AMA Motocross Championship
The AMA Motocross Championship is an American motorcycle racing series. The motocross race series was founded and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association in 1972. The series is the major outdoor motocross series in the United States and is managed by MX Sports Pro Racing.
Series history
The series began in 1972 with the introduction of two classes based on 500 cc and 250 cc engine displacement formulas. A 125 cc class was added in 1974. As motocross technology developed, 500 cc two-stroke motocross bikes became too powerful for the average rider and, faced with diminishing numbers of competitors, the A.M.A. discontinued the 500 cc class after the 1993 season. A women's national championship series was introduced in 1996.Due to the low relative power output of a four stroke engine, compared to the then-dominating two stroke design, the A.M.A. had increased the allowable displacement capacity for four-stroke engines. By 1994, the displacement limit of a four stroke power motocross bike was up to 550cc in the 250 class, to incentivize manufactures to further develop the design for use in motocross.
In 2006, the 250 cc division was renamed the MX Class, with an engine formula allowing for 150–250 cc two-stroke or 250–450 cc four-stroke machines. The 125 cc class was renamed the MX Lites Class, allowing 0–125 cc two-stroke or 150–250 cc four-stroke engines. In 2009, the MX class was renamed the 450 Class and the MX Lites class was renamed the 250 Class, to reflect the fact that all the competing manufacturers had adopted four-stroke machinery.
National champions
References:| Year | 500cc | 250cc | 125cc |
| 1972 |  Brad Lackey | Gary Jones | |
| 1973 |  Pierre Karsmakers | Gary Jones | |
| 1974 | Jimmy Weinert | Gary Jones | Marty Smith |
| 1975 | Jimmy Weinert | Tony DiStefano | Marty Smith |
| 1976 | Kent Howerton | Tony DiStefano | Bob Hannah |
| 1977 | Marty Smith | Tony DiStefano | Broc Glover |
| 1978 | Rick Burgett | Bob Hannah | Broc Glover |
| 1979 | Danny LaPorte | Bob Hannah | Broc Glover |
| 1980 | Chuck Sun | Kent Howerton | Mark Barnett |
| 1981 | Broc Glover | Kent Howerton | Mark Barnett |
| 1982 | Darrell Schultz | Donnie Hansen | Mark Barnett |
| 1983 | Broc Glover | David Bailey | Johnny O'Mara |
| 1984 | David Bailey | Rick Johnson | Jeff Ward |
| 1985 | Broc Glover | Jeff Ward | Ron Lechien |
| 1986 | David Bailey | Rick Johnson | Micky Dymond |
| 1987 | Rick Johnson | Rick Johnson | Micky Dymond |
| 1988 | Rick Johnson | Jeff Ward | George Holland |
| 1989 | Jeff Ward | Jeff Stanton | Mike Kiedrowski |
| 1990 | Jeff Ward | Jeff Stanton | Guy Cooper |
| 1991 |  Jean-Michel Bayle | Jean-Michel Bayle | Mike Kiedrowski |
| 1992 | Mike Kiedrowski | Jeff Stanton | Jeff Emig |
| 1993 | Mike LaRocco | Mike Kiedrowski | Doug Henry |
| Year | 250cc | 125cc Men's | 125cc Women's |
| 1994 | Mike LaRocco | Doug Henry | |
| 1995 | Jeremy McGrath | Steve Lamson | |
| 1996 | Jeff Emig | Steve Lamson | Shelly Kann |
| 1997 | Jeff Emig | Ricky Carmichael | Tracy Fleming |
| 1998 | Doug Henry | Ricky Carmichael | Dee Wood |
| 1999 |  Greg Albertyn | Ricky Carmichael |  Stefy Bau |
| 2000 | Ricky Carmichael | Travis Pastrana | Jessica Patterson |
| 2001 | Ricky Carmichael | Mike Brown |  Tania Satchwell |
