"HE WAS COCKY & ARROGANT" - Jeremy McGrath Opens Up About His Rivalry With Jeff Emig...

Jeremy McGrath is the King of Supercross. With 72 wins and 7 championships he stands alone as the man inside a stadium. Obviously I am a lifelong fan of MC but it wasn't until recently we got to hang out at Mammoth Motocross where I got to see the secret to all of his success. He really love riding his dirtbike.
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[@inthbiz57]

Dude these conversations with MC are absolutely epic. So friggen open and honest. Never knew 1/2 this stuff in detail

[@aaronwegner]

They fought over a groupie🙄

[@Ghostdog4]

Jeremy has been a class act from day #1. A Really good guy

[@Meditech509]

I absolutely loved them both. I always cheered for Emig though. He was the working mans underdog.

[@frankiek2269]

Lol. Not very smart. You can’t absolutely love a guy that you routinely hope loses. You make zero sense. Just admit, you supported a loser.

[@coltonparson83]

Not a single channel out there getting these top pros and amateurs on their channel. Props to you gypsy!!!

[@JonnyJetson754]

Jeff Emig has set a great example in the way of turning out to be the man he became after his racing days.

[@mctuble]

He was the party boy during racing but I respect so much how he's obviously put in the work to correct his speech issues.

[@JonnyJetson754]

@@mctuble 4sure same here got a lot of respect for him and Jeremy alike

[@assaultlick2169]

​@mctuble for sure. I remember watching a piece Fox sports had on him during Supercross where they showed how he practiced all these speech exercises for hours a week in front of a full length mirror so he wouldn't freeze or stutter like he did when he was younger. I miss him in the both. Definitely of the best color commentators of the past few decades

[@mctuble]

@assaultlick2169 I saw that same piece on Emig. It was great. Made you realize how serious he was about it. I can't imagine how nervous he must've been. And I love Ricky but he's more genuine then Ricky.

[@stevendelehant8737]

Growing up in Independence, Missouri Emigs hometown, I was a big fan his father worked on my family bikes.

[@prospectorsoils1240]

So badass. IMO Jermey has always been the GOAT to me. His style is so precise compared to everyone else. Love the interviews!!

[@tylorwilliams9062]

He was BY FAR the smoothest rider in the history of the sport. He made riding supercross look easy.

[@chupacabraracing181]

MC was my HERO as a kid. I was born in 87. Got my first pw50 at 4 and was number 15 because I knew that was his number when he first started. Now I'm 36 and still feel like and pretend I'm MC when I'm out at the track every weekend. What a great all around guy! Thank you for this amazing interview!

[@philc4520]

Always great hearing MC recount his racing rivalry & career wins.

[@davemieze9021]

There was an auto parts store that sold bike parts. This was in 95. The owner was particularly fond of outdoor motocross. He had recorded the whole previous outdoor season on VHS, and you could rent them for a dollar a race. Return it when you want to, but he expected it back. I remember being so impressed with tracks like Binghamton with Steve Lamson just pinning it up those long huge hills. And Gainesville with the sand. It was a special time in my life. I was in my early 20’s and absolutely loved this sport.

[@aaronwegner]

Well said😊 it inspired a generation

[@Sladep123]

It's no wonder Mac Daddy is the champion he is. He is so thoughtful, wise, humble and reflective.

[@MattZiggy]

I remember seeing Emig after he broke both arms on the Yamaha. He was taking photos for Wiseco pistons for an ad at one of the races. He took the time to acknowledge this little kid seeing his heros. He could've just ignored me and gone on taking photos, but he didn't. Both these guys were awesome. I consider that time the golden era of SX/MX.

[@Deep.Development]

I can’t find the full version….? I was watching it yesterday now I don’t see it. Thx GT MC

[@IAMDEZ963]

Different channel

[@danielnewman3441]

The 97 SX season brough parity and more TV coverage. Emig, Henry, McGrath, Lusk, and LaRocco won that year I believe which brought more exictement and focus on the sport. Previous it was a MC show.

