2012 AMA Rankings

If you’re a numbers person and you like stats, consider yourself in Graceland right here with these numbers from Chris Westall.

It’s so hard to compare eras in motocross and the ultimate bench racing aurgument is what would happen if rider “x” raced against rider “y”? Although it’s always impossible to figure out who is the best of the best reader Chris Westall has come up with a system (he clearly has no life) to try and solve all the arguments of who is the best rider ever. Chris uses a weighted system and assigns points to different titles, race wins etc, etc. Take a look for yourself and see if any of the arguments have ended.- Matthes

ALL-TIME AMA SUPERCROSS/MOTOCROSS RANKING SYSTEM
I’ve ranked the all-time best AMA supercross/motocross riders through the 2011 season. Below is the (somewhat complicated) formula I used to rank each rider.

By: Chris Westall

CATEGORIES
SX/MX/MXL/FALL (National series)
   • Each AMA National series title (including all Fall Series (’71-‘82)) = +1 point;
   • Each AMA National win = +.1 point;
SXL (Regional series)
   • Each AMA Regional SX series title = +.5 point;
   • Each AMA Regional SX win = +.05 point;
BIG WIN
   • Each big win (Daytona (>’73)/LA Coliseum (‘72-‘82)/any USGP/US Open (’98-’09)/ME Cup (>2011) = +.5 point;
P2/P3
   • Each podium finish in a National series counts as follows: P2 = +.5; P3 = +.25 point.

Bonuses
Certain accomplishments garner bonus points, as follows:
    (1) Having a perfect season by winning all motos or main events = +1.5 points;
    (2) Winning multiple national titles in one calendar year = +1 point;
    (3) AMA Athlete of the Year award = +1 point.
    (4) Defend a national title = +.5 point;
    (5) Rookie of the year award = +.1 point

Penalties
Certain failures incur penalties, as follows::
(1) Specialist– more than a 2 to 1 ratio in wins from SX to MX or MX to SX, OR more than a 2 to 1 ratio from MXL class to MX class only = -.5 point
(2) Shutout– no wins in SX and/or MX (i.e. MXL wins do not count) = -.5 point ea

EXAMPLE- MC’s points

8 national titles (x 1) =                             8.0    pts
89 national wins (x .1) =                          8.9    pts
2 regional titles (x.5)/13 wins (x.05) =   1.65 pts
3 “Big Wins” (Daytona) (x .5) =              1.5    pts
3 Second Places in series (x.5) =      1.5    pts
4 Third Place in series (x.25) =              1.0    pt
1 multi-title year (x 1) =                          1.0    pt
1 Athlete of the year (x 1) =         1.0    pt
5 title defenses (x .5) =          2.5   pts
Specialist Penalty (SX>MX ratio)    -.5    pt

            TOTAL       26.55

Notes: misc stuff

• This is purely AMA events- so no Motocross des Nations or World Championship stats included.
• Points were awarded for top 3 Americans in the 1971 Trans/Inter-AMA series (i.e. as a national title/podium).
• Steve Wise did not get credit for his AMA Athlete of the Year award because it happened after he retired from motocross.

Surprises: There’s lots of interesting stuff in these stats, here’s what stood out for me:

• Top 100 stats: 30 are HOFers; 21 riders are active (including 5 in the Top 20); 24 riders (almost a quarter!) are foreign-born (not including Wardy).
• The next (retired) riders in line for HOF: RC (of course), LaRocco, Karsmakers, Lechien, and Bradshaw. Jimmy Ellis (#31) and Ty Davis (#130) are 2012 HOF Inductees.
• How many runner up finishes a lot of the top riders had, which could have been more titles: (Windham- 10; Stanton/Reed- 6; Ward- 5; RJ/Howerton/O’Mara/Bell- 4; McGrath/Glover/Barnett/ Emig/Bailey/Kiedrowski
/Weinert/MSmith/LaRocco/ Lechien/Bradshaw/Dowd/Alessi- 3)
• If Windham is the King of 2nd place, then LaRocco is the king of 3rd place with a whopping 8. (Other notables: Wardy and Short- 5; McGrath/Stanton/O’Mara/Lechien/Stackable/Cooper/Reed- 4)
• The sheer magnitude and GOAT-solidifying numbers of RC
• As long and illustrious as Jeff Ward’s career was, that he never had a “Big Win”
• Tony D. comes in at #18- a much more solid career than most might have guessed
• Steve Stackable surprisingly at #37- early SX title and (4) 3rd place finishes helped
• Gaylon Mosier at #58- solid career cut short
• Forgotten foreigners: Gerritt Wolsink at #42: He owned Carlsbad. Jaroslav Falta at #96. The Superbowl win was huge for him.

People who I knew very little about or had never heard of:

    Keit Fransn (’71 Inter-AMA win)
   Dave Hollis (’82 Trans-USA title)
   Ron Dunfee (’84 500cc ROY)
    Buck Murphy (’74 SX P3 on a Penton!)
    Butch Smith (’91 ROY)
    Bryan Keeney (’71 Daytona 500cc winner)

And with that, on with the stats!!