| 2002 | Ricky Carmichael | James Stewart Jr. | Stefy Bau |
| 2003 | Ricky Carmichael | Grant Langston |  Steffi Laier |
| 2004 | Ricky Carmichael | James Stewart Jr. | Jessica Patterson |
| 2005 | Ricky Carmichael | Ivan Tedesco | Jessica Patterson |
| Year | 450cc | 250cc Men's | 250cc Women's |
| 2006 | Ricky Carmichael | Ryan Villopoto | Jessica Patterson |
| 2007 | Grant Langston | Ryan Villopoto | Jessica Patterson |
| 2008 | James Stewart Jr. | Ryan Villopoto | Ashley Fiolek |
| 2009 |  Chad Reed | Ryan Dungey | Ashley Fiolek |
| 2010 | Ryan Dungey | Trey Canard | Jessica Patterson |
| 2011 | Ryan Villopoto |  Dean Wilson | Ashley Fiolek |
| 2012 | Ryan Dungey | Blake Baggett | Ashley Fiolek |
| 2013 | Ryan Villopoto | Eli Tomac | Jessica Patterson |
| 2014 | Ken Roczen | Jeremy Martin | Marissa Markelon |
| 2015 | Ryan Dungey | Jeremy Martin | Kylie Fasnacht |
| 2016 | Ken Roczen | Cooper Webb | Kylie Fasnacht |
| 2017 | Eli Tomac | Zach Osborne | Kylie Fasnacht |
| 2018 | Eli Tomac | Aaron Plessinger | Jordan Jarvis |
| 2019 | Eli Tomac |  Adam Cianciarulo |
Most wins by rider
Source:; Most Championships
| 450/250 Class | Titles | 250/125 Class | Titles | 500 Class | Titles |
| Ricky Carmichael | 7 | Ryan Villopoto | 3 | Broc Glover | 3 |
| Ryan Dungey | 3 | Ricky Carmichael | 3 | Jeff Ward | 2 |
| Jeff Stanton | 3 | Mark Barnett | 3 | Ricky Johnson | 2 |
| Ricky Johnson | 3 | Broc Glover | 3 | David Bailey | 2 |
| Tony DiStefano | 3 | Jeremy Martin | 2 | Jimmy Weinert | 2 |
| Gary Jones | 3 | James Stewart Jr. | 2 | Mike LaRocco | 1 |
| Eli Tomac | 3 | Doug Henry | 2 |  Jean-Michel Bayle | 1 |
 Ken Roczen | 2 | Steve Lamson | 2 | Mike Kiedrowski | 1 |
| Jeff Emig | 2 | Mike Kiedrowski | 2 | Darrell Schultz | 1 |
| Jeff Ward | 2 | Micky Dymond | 2 | Chuck Sun | 1 |
| Kent Howerton | 2 | Bob Hannah | 2 | Danny LaPorte | 1 |
| Bob Hannah | 2 | Marty Smith | 2 | Rick Burgett | 1 |
| Ryan Villopoto | 2 | Zach Osborne | 1 | Marty Smith | 1 |
 Chad Reed | 1 | Cooper Webb | 1 | Kent Howerton | 1 |
| James Stewart | 1 | Eli Tomac | 1 |  Pierre Karsmakers | 1 |
| Grant Langston | 1 | Blake Baggett | 1 | Brad Lackey | 1 |
| Greg Albertyn | 1 | Dean Wilson | 1 | - | - |
| Doug Henry | 1 | Trey Canard | 1 | - | - |
| Jeremy McGrath | 1 | Ryan Dungey | 1 | - | - |
| Mike LaRocco | 1 | Ivan Tedesco | 1 | - | - |
| Mike Kiedrowski | 1 | Grant Langston | 1 | - | - |
| Jean-Michel Bayle | 1 | Mike Brown | 1 | - | - |
| David Bailey | 1 | Travis Pastrana | 1 | - | - |
| Donnie Hansen | 1 | Jeff Emig | 1 | - | - |
| Guy Cooper | 1 | - | - | ||
| George Holland | 1 | - | - | ||
| Ron Lechien | 1 | - | - | ||
| Jeff Ward | 1 | - | - | ||
| Johnny O'Mara | 1 | - | - | ||
| Aaron Plessinger | 1 | - | - | ||
| Adam Cianciarulo | 1 | - | - |
; Most Overall Wins
| 450/250 Class | Wins | 250/125 Class | Wins | 500 Class | Wins |
| Ricky Carmichael | 76 | James Stewart Jr. | 28 | Broc Glover | 19 |
| Ryan Dungey | 39 | Ricky Carmichael | 26 | Pierre Karsmakers | 16 |
| Bob Hannah | 27 | Mark Barnett | 25 | Brad Lackey | 16 |
| Eli Tomac | 23 | Steve Lamson | 20 | David Bailey | 15 |
| Ricky Johnson | 22 | Ryan Villopoto | 19 | Jeff Ward | 12 |
| James Stewart Jr. | 20 | Guy Cooper | 16 | Ricky Johnson | 11 |
| Kent Howerton | 18 | Broc Glover | 14 | Darrell Schultz | 3 |
| Ken Roczen | 18 | Blake Baggett | 14 | Jimmy Weinert | 9 |