[@JokersWild70]

Emig, MC, Lusk, Huffman, Albertyn, Henry, and Windham were the SX winners if I remember correctly

[@garageassembled4701]

Emig from riverside, ca and McGrath from Menifee. I saw you in your vette maybe 15 years ago in Escondido,ca .

[@jeffa.8976]

I wish I had clear footage from these old school races. Do good copies exist somewhere?

[@OGLD]

Tons. Just search for the race you want to watvh

[@dagodigs]

Jeremy is TBE! The best ever!!!!

[@JonnyJetson754]

Agree great role model to this day

[@dagodigs]

@@JonnyJetson754 yea he is awesome he leveled up the sport in so many ways!

[@JonnyJetson754]

@@dagodigs agree 💯

[@dagodigs]

@@JonnyJetson754 💪 wanna know a Jeremy McGrath story

[@Tyler-mb8ce]

I was in the stands that night. In twa in stl as a teenager who loves McGrath. I had no idea how lucky I was to be there even though superman lost that night.

[@jasoncrymes9608]

This era of Motocross and SX were just so cool to live through. I was always pulling for Ryno and Larry Ward to beat both of them. Larry would go kill an 8 point buck, spit out his Skoal and go race a SX on Sat.

[@tylorwilliams9062]

I once spoke to Stevie Childress who won the 1988 250A stock class at Loretta’s (Emig got 2nd) & he said that in one of the motos emig reached over & tapped his front break coming off the gate lol

[@MXRiderFiftyTwo]

That does not surprise me at all

[@chrisbracken7889]

JM is still my favorite champion 🏆

[@protectandswerve]

Jeremy is one of the most iconic people I can think of and would be one of the people I'd most like to become friends with as a celebrity even though I'm not a "star struck" type of person.. There's just people with a skill set and direction different than mine or many others. However, he and others like Valentino Rossi and several others in the motorcycle / motorsports world, are the one's I'd most love to hang out with and get to know.

[@jayeddleston9486]

97 supercross McGrath on a total different manufacturer emig was still on Kawasaki,if McGrath had that Honda probably be 8x champ

[@jeffa.8976]

100%

[@OGLD]

But he didn’t because Honda went to a shit frame

[@JonnyJetson754]

I think it was a flat tire also that lost him the title that year

[@jeffa.8976]

@@JonnyJetson754 Oh ya, weird I totally remember that flat tire.

[@warthogphil]

The 97 Honda was garbage. Both McGrath and Albertyn won on the Suzuki in 97, while Honda was the only brand that didn't win a single supercross main in 250s that year. Honda riders only got on the podium 5 times that entire supercross season, and never higher than 3rd place. If not for being crashed into by other riders 3 times on the first lap at round 1 in L.A. and having to ride the last 7 laps at Charlotte with a flat rear tire, McGrath would have been champion on the Suzuki. Watch the complete interview if you haven't had the chance yet, he goes into how bad the 97 Honda was, and that being the reason he left the Honda team.

[@Trailboss22357]

Growing up watching Mcgrath, Emig, Windham, Hughes, Laracco was always exciting. I havent been that excited to watch races in a long time. Villapoto, Carmichael, Stewart were not always exciting to watch for me for some reason.

[@waynehearst317]

I've met Jeff as a fan and later in life in business. Recently had a dinner meeting with Emig and (again) he reminded me of the guy who had low self-esteem but tried too hard to sound confident which came across as cocky and arrogant.

[@lindsaybartch1579]

So true, you are only as good as who you race against.

[@kenetic1228]

What a cool dude.

[@scottandtammylewis532]

When an athlete in any sport has a competitor move in on what he has built, He has to step up and protect his image, also his paycheck, and give the FANS what they deserve! Fans buy bikes. Factories prosper, Riders are payed well. We all get to see the best at there game. 👍

[@bevans5611]

Fro!

