How Good Was JMB? 1991 Steel City 500 National | FULL MOTO

Jean-Michel Bayle's rapid takeover of AMA Supercross and Motocross signaled a sea change in the sport, proving non-American riders could indeed move to the U.S. and win titles. Witness the Frenchman at the peak of his greatness at the 1991 Steel City 500 Motocross National, where he battles Ron Lechien, Damon Bradshaw, Jeff Stanton and Jeff Ward. JMB was as good as anyone!
About Dunlop
The all-new Geomax MX34 is the latest result of Dunlop’s ongoing development of their Geomax family of tires. Developed with the help of top motocross pros, the all-new Geomax MX34 is the new industry standard for soft-to-intermediate terrain. Experience the advantage-Ride Dunlop.

[@DS-oi4wl]

I always have time to watch a JMB video...always.

[@jhmonthetube6339]

JMB and RC, two you will never see again. Can you imagine how fast JMB would be riding the modern 4 strokes on these tracks today!!

[@LetBrockBye]

As fast as Hunter

[@douglaswilliamsnazarmunoz1220]

Rick Johnson was faster i think.

[@aaronwelch6790]

Got to see him on a 500 at des nations Manjimup Aussie . He looked slow . A lot like jett

[@ginaorsini3312]

If you think that factory 500 is slower than a 450 4 stroke, you're out of your mind!

[@aaronwelch6790]

@@ginaorsini3312 ha , I said he looked slow , such was his finesse

[@liamhotspur9182]

those two Jeff Ward passes were incredible, shocking!

[@Kawiboy]

Absolutely Top Notch 💪🏼🔥

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

7:46 I know JMB used the loose grippy dirt on the outside but WTF, it's like he rewrote physics to pull that off

[@bartdebuono]

JMB was Jett before Jett, but Jett has Bradshaw intensity, Stew creativity, and RJ motivation.

[@roninjester3946]

agreed 100%. JMB was incredible... if I could wind back time i'd ask JMB to forget the road and stay on the dirt.

[@jhutchmb]

You lost me at Rj. That dude is on another level for "motivation" lol

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

Nah, Jett's big influence is 100% Stefan Everts and I'm sure Hunter Lawrence isn't as good because Stefan got a hold of him maybe 1-2 years too late. Look up for ¿2002-2006? MXGP and MxdN videos and you'll see it 100%. It's such a shame that Stefan didn't gel with living in the USA (he tried it once in like 1995, got into a couple of AMA SX mains). AMA SX/MX history would've been different for sure because he would've created some crazy ripple effect for some BIG names like MC, RC, Reed and even JS7.

[@roninjester3946]

@@DiegoRuiz1991 yeah Jett has credited Stefan for his technique, and i'd actually forgotten what the 10 time world champ looked like on the bike. upon your comment I went back in time, and yep, for sure. thanks for the reminder. 👍

[@onlygazza]

His line choices were just extraordinary during this 500 season, I remember watching the series with my jaw dropped !

[@mattknowles4226]

I think everyone forgets this was before he decided to go road racing at GP level... got a pole position in at least one GP.. good god what a natural two wheeled talent!!

[@fleece192]

My first national to watch was broom tioga. These guys were all in box vans. Staton and Bayle in separate one. Watching ezcka lusk doing the Carmichael triple. We raced District 34. Great memories

[@DanielMartinez-dv5pm]

He has top 5 finishes in the 500cc class... In the FIM Road Racing World Championship, today called MotoGP, crazy to think about it, one of the best ever to throw a leg over a motorcycle

[@davidb7699]

1. JMB only won his championships in one year,,when JS missed 1 race in SX and 2 races in MX,,,in 89.90 and 92 When Jeff Stanton raced all the races he SMOKED JMB then when JMB raced on the street he Never won one Race ever in like 4 or 5 years..JS owed JMB on the MX and SX tracks ..Facts

[@DS-oi4wl]

Back in the day, it was rumored that he used a climbing wall as part of his training...this explains why he was so controlled -- hand and grip strength.

[@dennisborg5243]

JMB as well as David Bailey. Always made going fast looks so easy. There were a lot of fast guys in those days. And you could see the hard work that they were doing. But when you saw David Bailey or JMB go bye they seem so relaxed. Made motocross look easy!!!

[@Gus1966-c9o]

JMB putting on a riding clinic

[@dennisborg5243]

JMB his ability to read the race track was like now another. He could find lines that nobody else even thought of. And also he wouldn’t use those lines until he needed them for a pass. He gave nothing away. Like you saw. Jeff Ward never saw him coming. And of course Jeff Ward was one of the best in the world at the time. No disrespect to Jeff

[@yamahaxs6501]

I was there! Steel City was right by my house

[@MatthewC137]

Bradshaw was the real hero for taking 4th on that air cooled YZ490 that had no improvements for almost a decade.

[@stevesmith756]

The YZ490 was a piece of junk. The CR line up was head and shoulders better than all of the other brands

[@MatthewC137]

@@stevesmith756 what do you think I'm saying? Bradshaw had to be better than Bayle to put that thing in 4th.

[@Jimmy_Watt]

I didn't know they ran nine minute motos back then. 😂

[@bootysmaka22]

When I see people complaining the last couple years about having to get peacock to watch the motos for a few bucks a month and say "I used to be able to watch it on cable for free", this is exactly what I think of...between the commercials you might get to see 10 or 15 minutes of the 30+ 2 lap moto. It was better than the 80's where you might only get to see a couple races a year, but that was it. I gladly shell out a few bucks a month to see every minute of every race!

[@celineferdinand6944]

High race I.Q. The 2 passes he made on Jeff Ward were beautiful.

[@SOLDOZER]

The real hero was Bradshaw getting 4th on that pig YZ490. Thats as good as awin.

[@LeighDouglas-r1j]

JMB was the shit 🔥🤘🏻

[@TheKaw650]

I miss going to steel city raceway. It’s closed down

[@CRIFLIFE]

He made Wardy look like he’s never won a race before.

[@josemarie4429]

The kid de manosque

[@Lightnin42]

Was not a fan but he was amazing..

[@h.k.8535]

Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth!

[@ruymxsx7]

Operator

[@simonerizzo2000]

I've never fully appreciated Bayle because of his clean and relaxed style, tremendously effective but not very spectacular. Without a doubt, however, he was often superior to everyone.

[@p0wn]

I loved his cocky frenchman attitude.

[@DS-oi4wl]

I remember one time when Bayle was annoyed with Bradshaw and said during a post-race interview with his heavy French accent: "Dees leetal keed think he can push me out...I yam dee shampyon!" 😆

[@garyb4054]

it all ment more then

[@DS-oi4wl]

The last great 500 rider.

[@LeighDouglas-r1j]

I battled to name 2 of my children Lecien spelling will be wrong and Bob Hurricane I mean it a motocross thing chick's just don't get 😂😂

[@LeighDouglas-r1j]

Bradshaw the fastest rider to never win a titleb besides 125 he was braining Stanton and all other factory riders for years in supercross but his young 🧠 didn't alow it to happen. Here riding an Enduro bike WR500 factory bike Na definitely not pretty much old school YZ490.. old school community I wonder how he fell down well dude if you ever rode you would know

[@davidb7699]

Mr One year boy,,,he got smoked in his other 3 years,,,