How Ricky Carmichael Dethroned Jeremy McGrath After Getting His Butt Kicked

Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael talks to Sam Jones about what it was like to beat Jeremy McGrath-a guy who hadn't been beaten in 10 years-early in his professional career.
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[@justinshannon3994]

Time dethroned Jeremy McGrath. The one thing that Ricky did bring to the sport was a much more serious training program. And that eventually created the Ryan Villipoto and Ryan Dungey of recent years.

[@1969cmp]

Did you ever hear of Johnny O'Mara and David Bailey? They over trained doing triathlons. With every generation, there were those who trained really hard, those who less so and some who were lazy and just knew how to ride. Like Ron Lechien was noted as being one of the most gifted and lazy riders. Rick Johnson was in between Bailey and Lechien, though closer to The O'Show and The Little Professor.. What has really changes is sport science including nutrition. Earlier, in the 1970's, and animal named Heikki Mikkola was uber fit. The Euros had to be amazingly fit to ride back-to-back 45 minute motos. Andre Malherbe looked like a 'He Man'.

[@AAAskeet]

JoJo Keller

[@FalseHope61]

I know this post is old. Yes. MC wasn’t exactly 22 years old. But he wasn’t old. He wasn’t even 30 yet. Ricky straight up took the speed in the sport to another level

[@jasonwiggins6137]

@@FalseHope61 He's incorrect. Ricky's 125 times were the same as Jeremy's 250 times. Ricky was always faster.

[@dagodigs]

​@@jasonwiggins6137really what happened in 99-2000 and Jeremy McGrath smoked Ricky for 2 years straight? It took him 3 full years to beat MC??? So what are you talking about buddy? RC was barely on the podium in 99 and won 1 race in 2000? Dude you have no clue what your talking about

[@user-zx1ir7jt4c]

I love when Ricky says "enough with the joking" ...lol, that was his game face and that's how he became the goat!

[@fraser_byrne]

Love this. Mature, honest, open conversation. Just what moto needs. More please!

[@fistoftulkas7335]

Grew up with McGrath, the flashy SX, lifestyle and VHS in the 90s, he was mine and everyone's idol, he's still the SX's king... But Carmichael was/is the GOAT, new breed, completely different training, focus and riding, what we see today in the AMA and MXGP... Carmichael took the professionalism and the sport to new heights, plus completely dominant outdoors too...

[@rob12449]

great candid interview, I like seeing Ricky sharing his experiences. Hey, I'm a fan of all mx / sx champions.

[@RichM0410]

Excellent interview! Love watching motocross and Supercross especially in the days of McGrath, charmichel, Lusk, emmig, Bradshaw, Henry, Reed etc... it’s cool that Ricky designs the track for supercross in Daytona👍

[@mattsnyder58]

Great interviews! I love the short format. You get right to the meat of what the fans are interested in. Great peek into RC’s mind and mentality.

[@DJDoubtIt81]

Idk McGrath will always be #1 Always!!!

[@DeanJohnson67]

SX yes without a doubt MC is #1 ....overall AMA (SX+MX) = 150 wins in a much shorter career = RC! oh ya RC had 2 perfect SX seasons winning every moto! 24-0 x 2! ;)

[@levisalvini4110]

@@DeanJohnson67 Numbers speak louder than words. You are right 💯 percent

[@saxarra43]

At their prime, McGrath in supercross was the man.

[@christopherrisden4057]

Yep, 7 championship in 8 years, hasn't been done since

[@morijin691]

@@christopherrisden4057 🤮🤮5sx titles + 10mx titles it's rare this days🤣😂🤧

[@chrisking5007]

Ricky Carmichael a true professional, so proud of him for not disrespecting McGrath, great interview.

[@Asaphunnna]

Badass Interview

[@boreholecrick7779]

Um yeah, and Jeremy was about 30 years old at the time. And pretty much done.

[@Birdkillersteve]

He was 27 and hardly done. Besides, it wouldn’t matter nobody else was gonna beat Carmichael. And McGrath didn’t win 10 consecutive motocross championships and 2 perfect seasons. One coming off a massive knee injury and on a 2stroke and the other on a 4stroke. He may have been good at supercross but motocross separates the men from the boys.