[@jgilruth369]

Nothing better than the "Jeffro is a homo" days of Moto

[@chad6504]

McGrath always a better rider and dude in my book than Emig. More humble as well. Love this interview!

[@jeffa.8976]

Maybe a little off topic, but the 96, 97, & 98 KX 250 were so much better than the other bikes, it was almost like cheating. The KX was especially great on high speed out door tracks. It had amazing handling and stability at high speeds & the fastest engine with all the power on the bottom end, where it's easiest to use. In 97 McGrath was on the worst bike and Emig was on the best bike. Not to take anything away from Emig though. Jeremy had everyone psychologically beat before the race even started. I wouldn't be surprised if Emigs cocky attitude was a necessary adaptation to psych himself up into believing he could beat McGrath. I was also an Emig fan but was a massive McGrath fan. I was so nervous for the 98 season. Sewing McGrath win in 98 was the most pumped I've ever been for any sporting event. I was more happy to see Jeremy back on top in 98 than I was seeing one of my best friends win his first fight in the UFC.

[@4touchdowns1game29]

but you fkrget that emig still beat him outdoors in 96.

[@Kawboy65]

You're right. They had the SR250's totally dialed in during that time.

[@4touchdowns1game29]

@@Kawboy65 yeah that cr 250 and 125 were legendary. The 125 especially. That motor would be used as the base motor for kart racing for years.

[@warthogphil]

@jeffa.8976 To be fair, McGrath wasn't on the worst bike in 97. People seem to forget just how bad that Honda was...easily the worst bike in 97 and he was 100% right in leaving. Nobody won a 250 supercross main on a Honda in 97. In fact, Honda only had 5 podiums out of 15 races, with their best finish being 3rd. Regardless of that though, McGrath is unquestionably the king of supercross, and in my personal opinion he is highly underrated as an outdoor rider.

[@4touchdowns1game29]

@@warthogphil and that Suzuki was a really underrated bike. The forks for the average person were the best that year. I remember reading somewhere that his mechanic had is throttle set up in an f ed up position for like half the season. His bike wasn't even going full throttle for like half the season.

[@mike23417]

emig was a jackasx on the track, towards M.C their were fro fans and jeremy fans and i was a M.C all the way. some of my buds made fun of me for trying to be like jer, like my fox gear nd bell and most of all in 98 i ran white bootts and they all had black i still run rhe whiteys everytime all mu years of riding its always white alpines😊

[@paulmryglod4802]

Emig used to be known as the widest rider on the track

[@bigram7235]

Emig was the Fastest Outdoor rider in the world 🌎 b/w 1996 & 1998

[@FRANKO-iu3dx]

that's okay bro. I kinda love my 74 husky.

[@mentalmoto763]

I have a autographed flyer of Jeremy for 125 Peak Honda, before he was champ.

[@desertbrewcrew1974]

Greatest Motocross picture EVER: Emig, 1 foot off the ground, completely pancaked coming out of a berm, in full attack position with feet on the pegs. INCREDIBLE!

[@jeffro5032]

I know that pic very well True story though.....he didn't make that turn and actually laid it down. But...yes , awesome pic!

[@adriansgmail7885]

Southwick

[@JokersWild70]

I was at the races starting in the mid 90's, and also lived in SoCal, so i can say with confidence that Emigs riding style was absolutely suspect, lol. He was really dangerous on the tracks, but unlike a Guy Cooper, Jeff was dangerous on purpose. Those are the guys you do not want to be on a track with: the ones who go out of their way to seriously hurt you. Having met Jeff a few times out at the tracks during mid week practices, he was always gracious and didnt come off as an asshole in my experience. I would usually see him out at Perris, or occasionally, GH, and he did put the work in to be great

[@scottdries1106]

Yes Jeremy , you certainly are. We were all Emig haters back then. I was genuinely up set when he beat you. Mostly cus of his dirty riding

[@chinaeyes08]

Being born in 1990, McGrath was always the man!!! Having said that, I’ve always liked Jeff Emig a little more 🤷‍♂️

