by: Steve Matthes
Entering into the 1996 AMA Supercross season, the majority of specialists believed it was an inevitable conclusion that Honda’s Jeremy McGrath would win his fourth-straight 250SX title. At this moment, the modest kid from Murrieta, California, was setting records each time he acquired another win. The year prior, McGrath may have been at his finest, including a 250MX title to his resume for the very first time, something some individuals had actually questioned if he ‘d ever have the ability to do.
At his physical and psychological peak and with a Honda CR250 that was maybe never ever much better, MC entered into 1996 wanting to end up being the first-ever four-time AMA Supercross Champion. Winning the title once again wasn’t the surprise, however the method he did it has actually never ever been topped and still gets discussed now, 20 years later on.
This is the narrative history of the 1996 AMA 250 Supercross season.
Individuals Involved
Jeremy McGrath
: Factory Honda rider
Now: Kawasaki Racing ambassador
Jeff Emig
: Factory Kawasaki rider
Now: Supercross television expert for Fox Sports/Husqvarna Racing ambassador
Avoid Norfolk
: Factory Honda mechanic for McGrath
Now: Crew chief for Traders Racing Yamaha group
Mike LaRocco
: Factory Suzuki rider
Now: GEICO Honda group supervisor
Damon Bradshaw
: Factory Yamaha rider
Now: Monster Jam beast truck motorist
Phil Lawrence
: Great Western Bank Kawasaki rider
Now: Owner, Factory Phil’s Lot Sweeping
Denny Stephenson
: Great Western Bank Kawasaki rider
Now: Custom deck contractor
Damon Huffman
: Factory Kawasaki rider
Now: LAPD officer
Rich Taylor
: Privateer racer/Honda R&D rider
Now: Owner, EKS Brand Goggles
Davey Coombs
: ESPN pit press reporter
Now: Racer X Illustrated editor-in-chief
At the last round of AMA Supercross in 1995 in Las Vegas, an electrical transformer blew up and the arena lights headed out. The AMA generated portable lights, however a great deal of the riders didn’t wish to race. Whether that was because of the lighting circumstance or misery with the promo of the series depends upon who you speak to. Yamaha’s Jeff Emig did line up and won his very first profession 250SX centerpiece, with Jeremy McGrath and other series’ regulars selecting not to race. The choice by Emig and others to race did not agree with the ones that remained.
Davey Coombs
We constantly discuss the night the lights headed out in Vegas, and what an unusual night that was. Some riders boycotted, some didn’t. Jeremy [McGrath] didn’t race and Jeff [Emig] got his very first win.
