2002: The Red Renaissance
Following Jeremy McGrath’s shocking exit days before the start of the 1997 season, American Honda experienced an unfamiliar championship drought. That changed when Ricky Carmichael chose Red for 2002. Carmichael started slow in ’02 but by round 15 in Salt Lake City, he was steamrolling.
RC beat Tim Ferry and Mike LaRocco for his 10th season win and wrapped up his second consecutive Supercross title, Honda’s first since 1996. In 125SX West, Honda’s Travis Preston finished second to James Stewart but clinched the championships by 7 points.
2010: Kevin Windham's Last Stand
On a miserable May evening, with rain and temperatures in the mid-40s (the track was actually covered in snow one day earlier), GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham secured his 18th and final 450SX main event victory. Windham dominated, leading every lap in the treacherous conditions.
He even lapped the already-crowned-2010-champion Ryan Dungey who finished fourth! Windham’s win led a Honda sweep of the podium with Davi Millsaps and Andrew Short.
2020 Part 1: A New Normal
Salt Lake City was always scheduled to be the 2020 Supercross finale (first time ever!). Not planned was SLC hosting the final SEVEN rounds in a ‘residency’ period (May 31-June 21). This was SX when racing returned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All 7 rounds ran within an empty stadium. The only ‘spectators’ present were cardboard cutouts purchased by fans at home. Four different riders won the races, including new father Eli Tomac (rds. 11, 13) who won his first ever 450SX title in his 7th season in the class. It was Kawasaki’s first since 2014.
2020 Part 2: End of an Era
Chad Reed would have preferred to go out in front of a stadium full of fans but the 38-year-old two-time 450SX champ ended his career in Salt Lake City after an emotional 10th place ride in ‘silence’. Reed’s career ended with his 265th 450SX main event, the all-time record.
While Reed’s exit was predictable, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna sweeping the podium was not; Zach Osborne won his first (and only) 450SX after scoring a top five in each of the SLC races. Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson finished second and third.