[@TOMVUTHEPIMP]

McGrath was 30 in 2001.

[@bremCZ]

Birdkillersteve He was 30 and he wasn't exactly done, but was past his prime. McGrath is the best Supercross racer there has been in the USA Carmichael is the best Motocross racer there has been in the USA. They both have great records as off road riders and both get blown into the weeds by Stefan Everts and Joël Smets

[@TheMyronStube]

Birdkillersteve Jeremy was good at motocross

[@pressrolls]

@birdkiller I could not have said it better

[@Patriot-Logic]

It would always be interesting to do the impossible and put the best against the best in their prime! Don’t think anyone could beat Bob Hannah! Then Decoster damn McGrath well Bailey , Johnson, Ward, Windham, Bradshaw, Bayle, great what if Pastrana??They all are great but damn that would be a race series!

[@stevepadilla9729]

Great short interviews.

[@jimh.412]

Awesome stories from the legend!

[@motojunkie8348]

RC might if trained harder back then but McGrath looks like he's in way better shape today.

[@onlygazza]

I listened to a young rider that trained with Carmichael talking the other day and the one thing he alway remembered from that time was “ when you ride your mx bike alway give it everything you have all the time “

[@bobmcgrath1272]

It was one of the Crusty Demons' directors, can't recall which one, who said that without a doubt the most talented rider he ever worked with was Jeremy McGrath. Carmichael deserves total respect for "getting the job done". But....Jeremy was already past the age of normal retirement when Ricky came along...so I'm only giving him a partial dethronement of Jeremy. However Ricky is a far better role model for kids as he is proof that hard work and grit will get you more places than raw talent.

[@40beretta1]

99, 2K seasons a lot of the mess was his bike setup... 2K outdoor Ricky and his team sat down... and they talked about the bike... Ricky told them how he wanted the bike... Outdoor season began, with his training regiment and new set up... he became untouchable

[@kaneo16]

Carmichael was always humble when he won the mark of a great CHAMPION.

[@PitbullBuddy247]

What were you watching? He was a dick to everyone.

[@joshsmith4848]

you should get MC on here

[@tjc97cobramustang]

And that trainer was Aldon Baker who has built champions

[@brianchapman8531]

I've always said that the difference between James and Ricky in '06 and '07 was Aldon Baker. It's that simple.

[@fistoftulkas7335]

Yep, for years Baker had the best training and doping regime in the business, at least in AMA...

[@TOMVUTHEPIMP]

PEDs Factory.

[@scottrichardson77]

Do Performance Enhancers dethrone Champions after the fact?

[@scottrichardson77]

Id liked to see totally doped MC Vs Totally Doped RC or wait wasnt Ricky Doping the whole time?

[@Arty11]

And that trainer was the O’show‼️👍👍👍

[@davidmccall2965]

"Once I learned how to win at 6, 7, years old" Ricky was a baby when he learned how to dominate!!! Most children are learning how to color inside the lines at that age! God blessed Ricky with an incredible talent and extreme work ethic. Ricky, Jermey, Windham, Stewart....those were and will forever be the golden year's of MX/SX...

[@GVGames1986]

He just had such a smooth energetic style in his prime, amazing!

[@earthmx]

Ricky needs a better diet now

[@gebruikermer]

I still think my dealer set me up when he showed me that gold/black/white fox skull RC signature v1... 375 euros... but damn.. I still love it and just try not to think about what I paid for it... lol.

[@aaronkauffman1118]

Love ya Carmichael! You are the best rider in my eyes for being honest, respectful and having dedication

[@nelsoninman3678]

McGrath #1

[@joemcneil6602]

Rc gotta be Thee coolest, down to earth athlete on the planet. 0 ego. Love this guy.

[@tuwheelsco]

it took fitness and the King to be at the end of his game to beat him

[@irlnd32]

Everyone gets dethroned

[@charlesgraham9954]

i remember having to run and jump on my yellow Yamaha, because i was too short to sit on the seat and reach the ground being 6 years old. riding a dirt bike is second nature. when i got strong enough to pull the clutch in. i was riding a dirt bike alone.

