RedBud MX
Buchanan, MI
RedBud MX gets its name from the trees 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 of July.
Fast Facts
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 crashed in the first corner and charged back to second place, as rival Chad Reed took the win. Reed went down early in moto two and finished 22nd. Stewart won, battling briefly with Suzuki’s Branden Jesseman.
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.
A Motocross of Nations drought finally came to an end on a wet afternoon in Michigan as Team USA avenged its brutal loss from four years earlier (on the same course).
When the MXoN returned to RedBud MX in 2022, Eli Tomac, Justin Cooper and Chase Sexton were fast all weekend. Tomac won the opening moto while consistent showings by all led Team USA to hoisting the Chamberlain Trophy for the first time since 2011.
Venue
Gene Ritchie opened Red Bud Track n’ Trail in 1973 and hosted his 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 changes 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 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.
The interactive table below details the all-time RedBud Pro Motocross leaders. Who has the most starts, wins, podiums and points. Filter by class. On mobile, slide left to access more columns.
All-Time Leaders
Who won RedBud MX in what year and what round was the race? Winner history makes that easy to see. Tap ‘additional stats’ to see more info
Winner History
Full race results from each RedBud MX Pro Motocross. Tap ‘additional stats’ to see position changes and qualifying ranking