| Jeff Emig | 16 | George Holland | 13 | Jeff Stanton | 8 |
| Jeremy McGrath | 15 | Jeremy Martin | 13 | Chuck Sun | 7 |
| Jeff Ward | 13 | Jeff Emig | 13 | Mike Bell | 6 |
| Ryan Villopoto | 12 | Eli Tomac | 12 | Rick Burgett | 6 |
| Mike Kiedrowski | 12 | Jeff Ward | 11 | Danny LaPorte | 5 |
| Jeff Stanton | 12 | Ron Lechien | 10 | Kent Howerton | 5 |
| Mike LaRocco | 11 | Mike Kiedrowski | 10 | Jean-Michel Bayle | 4 |
| Chad Reed | 10 | Grant Langston | 9 | Danny Chandler | 4 |
| Kevin Windham | 10 | Marvin Musquin | 8 | Mike Kiedrowski | 3 |
| Doug Henry | 7 | Mike Brown | 8 | Gary Semics | 3 |
 Pierre Karsmakers | 7 | Micky Dymond | 8 | Goat Breker | 3 |
| Jimmy Weinert | 7 | Bob Hannah | 8 | Michael Hartwig | 3 |
| John Dowd | 6 | Marty Smith | 8 | Bob Hannah | 2 |
| Damon Bradshaw | 6 | Joey Savatgy | 7 | Mike LaRocco | 2 |
| Ron Lechien | 6 | Cooper Webb | 7 | Ron Lechien | 2 |
| Marty Tripes | 6 | Christophe Pourcel | 7 | Marty Smith | 2 |
| Marvin Musquin | 6 | Ryan Dungey | 7 | Tony DiStefano | 2 |
| Jimmy Ellis | 5 | Travis Pastrana | 7 | Gaylon Mosier | 2 |
| Tony DiStefano | 5 | Kevin Windham | 7 | Rex Staten | 2 |
| Greg Albertyn | 5 | Doug Henry | 7 | Barry Higgins | 2 |
| Grant Langston | 3 | Erik Kehoe | 7 | Mike Runyard | 2 |
| David Vuillemin | 3 | Johnny O'Mara | 7 | Steve Stackable | 2 |
| Sebastien Tortelli | 3 | Adam Cianciarulo | 7 | Tommy Croft | 2 |
| Ezra Lusk | 3 | Tyla Rattray | 6 | Marty Tripes | 1 |
| David Bailey | 3 | Mike LaRocco | 6 | Alan King | 1 |
| Donnie Hansen | 3 | Zach Osborne | 6 | Bill Grossi | 1 |
| Blake Baggett | 2 | Dylan Ferrandis | 6 | Rich Thorwaldson | 1 |
| Justin Barcia | 2 | Trey Canard | 5 | Bryan Kenney | 1 |
| Mike Alessi | 2 | Broc Hepler | 5 | Denny Swartz | 1 |
| Tim Ferry | 2 | Ryan Hughes | 5 | Eric Eaton | 1 |
| Jean-Michel Bayle | 2 | Robbie Reynard | 5 | Wyman Priddy | 1 |
| Johnny O'Mara | 2 | Ben Townley | 5 | - | - |
| Broc Glover | 2 | Dean Wilson | 5 | - | - |
| Marty Smith | 2 | Damon Bradshaw | 4 | - | - |
| Gary Bailey | 2 | Larry Ward | 4 | - | - |
| Gunnar Lindstrom | 2 | Stephane Roncada | 4 | - | - |
| Sonny Defeo | 2 | Mike Alessi | 3 | - | - |
| Jeffrey Herlings | 1 | Damon Huffman | 3 | - | - |
| Justin Bogle | 1 | Jean-Michel Bayle | 3 | - | - |
| Trey Canard | 1 | Donny Schmit | 3 | - | - |
| Bret Metcalfe | 1 | Danny LaPorte | 3 | - | - |
| Tommy Hahn | 1 | Justin Barcia | 3 | - | - |
| Matt Goerke | 1 | Jake Weimer | 3 | - | - |
| Josh Grant | 1 | Andrew Short | 3 | - | - |
| Ivan Tedesco | 1 | Ivan Tedesco | 2 | - | - |
| Jimmy Button | 1 | Broc Sellards | 2 | - | - |
| Mickael Pichon | 1 | John Dowd | 2 | - | - |
| Jeff Matiasevich | 1 | Jeremy McGrath | 2 | - | - |
| Alan King | 1 | Eddie Warren | 2 | - | - |
| Billy Liles | 1 | Keith Bowen | 2 | - | - |
| Kenny Keylon | 1 | Brian Myerscough | 2 | - | - |
| Steve Wise | 1 | Tim Hart | 2 | - | - |
| Ken Zahrt | 1 | Ken Roczen | 2 | - | - |
| Bill Grossi | 1 | Aaron Plessinger | 2 | - | - |
| Rich Thorwaldson | 1 | Shane McElrath | 2 | - | - |
| Tim Hart | 1 | Craig Anderson | 1 | - | - |
| John DeSoto | 1 | Danny Smith | 1 | - | - |
| Jim Pomeroy | 1 | Chad Reed | 1 | - | - |
| Cooper Webb | 1 | Kelly Smith | 1 | - | - |
| Nick Wey | 1 | - | - | ||
| Tallon Vohland | 1 | - | - | ||
| Scott Sheak | 1 | - | - | ||