[@jonmccormick8683]

McGrath won the SuperCross championship his first year. Took RC a few years of crashing before he got it.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

"Didn't get the job done in 1999", and I lost a bet. RC said he should have stayed down a class for that year, and I should have bet the next year. :)

[@firehawk8566]

For me Carmichael is the GOAT of the outdoor national series but McGrath will always be the GOAT of Supercross

[@DeanJohnson67]

RC = Overall GOAT with far more wins in half the time! but yes McGrath was the king of SX at the time!

[@JohnDoe-pf6qp]

Of the things I would like to see, were it possible, is Carmichael vs McGrath with both riders at their peak. As it is Carmichael was coming on as McGrath's career was winding down.

[@jarnosaarinen4583]

How dare some fool say he's a little bike rider! At 168cm, 5'6" it just go to show what is the perfect size to ride a motorcycle. Marc Marquez is also 168cm high, as far as i'm concerned we haven't seen what this kid is capable of yet!

[@andynewell7096]

Even DeCoster said McGrath was winding down when Ricky came up.

[@jessicahayden4522]

No one has or ever will “dethrone” Mcgrath. Jeremy will always sit upon the iron throne and his records......when it comes to supercross that is. His thrash metal hair and that 1800-collect honda are untouchable. Lets just please not talk about the switch to yamaha, that was hard to watch 😣 Ryan ate jeremy for breakfast. Great video, love Ricky too.

[@RichM0410]

Nick and Jessica Moore excellent when McGrath went to Yamaha! We can agree to disagree

[@pronoob2857]

T

[@JokersWild70]

Love RC. Definitely the GOAT. How he could ride on the edge so consistently was amazing.

[@jessicahayden4522]

Lets also not forget the ridiculous amount of time Jeremy also spent in the gym and on the bike and how long he reigned untouched AND that hes out there killin it right now....some people just been at home grubbin apparently but hey we all like food. Need to get some Kevin Windham on here or Larocco, Mcgrath, Emig. The greats of that era, Ricky came and conquered just at the end

[@carbons5424]

I remember those years. I used to think he would never dominate the big class because he was too weak for the big bike. I think RC changed the game with his training and everone champion after that had to do the same to compete at that level.

[@lect0n7]

_[shaking head no]_ Watch a video titled _1999 Steel City 125cc Moto 2 (Ricky Carmichael's Last 125cc Moto... Until 2001)_ at about 2:23 he does a seat-bounce over the double jump, FLYS past David Pingree (who got the holeshot) & leaves everyone else behind…it was clear to me right there that Ricky had moved past everyone else _(outside of Steve Lampson who won a Motocross Des Nations 125/500 moto on his steel frame 1996 Honda CR125R, he caught & passed Jeff Emig _(who was riding a Team Kawasaki KX500)_

[@christopherrisden4057]

Never lost a championship after that....umm, Reed, Stewart...

[@bearly2343]

LOL

[@mepartolacaja]

ETERNO RICKY!!

[@drmarcosmancini]

The best !

[@dagodigs]

Jeremy was the best! Ricky and the crazy training did help him but MC had been winning for a decade he was about done!!

[@chrisiollich4890]

R.C. #4 THE GOAT, BECAUSE HE DESERVED EVRY BIT OF IT!!!!! THANK'S from NOR-CAL!!!!!!

[@whatitdo6287]

Isn't 99 the year Ricky got a foot peg on his leg, butt or something?

[@christopherrisden4057]

Yes,and almost decapitated by Alberteen

[@jamessharp9790]

RC= as calculated and intuitive as McGrath , almost as fast and talented as Stewart, even more hard working and mentally tough than Villipoto . He wanted it the most and out worked everyone else . He’s truly the GOAT .

[@sciencemilitia1853]

Racer X is my bible.... IM A LEGEND LIKE RICKY CARMICHAEL

[@PassThePurp945]

PLEASE GET RV ON HERE!

[@xLaChance77]

Rv is super awkward

[@PassThePurp945]

II KML II that dude is full of personality! you're kidding right?

[@douglasbarnes4035]

I was amazed when I first saw a special on Villopoto's home life. There is a ton of playfulness and charisma that comes through that we never saw in post-race interviews.

[@corysiler487]

Tomac is awkward. I love watching him ride, but in interviews and press conferences are painful.

