RedBud MX
Buchanan, MI
RedBud MX gets its name from the trees of the same name that line this southwestern Michigan motocross track. The energy ‘America’s Motocross Track’ is known for comes from the ultra patriotic Midwestern crowd that descends upon this rolling farmland on the first Saturday each July.
Fast Facts
Venues
First opened in 1973 by Gene Ritchie, RedBud MX operated under its original name, Red Bud Track n’ Trail, and hosted its first Pro Motocross in April 1974. The track picked up its second Pro MX in 1976 and has run uninterrupted since (even through COVID).
The race course has undergone many change but has remained on the same cornfield-surrounded land since it opened. Now operated by a second generation of Ritchies, RedBud is under the guidance of siblings Tim and Amy.
The venue is famous for a boisterous crowd and a patriotic atmosphere both urged on by the race’s longstanding date (since 1978) with the Independence Day weekend.
The first US track to host the Motocross of Nations twice, it’s also known for one of the most famous obstacles in MX history: LaRocco’s Leap, named after local legend and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mike LaRocco.
Less than a year after opening its gates, Gene Ritchie’s Red Bud Track n’ Trail hosted the third round of the 250/500MX Pro Motocross Championships, some of which was captured on Super 8 footage by Dan Williams, who had just returned home from the Vietnam War.
For local hero and factory Yamaha rider, the first Pro MX for Mike Hartwig was also the third and final win of his brief career. He won the 500 class with 1-1 motos.
Kenny Zahrt won the 250 class (1-1), the first (and only) Pro Motocross victory of his career.
16-year-old phenom James Stewart quickly put the Motocross world on notice during his rookie year, and added to his growing fame by being the subject of one of the most iconic pictures in Motocross history, a photo so unique in its dimensions, we can’t fit its full height here.
In 125cc moto 1, Stewart went down on the first corner and charged from last to second place, as rival and Yamaha of Troy’s Chad Reed took the win. In the second moto, the roles were reversed, with Reed going down early. He finished 22nd. Stewart won, battling briefly with Suzuki’s Branden Jesseman.
In the 250 class, Ricky Carmichael continued a win streak that would become the first ever perfect 24-0 season.
RedBud’s 2007 event was the final time James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael battled. The two legends traded moto wins and capped off the rivalry of two hall of fame Floridians who would become all-time greats.
Stewart took the win in the first moto by six seconds, despite a mid-race charge from Carmichael. The G.O.A.T. kept his perfect 5/5 overall streak alive as Stewart fell while leading with three laps to go.
An uncharacteristic drought impacted Team USA throughout the 2010’s as the once-dominant Americans slipped behind the likes of France and the Netherlands in Motocross of Nations competition.
During the 2018 MXoN at Red Bud, the Americans struggled to a shocking 5th overall while the French won their fifth straight.
The MXoN returned to Red Bud in 2022 and Eli Tomac, Justin Cooper and Chase Sexton were fast all weekend, with Tomac winning the first moto. Consistent showings by all three members of the team led to the Chamberlain Cup returning to American soil for the first time since 2011.
This interactive table details the all-time leaders at Red Bud. Who has the most starts, wins, podiums and points. Filter by class. On mobile, slide left to access more columns. To see all years of data, become a member of the We Went Fast Garage and help us continue (and expand) these unique views of the sport’s history.
All-Time Leaders
This interactive table details the Red Bud winners history. Who won in what year and what round was this venue. Filter by class. On mobile, slide left to access more columns. To see all years of data, become a member of the We Went Fast Garage and help us continue (and expand) these unique views of the sport’s history.