The First Win and The Last

Eric Johnson

Jeremy McGrath’s last supercross victory came on Saturday evening, January 20, 2001 at Edison International Field where he took his 72nd main event career win. Dive back into our sport’s history and relive his final win.

“Yes, I knew I had a big fight coming, but I wasn’t sure of when because Ricky Carmichael’s results were pretty unstable up to that point,” reflected Jeremy McGrath when asked about the third round of the 2001 AMA Supercross Series at Edison International Field. For the first time in years, McGrath was shaken. A week earlier, he had been beat by Ricky Carmichael – who had won his first and only supercross race at Daytona a year prior. And a week later, McGrath and Carmichael drove north up the freeway for Anaheim II.

That night the starting gate dropped into the crunchy, rust-colored dirt of A2, which was the signal for the 20-strong 250cc main event competitors to go roaring down the starting straight. McGrath arrived at the apex of the first turn in the lead, but it was Carmichael and his Chad Watts-tuned Kawasaki KX250 who took first after getting a better jump off the step-up at the turn’s exit. Team Yamaha rider David Vuillemin also snuck ahead of McGrath but by the beginning of lap two, McGrath was up to second with his sights firmly set on Carmichael.

On lap four, Carmichael stumbled in the whoop section, allowing McGrath to draw up alongside him. McGrath pulled a deft outside-inside move a few turns later and stole the lead. Content to follow McGrath, Carmichael stalked the seven-time supercross champion like a lion stalking its prey. With eyes fixated on the blue rear fender of McGrath’s Yamaha, the flying duo pulled a 19 second lead on Kevin Windham (in third) by the 13th lap.

At the three-quarter mark, McGrath made a small bobble and Carmichael took advantage of the mistake. In what would become his classic “go for broke” approach to racing, with only three laps to go, Carmichael inadvertently slammed into the reigning champion at the end of the whoop section. McGrath flashed Carmichael an annoying glance as the No.4 bike led the way up and over the finish line jump. However, improperly set-up for the ensuing left hand turn, Carmichael was caught outside and McGrath shot back into the lead. With two laps to go, the crowd roaring and the white flag waving, the two riders attacked the whoops again and Carmichael made his move. Attempting a desperate dive into the final turn, Carmichael tried to edge in front of McGrath but failed. McGrath hung tough and raced up the finish line to win by less than 1/1000 of a second. A minute later and the two riders were atop the jump on the far side of the track shaking hands

“That was the best race in five years, I think,” said McGrath later that evening.

“I could have been a jerk, and did some off the wall things that punted him into next week but I wanted to beat him fair and square,” countered Carmichael.

Four years and another presidential election later, McGrath finally admitted that Carmichael had his number.

“The Anaheim II race was a very difficult one because it was a battle until the very end. I didn’t realise until after that race, but my conditioning wasn’t good enough to be racing at that pace every week. I didn’t really get to assess my fitness at Anaheim I because that race was relatively easy,” said McGrath from his home in San Diego. “I will say that I didn’t expect that kind of speed and pressure out of RC because, up until then, I didn’t see anything out of him or anybody else that I couldn’t handle. After the race, I was kicking myself for not being better prepared. I knew it had to happen one day, but I didn’t think it would be then. I was definitely chasing my tail trying to gain more fitness for the rest of the season, but as you know, by the time you figure it out it’s too late.”

Did Ricky Carmichael know he would take control of the sport and win three consecutive Supercross Championships following McGrath’s last win? I asked Ricky’s close friend and longtime mentor, Johnny O’Mara, who helped prepare Carmichael for the 2001 season.

“We knew we had Jeremy covered with RC’s speed and that Jeremy was not comfortable racing at Ricky’s speed,” said the 1984 AMA 250cc Supercross Champion. “The one last thing RC had to get over was taking down his boyhood role model and hero. McGrath was an idol Ricky always looked up to. I felt McGrath knew that. I would also say that McGrath was counting on RC’s past track record: that RC would make mistakes throughout the 16-race series. That’s how Jeremy felt he would win the SX series. However, I honestly believe that Jeremy knew that RC had more pure speed at that point. As you now know, the rest is history.”

Carmichael agrees with O’Mara’s about having to take down his hero, “Yeah, what Johnny said, that’s definitely true,” said Carmichael at the 2004 US Open. “I looked up to Jeremy so much. But if I wanted to beat him, I had to put that aside.”

In the autumn of 2004, Jeremy McGrath was preparing to make a six-race comeback for the 2005 series. Four years removed from his last victory, was he still think about it? “I do still think about my last race win,” said McGrath. “I’m glad that I got beat by somebody that went on to dominate after me because I would have been very upset if my results just started to dwindle and all of a sudden I was getting fourth or worse. I’m a very fortunate man and I know that. I’m also very glad my last win came at Anaheim, in front of my hometown fans where it all started.”

Want more? Check out last week’s Back to the Feature, examining the moment the AMA Supercross torch was passed from Jeremy the Great to Ricky the GOAT.