[@lilnightsand7079]

I know !!!

[@rcasper4700]

To be the man you have to beat the man plain and simple

[@nelsoninman3678]

Too bad they couldn't be the same age then we would see what happened McGrath is still number one of my book

[@ericbaker2888]

Ricky's my hero

[@andreasjonsson8075]

RM = Greatness

[@NoPrivateProperty]

what happened to the diet?

[@rsxingaz]

Keep in mind, McGrath was already near the end of his career so not really an apples to apples comparison. Both in their prime it’s anyone’s guess.

[@kentfarmer3149]

GOAT !!!!!!

[@gawdszn302]

mcgrath raced bums imo while ricky had to race two dudes 2nd and 4th on the win leaderboard for sx ..72 is like bill russells 11 rings r wilts 100 point game not as impressive when u look at the level of comp

[@12dev1l]

the king and the goat

[@stevene.6430]

RC = GOAT.

[@tonygSDWR]

Wish they had shown the SX Ricky first beat MC, really exciting seeing it live, the crowd was insane. I was so done with MC's dominance, it was boring and predictable racing, and beyond that he was arrogant about anyone that got the least bit physical with him during a race. If you watched/taped every SX as I did you saw it. It was like, "how dare you challenge me"? Some may not agree, and I can't take away from his success, but I was stoked to see him lose to Ricky, a total class guy/GOAT. Ricky also didn't go for the SX only contracts that MC basically inititated, he was an all around rider and winner!

[@cocopirata763]

always hapend not new veteran leves space too newcomers he dont destroy mc

[@John-ro3ol]

RC is not the most talented human to ever throw a leg on a bike but he was the most dedicated.....hands down. Morning after he won his 24th straight moto and had his first undefeated OD season. All his friends, mechanic, family woke up with hangovers and no one could find Ricky. Searched the pool, bar, restaurants....ect. No Ricky. Someone eventually decided to look in the gym. He had gotten up at 6am and went for a run, then went to the gym to work out. You can't beat that! Literally. JS is definitely more talented but was too fast and often crashed out. If he had a little less talent and more of RC's drive he'd have way more championships.

[@scottgolden2766]

John I don't think you could ever say that if someone had less talent they would have had more success. I always thought if James Stewart could have slowed down maybe 5% he would have crashed less and had more championships. They both put on a great show anyway you look at it

[@cougar231000]

maybe, or maybe not...he started riding at 3 and instantly begun winning,if that's not pure talent......

[@luizspindola]

He's like the Kobe Bryant of Motocross

[@SD-ir1vf]

JS just rode way over his head and when he didn’t crash it sometimes payed off for him and the other times he crashed. Being a great rider means not crashing all the time. So you’re saying JS IS a better rider than somebody who won 10 national championships. If I wanted to I could spindoctor facts to make Ronnie Mac look better then Carmichael. But it doesn’t make it true.

[@Birdkillersteve]

I feel like you are letting your personal feelings and bias for JS interfere with your own point. You made a massive contradiction in your statement. I don't see how if someone is more talented they crash more? The whole Idea in this sport is to stay upright and "complete" races. That means no crashing. The very skill of motocross is "don't crash and complete the race the fastest." How is JS more talented when his record clearly doesn't show it?

[@SarcasticGame]

let's be real here, McGrath was 30 when Ricky finally beat him. everybody knew in 2000, McGraths time was almost up. I honestly wished he retired after the 7th championship and went out a winner instead of the terrible 2002 season he had. McGrath will always be the Goat of supercross. who gives a crap that Ricky dominated motocross, never even heard of the national outdoors, back in the 90s, it was supercross or nothing. never saw a motocross race til the mid 2000s.

[@bearly2343]

lol they waited till he was old af to beat him

[@RideRedFred]

Ken Roczen the new RC4

[@acecountry55]

Ok look I like RC, great rider. The GOAT in the outdoor nationals racing. BUT!!! Jeremy has 7 SUPERCROSS TITLES!! 7!! RC has 5. Jeremy is and always will be the King of Supercross. Even ricky himself said that no one will ever get as many titles as Jeremy McGrath. Hail to the King!!

