Unadilla

Bob Hannah (pictured) was part of many, many great Unadilla moments (Trans-AMA battles with De Coster and his final pro race in 1989) but one of his most legendary appearances was on an RM125 at the 1987 Motocross of Nations.

The ’87 MXoN is remembered as another (7th straight) Team USA win. What’s forgotten is that it was a come-from-behind nail-biter. Team USA was in a scary deficit after moto one. And given the conditions, nobody wanted to spot the Dutch or the Belgians points.

The track was so muddy after non-stop pouring rain that it was hard for the 125 riders to get up the hills. Hannah needed three attempts on lap one to get his ‘Zook to the top of ‘Screw-U’. “For the first half of that moto, I was riding like an old woman,” he said.

Team USA was the most consistent between their three riders (Jeff Ward, Ricky Johnson, Hannah). All 6 scores were 4th or better, whereas the Netherlands and Belgium each had a moto with a DNF.

But in 1987, teams were allowed to throw away their TWO worst scores. In the end, the top three teams all had finishes of third or better and the final points were very close. Team USA beat the Dutch by two points, who beat the Belgians by two points.

Kawasaki’s Jeff Ward clinched the 500cc AMA Pro Motocross title in 1989, making history at Unadilla’s return to the Pro Motocross schedule for the first time in 22 years.

Ward was the first rider to win all three Pro Motocross crowns (125, 250 and 500).

Ward won the 1989 title by 21 points over Honda’s Jeff Stanton. Stanton’s teammate Jean-Michel Bayle was the man to beat that day, going 1-2 for the overall win.

The 1989 title was Ward’s sixth career AMA National championship and he repeated as 500 champion in 1990.

The 125 class that day was even closer. Yamaha’s Damon Bradshaw won the Unadilla overall with a sweep of the motos but Honda’s Mike Kiedrowski took home the #1 plate by just three points after a 3-2 day.

After his first perfect season in 2002, Ricky Carmichael continued his domination into 2003. Carmichael built his streak to a staggering 21 consecutive overall victories.

However, his fortunes changed at Unadilla as fellow Honda rider Kevin Windham, riding a Honda CRF450R, ended RC’s historic run. Windham put his 450 out front with a holeshot in the first moto as Carmichael (on a CR250R two stroke) started in eighth. The defending champion quickly moved into the runner-up spot, but Windham was long gone, taking the win by 20 seconds.

The pair started up front during the second moto, but Windham was too much for Carmichael. Windham’s extra power and torque ruled the track that day as an unprecedented run of dominance was snapped. Carmichael was furious and it was that moment when he knew it was time to consider switching to a four stroke.

A budding rivalry came to a head at Unadilla in 2005 with James Stewart landing on top of Ricky Carmichael. Heading into the race, Carmichael had lost only one moto that season (Southwick M.1), his first year of Pro Motocross with American Suzuki.

Carmichael started out front on his RM-Z 450 but a small crash put him back to fifth. Carmichael fought back, climbed up to second and pursued Stewart, who was riding an underpowered Kawasaki KX250.

Stewart defended his lead valiantly, but couldn’t hold off Carmichael, who passed Stewart on a fast downhill, Lines crossed on a drop-off at the bottom and when Stewart kept his commitment to a fast path he’d been using all race, he landed square on Carmichael’s back, taking them both down.

While Stewart lay motionless, Carmichael jumped up as if he’d only been bitten by a mosquito and untangled their bikes. Kevin Windham rode on by for the moto win. Carmichael salvaged second on a bent up bike.

The image left behind added to Carmichael’s legend of bouncing back in any condition. He won the second moto and the overall, another win on his way to a third career 12-0 season.

Just five days after his 20th birthday, team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence completed the first major milestone of his rookie 450MX season by clinching the championship two rounds early.

Lawrence continued his winning streak, taking the checkered flag for his 17th and 18th straight moto wins. Lawrence fought off teammate Chase Sexton and 2021 champion Dylan Ferrandis during the day, securing enough points to claim the championship.

The focus then turned toward his undefeated season, which he completed two rounds later.

As one Lawrence held a championship trophy, the other took a 22-point lead. Hunter Lawrence won the 250 overall with a 2-2 day, aided in the points chase by a mechanical issue and DNF for Haiden Deegan.