[@dougdickason]

I respect McGrath but i think he has a biased view on Fro. He says that Fro was just naturally cocky, arrogant. Fro had the worst stutter all the way until the early part of his pro career, when he started getting help and worked on it to where he had just a mild stammer by the time he retired, so to think Jeff was naturally cocky is an insane thought, although Jeff had to have been driven by an inner hunger to try and compete and beat the best with a strike against him like he was dealing with in those times. Yes, Jeff likely wouldnt have won the SX title in '97 if Jeremy hadnt switched to Suzuki, but who knows, maybe fate was such that if Jeremy had stayed at Honda he may have been crippled that year. I dont like when people second quess or give a disclaimer as to why they didnt do something. Jeremy is the GOAT then he would go and win on any bike, or shut up about it because it is known that he switched teams. At least he tried giving Fro a little credit on his outdoors skills.

[@TheImtoomuch]

Emig was cocky and had no reason to be. He was always fighting for second place. McGrath is a cool dude and a legend.

[@davemieze9021]

Jeff Emigs KX 250 used to BARK!

[@mike23417]

i have respect for fro bigtime but showtime was always my faborite bc he was always down to earth and fro had this cocky air about him that made him look bad he did it himself he cooda been modest but he woont and and coont take take not being the best

[@MrKips1]

MC, so much more interesting than RC.

[@americanwriter2533]

🤩🇺🇸👍Aye Begoragh! McGrath iz a great champion! Nac Mac!

[@Davido50]

McGrath will always be the King of Supercross! He may have started the Freestyle movement too. Best rider of 90s.

[@codybyas2675]

You just don’t like Emig because he was one of the guys back then going free riding, and you’re mad because freestyle is way cooler than racing will ever be

[@codybyas2675]

And you fucking WEREN’T?? McGrath, you were the most cocky rider on the fuckin track! And you just proved it in this interview

[@devastator226]

Like Jeremy wasn’t cocky and arrogant 😂

[@sand-motox32]

Loved it when Carmichael put McGrath out to pasture.

[@mikedunham7221]

McGrath calling Emig cocky is beyond laughable. 😂 MC was the definition of a 90's dbag. Bleached hair, f'n nipple rings, and much more behind the scenes. But I get it why he's bitter. It's a known fact Emig stole several chicks from Mcgrath.

[@chrisjones7281]

First!!!!

[@senditsillly1423]

asdf

[@ClintEwingFreestyle]

suspect lol

[@JamieJohnson-vg4dm]

Just wondering if Jeremy McGrath is getting nervous.. that Jett might beat his 7 Supercross titles 😅

[@maaduece5132]

I think that really depends on the manufacturer. Mc navigated being on the right bike well with some luck . If jett can stay on a manufacturer that doesn't shit the bed then yeah he has a chance

[@assaultlick2169]

That's a looong way out, man. He's an amazing rider, legit, but c'mon. Some of yall fan boys are really jock riding this kid hard. Alot can happen in 6 seasons in such an injury riddled sport

[@gfg8262]

He has to win the first one before he wins 7. We all know he'll get a couple big bike Supercross titles but 7 is a long way off.

[@JokersWild70]

Jeremy is wanting to protect his 72 wins more than his number of titles

[@gpaull2]

And Jeremy wasn’t cocky and arrogant?!?! 😂 He was a total dick to my wife when she met him at an after race party. Only rider she doesn’t speak highly of from her days of being around the races. Could have just been a bad day, but Emig could have had those too.

[@HenDiesel]

Lol you married one of THOSE girls

[@jeremywendell5501]

​@@HenDiesellol I was thinking damn dude keep that to yourself.

[@BeauSimpson-gn6np]

McGrath, always an excuse about loosing, FW..

[@codybyas2675]

I never liked McGrath. He’s overrated and he’s such a douche

[@stevekabel2016]

To me he's like Reed, did not like them much at all when they were racing, but after they matured later in their careers and after I liked them, maybe cuz I was 7 or so years older.