[@djdanfetish1]

He defo beat McGrath to the fridge lol . great rider but if both same age .. McGrath all day long

[@chuck4027]

McGrath was good at Supercross, but there is no way he could touch Carmichael Outdoors. We both know this, McGrath did not have the conditioning or the speed Carmichael did in Nationals. Two perfect outdoor seasons,no one will ever touch that record.

[@DeanJohnson67]

MC 1989 - 2006 (17 years) < 100 AMA wins! RC = 1998-2007 (9 years) - 150 wins in nearly half the time...in the end Championships are what decides who was best and with that it's not even close! -- I also think James Stewart pushes MC to #3 overall ;)

[@irlnd32]

Wrong answer.

[@samcurtusan8081]

Carmichael is the one that took the fun out of super/motocross !! Before Carmichael it was riding to have fun.. after him everyone got trainers and all they did was workout workout workout!! No more fun riding with friends because he raised the standard of riding.. just so he can say I got first.. what a shame

[@thrasher2094]

Sam Curtusan Can't blame someone for doing what it takes to be the best of the best

[@user-zx1ir7jt4c]

Sam... I have fun everytime I ride, do you? RC did what it took to dominate. Don't blame him for the current state of the sport because I can assure you that Ricky did nothing but GOOD for the sport. If you want to blame someone, blame the OEMs for getting rid of 2 strokes...

[@snowzZzZz]

If you want to have fun, you have to earn it. Ricky raised the bar higher, you can't fault him on that! The more it takes, the higher the reward once you achieve it. Things evolve, nothing you can do about that.

[@SD-ir1vf]

Really like everyone out there says I’m just in the race to have fun. Villopoto, Dungey, Tomac, Anderson just out there playing around. Just like Ricky Johnson didn’t care if he won. Not at the professional level.

[@anthonysusi3613]

Psh what a ridiculous comment. The whole industry would've changed with or without him. Can't just show up ready to race mentally. Just like any sport you gotta train and workout. Motocross even more throwing around 225 pound bike and stamina. Carmichael s career was as phenomenal as it was because he raised the bar higher than anyone else, that's what ya gotta do to earn all the hardware he's got

[@jimmysmyth7510]

McGrath is still the king, most AMA wins most AMA championships. Maybe Ricky can claim to be the goat at Motocross but not supercross. James Stewart has more supercross wins than Ricky.

[@jameszbierski391]

jimmy smyth true but over double the championships. That being said though Ricky is awesome but McGrath is my favourite. All ways will be

[@drn4971]

He would not of beat McGrath in his prime

[@fizzle454]

yes he would have if u took Ricky in his 450 prime vs McGrath prime Ricky and the top 5 guys at that point would have beat McGrath Ricky was the first wave of the new age riders coming who started scrubbing jumps carried more corner speed ect ect. McGrath was great in his era but he wouldn't hold a candle to the top 5 guys in Ricky's prime and I started watching in the mid 90s before someone says "oh u never say Mc in his prime blah blah" yes I did...

[@jameszbierski391]

Ben Bragg that’s incredibly egotistical thing to say

[@1codygti]

McGrath is the goat. RC didn't dethrone showtime, father time did

[@PitbullBuddy247]

Does anyone like Carmicheal?

[@browneye7886]

What a clown this guy is,Mcgrath got old end of story you never were better than him

[@pronoob2857]

Fuck u when

[@stustorey1053]

Nick and Jessica Moore No one has or ever will “dethrone” Mcgrath. Jeremy will always sit upon the iron throne and his records......when it comes to supercross that is. His thrash metal hair and that 1800-collect honda are untouchable. Lets just please not talk about the switch to yamaha, that was hard to watch 😣 Ryan ate jeremy for breakfast. McGrath is my hero Mmm.. Bollocks! Only good part was the 1-800 Honda graphics!

[@bulldozer3723]

Ricky Carmichael had to shoot dope in order to stay up front...don’t fool yourselves with the good ol American whipped cream folks... It’s sad seeing young under developed SX teenagers already strung out on roids and pills...the sport is seriously depleting #FATHERLESSCHILDRENON4STROKES

[@marknelson1093]

Not taking nothing away from Ricky, but the tracks got a lot easier before he started beating Jeremy.