| Tim Ferry | 1 | - | - | ||
| James Dobb | 1 | - | - | ||
| Brian Swink | 1 | - | - | ||
| Jeff Matiasevich | 1 | - | - | ||
| A.J. Whitling | 1 | - | - | ||
| Gaylon Mosier | 1 | - | - | ||
| Warren Reid | 1 | - | - | ||
| Steve Wise | 1 | - | - | ||
| Jimmy Ellis | 1 | - | - | ||
| Austin Forkner | 1 | - | - | ||
| Justin Cooper | 1 | - | - | ||
| Josh Grant | 1 | - | - |
AMA Supercross
In the 1970s promoters such as Bill France started bringing motocross races in from the country to stadiums within cities. Instead of being built upon natural terrain, dirt was imported into the stadiums where promoters tried to emulate the motocross tracks. In 1972 Mike Goodwin and Terry Tiernan, the president of the AMA, put on one of these stadium races in the Los Angeles Coliseum. The race was dubbed as the Super Bowl of Motocross. Eventually this form of racing evolved into its own sport and series with the name Supercross which was a shortening of the original "Super Bowl of Motocross". American motocross racing distinguished itself from European motocross by having two different season championships run each year for each class both sanctioned by the AMA. Currently the AMA runs their 17-round Supercross championship from the first weekend in January to the first weekend in May and then the 12-round outdoor Motocross championship from mid-May through late August.Whereas AMA Motocross is two 30-minute plus 2 lap motos per each round with the winner being the rider with the highest combined points total for the two motos, in Supercross there is only one points-paying race per round. Around 40 riders qualify for each Supercross round. Heat races and LCQs are used to bring the field down to 22 riders for a points-paying main event for each round. A main event is 20 minutes plus 1 lap for the 450 class and 15 minutes plus 1 lap for the 250 class. There is no 250 Supercross national champion like there is for motocross. The 250 class in Supercross is split into East and West divisional rounds with an All Star race combining the top riders of each division at the final round in Las Vegas.
AMA Motocross and Supercross champions
| Year | 450 MX | 450 SX | 250 MX | 250 SX West | 250 SX East | 500 MX |
| 1972 | Gary Jones | Brad Lackey | ||||
| 1973 | Gary Jones | Pierre Karsmakers | ||||
| 1974 | Gary Jones | Pierre Karsmakers | Marty Smith | Jimmy Weinert | ||
| 1975 | Tony DiStefano | Jimmy Ellis | Marty Smith | Jimmy Weinert | ||
| 1976 | Tony DiStefano | Jimmy Weinert | Bob Hannah | Kent Howerton | ||
| 1977 | Tony DiStefano | Bob Hannah | Broc Glover | Marty Smith | ||
| 1978 | Bob Hannah | Bob Hannah | Broc Glover | Rick Burgett | ||
| 1979 | Bob Hannah | Bob Hannah | Broc Glover | Danny LaPorte | ||
| 1980 | Kent Howerton | Mike Bell | Mark Barnett | Chuck Sun | ||
| 1981 | Kent Howerton | Mark Barnett | Mark Barnett | Broc Glover | ||
| 1982 | Donnie Hansen | Donnie Hansen | Mark Barnett | Darrell Schultz | ||
| 1983 | David Bailey | David Bailey | Johnny O'Mara | Broc Glover | ||
| 1984 | Rick Johnson | Johnny O'Mara | Jeff Ward | David Bailey | ||
| 1985 | Jeff Ward | Jeff Ward | Ron Lechien | Bobby Moore | Eddie Warren | Broc Glover |
| 1986 | Rick Johnson | Rick Johnson | Micky Dymond | Donny Schmit | Keith Turpin | David Bailey |
