
1980: Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL / Suzuki
1979: Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA / Yamaha
1978: Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA / Yamaha
1977: Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA / Yamaha
1976: Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA / Yamaha
1975: Marty Smith, San Diego, CA / Honda
1974: Marty Smith, San Diego, CA / Honda
