50 YEARS OF 125 (MODERN-DAY 250) MOTOCROSS NATIONALS

There have been 50 years of motocross racing for the 125 class (modern-day 250 class) and we have gone through some of that statistics from over the years. What was once a feeder class to the premier 450 class has now become a premier class of its own. Each year new riders enter and ever so often those riders go on to become the greatest the sport has seen. We take a look at how some of the riders became legends by stepping through the 125 class.

Statistics by: Ben Bridges

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THE EARLY YEARS

It all started on April 8th, 1974, in Plymouth, CA, when Marty Smith took his red-hot Honda Elsinore to victory, becoming the first racer ever to win a 125 CC motocross national event. In 1975, Marty Smith won six of the seven rounds, along with the championship, becoming the first rider to win back-to-back 125 championships. In 1976, a hurricane blew into the series and won five rounds, taking the title away from Marty Smith. His name was Bob Hannah. Although Team Honda and Marty Smith were racing both the World GP and the Nationals in the same season, Hannah and his water-cooled Yamaha stole the championship. In 1977, Broc Glover took the championship in a tie-breaker against Danny LaPorte. Although Hannah won three of the six rounds, he was asked to “Let Brock Bye,” giving the championship to Glover on a tie-breaker. Broc Glover would become the first racer to win three consecutive 125 championships in ’77, ’78, and ’79.

AS TIME PROGRESSED

Mark Barnett riding his RM 125.

In 1980, Mark “The Bomber” Barnett took the title from Broc Glover by 9 points in the standings. Barnett would become the second rider to win three consecutive 125 championships on his Suzuki. In 1983, Johnny O’Mara put Honda back on top with the championship. In 1984, Jeff Ward gave Kawasaki their first 125 CC championship by winning the final six rounds. In 1985, Honda would win five in a row with riders Ron Lechien, Micky Dymond, George Holland, and Mike Kiedrowski.

THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

Ricky Carmichael went on to become one of the greatest 125 riders of all time.

In 1990, fan-favorite Guy Cooper won Suzuki’s first 125 championships since Barnett in 1982. In 1991, Mike Kiedrowski, now on a Kawasaki, won the championship in a hard-fought series with Cooper. In 1992, Jeff Emig gave Yamaha their first 125 championship since 1979. From 1993 to 1996, Honda won four in a row again with Doug Henry and Steve Lamson. In 1997, Ricky Carmichael began his MX dominance, winning 25 races in three years and securing three consecutive championships.

CHANGING ERA

James Stewart was the last to win a championship onboard a 125.

From 2000 to 2005, no rider could repeat as champion. In 2003, Grant Langston, from South Africa, became the first foreign rider to win the championship, riding a KTM. In 2004, James Stewart won his second 125 championship on a Kawasaki, making him the last rider to win the championship on a 2-stroke 125 bike. From 2004 to 2008, Kawasaki was back on top with five straight championships, four of which were won by Mitch Payton’s Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki. From 2009 to 2013, five different riders on three different brands won the championship.

CATCHING UP WITH TODAY

Cooper Webb wins making 3 years of championships in a row for Yamaha.

In 2014, Jeremy Martin gave Yamaha back-to-back championships, and then Cooper Webb in 2016 made it three in a row for Yamaha. In 2017, Zach Osborne gave the brand Husqvarna its first championship. In 2018, Aaron Plessinger brought Yamaha another championship. In 2019, Adam Cianciarulo won his only MX championship. From 2020 to 2023, four foreign riders won the championship: Dylan Ferrandis from France in 2020, and Jett Lawrence (twice), and Hunter Lawrence from Australia.

Over the years many riders have done the unthinkable and many brands have celebrated. Here is a list of accomplishments.

125 Wins by rider:
James Stewart – 28
Ricky Carmichael – 26
Mark Barnett – 25
Jeremy Martin – 20
Steve Lamson – 20

Championships by brand:
Honda – 17
Kawasaki – 15
Yamaha – 10
Suzuki – 6
KTM – 1
Husqvarna – 1

EVERY 125/250F NATIONAL CHAMPION (1974-2023)
1974 …Marty Smith (Hon)
1975 …Marty Smith (Hon)
1976 …Bob Hannah (Yam)
1977 …Broc Glover (Yam)
1978 …Broc Glover (Yam)
1979 …Broc Glover (Yam)
1980 …Mark Barnett (Suz)
1981 …Mark Barnett (Suz)
1982 …Mark Barnett (Suz)
1983 …Johnny O’Mara (Hon)
1984 …Jeff Ward (Kaw)
1985 …Ron Lechien (Hon)
1986 …Micky Dymond (Hon)
1987 …Micky Dymond (Hon)
1988 …George Holland (Hon)
1989 …Mike Kiedrowski (Hon)
1990 …Guy Cooper (Suz)
1991 …Mike Kiedrowski (Kaw)
1992 …Jeff Emig (Yam)
1993 …Doug Henry (Hon)
1994 …Doug Henry (Hon)
1995 …Steve Lamson (Hon)
1996 …Steve Lamson (Hon)
1997 …Ricky Carmichael (Kaw)
1998 …Ricky Carmichael (Kaw)
1999 …Ricky Carmichael (Kaw)
2000 …Travis Pastrana (Suz)
2001 …Mike Brown (Kaw)
2002 …James Stewart (Kaw)
2003 …Grant Langston (KTM)
2004 …James Stewart (Kaw)
2005 …Ivan Tedesco (Kaw)
2006 …Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
2007 …Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
2008 …Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
2009 …Ryan Dungey (Suz)
2010 …Trey Canard (Hon)
2011 …Dean Wilson (Kaw)
2012 …Blake Baggett (Kaw)
2013 …Eli Tomac (Hon)
2014 …Jeremy Martin (Yam)
2015 …Jeremy Martin (Yam)
2016 …Cooper Webb (Yam)
2017 …Zach Osborne (Hus)
2018 …Aaron Plessinger (Yam)
2019 …Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)
2020 …Dylan Ferrandis (Yam)
2021 …Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2022 …Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2023 …Hunter Lawrence (Hon)