| 1987 | Rick Johnson | Jeff Ward | Micky Dymond | Willie Surratt | Ron Tichenor | Rick Johnson |
| 1988 | Jeff Ward | Rick Johnson | George Holland | Jeff Matiasevich | Tod DeHoop | Rick Johnson |
| 1989 | Jeff Stanton | Jeff Stanton | Mike Kiedrowski | Jeff Matiasevich | Damon Bradshaw | Jeff Ward |
| 1990 | Jeff Stanton | Jeff Stanton | Guy Cooper | Ty Davis | Denny Stephenson | Jeff Ward |
| 1991 | Jean-Michel Bayle | Jean-Michel Bayle | Mike Kiedrowski | Jeremy McGrath | Brian Swink | Jean-Michel Bayle |
| 1992 | Jeff Stanton | Jeff Stanton | Jeff Emig | Jeremy McGrath | Brian Swink | Mike Kiedrowski |
| 1993 | Mike Kiedrowski | Jeremy McGrath | Doug Henry | Jimmy Gaddis | Doug Henry | Mike LaRocco |
| 1994 | Mike LaRocco | Jeremy McGrath | Doug Henry | Damon Huffman | Ezra Lusk | - |
| 1995 | Jeremy McGrath | Jeremy McGrath | Steve Lamson | Damon Huffman | Mickael Pichon | - |
| 1996 | Jeff Emig | Jeremy McGrath | Steve Lamson | Kevin Windham | Mickael Pichon | - |
| 1997 | Jeff Emig | Jeff Emig | Ricky Carmichael | Kevin Windham | Tim Ferry | - |
| 1998 | Doug Henry | Jeremy McGrath | Ricky Carmichael | John Dowd | Ricky Carmichael | - |
| 1999 | Greg Albertyn | Jeremy McGrath | Ricky Carmichael | Nathan Ramsey |  Ernesto Fonseca | - |
| 2000 | Ricky Carmichael | Jeremy McGrath | Travis Pastrana | Shae Bently | Stephane Roncada | - |
| 2001 | Ricky Carmichael | Ricky Carmichael | Mike Brown | Ernesto Fonseca | Travis Pastrana | - |
| 2002 | Ricky Carmichael | Ricky Carmichael | James Stewart | Travis Preston | Chad Reed | - |
| 2003 | Ricky Carmichael | Ricky Carmichael | Grant Langston | James Stewart | Branden Jesseman | - |
| 2004 | Ricky Carmichael | Chad Reed | James Stewart | Ivan Tedesco | James Stewart | - |
| 2005 | Ricky Carmichael | Ricky Carmichael | Ivan Tedesco | Ivan Tedesco | Grant Langston | - |
| 2006 | Ricky Carmichael | Ricky Carmichael | Ryan Villopoto | Grant Langston | Davi Millsaps | - |
| 2007 | Grant Langston | James Stewart | Ryan Villopoto | Ryan Villopoto | Ben Townley | - |
| 2008 | James Stewart | Chad Reed | Ryan Villopoto | Jason Lawrence | Trey Canard | - |
| 2009 | Chad Reed | James Stewart | Ryan Dungey | Ryan Dungey | Christophe Pourcel | - |
| 2010 | Ryan Dungey | Ryan Dungey | Trey Canard | Jake Weimer | Christophe Pourcel | - |
| 2011 | Ryan Villopoto | Ryan Villopoto | Dean Wilson | Broc Tickle | Justin Barcia | - |
| 2012 | Ryan Dungey | Ryan Villopoto | Blake Baggett | Eli Tomac | Justin Barcia | - |
| 2013 | Ryan Villopoto | Ryan Villopoto | Eli Tomac | Ken Roczen | Will Hahn | - |
| 2014 | Ken Roczen | Ryan Villopoto | Jeremy Martin | Jason Anderson | Justin Bogle | - |
| 2015 | Ryan Dungey | Ryan Dungey | Jeremy Martin | Cooper Webb | Marvin Musquin | - |
| 2016 | Ken Roczen | Ryan Dungey | Cooper Webb | Cooper Webb | Malcolm Stewart | - |
| 2017 | Eli Tomac | Ryan Dungey | Zach Osborne | Justin Hill | Zach Osborne | - |
| 2018 | Eli Tomac | Jason Anderson | Aaron Plessinger | Aaron Plessinger | Zach Osborne | - |
| 2019 | Eli Tomac | Cooper Webb | Adam Cianciarulo | Dylan Ferrandis | Chase Sexton | - |
| 2020 | Eli Tomac | Dylan Ferrandis | Chase Sexton | - |
Rookie season champions
- 2010: Ryan Dungey became the only rider to capture both the Supercross and Motocross titles in his rookie year.
- 1993: Jeremy McGrath won the Supercross title as a rookie.