The AMA Motocross Championship, popularly known as the Pro Motocross Championship, stands as the crown jewel of outdoor motocross racing in the United States. Sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and professionally managed by MX Sports Pro Racing since 1972, this elite series pits the world’s top riders against each other on rugged, natural-terrain tracks scattered across the country. From its humble beginnings with roaring two-stroke engines to the high-tech four-stroke dominance of today, Pro Motocross has evolved into a grueling test of speed, stamina, bike control, and mental fortitude, drawing massive crowds and global viewership each summer season.
What sets AMA Motocross apart is its authentic outdoor format—no artificial stadium dirt here. Tracks evolve dramatically over a race day, with ruts deepening, dust flying, and jumps growing treacherous, forcing riders to adapt on the fly. Seasons run 11-12 rounds from late May to early September, perfectly timed after the indoor AMA Supercross wraps up. This guide delivers everything fans need: full champion histories, record tables, iconic venues, broadcasting details, and key differences from Supercross—all optimized for quick loading and search dominance with keywords like “AMA Motocross results 2025,” “Pro Motocross champions list,” and “best motocross tracks USA.”
Core Race Format and Event Structure
Every Pro Motocross national follows a precise, time-tested blueprint designed to showcase rider consistency under pressure. A typical day kicks off with timed practice sessions, followed by qualifying heats that determine starting gate positions—crucial for nailing the holeshot on slippery or rutted starts. The main action consists of two motos (races) per class, each lasting 30 minutes plus two laps, contested on the same track that degrades progressively.
Points tally across both motos: 1st gets 25 points, 2nd 22, down to 20th at 1 point, with ties broken by best moto finish. Overall round winners earn trophy bikes, prestige, and critical championship points. The 450MX class features premier talent on 450cc four-strokes, while 250MX serves as the launchpad for future stars. Women’s classes, introduced in 1996, run select motos, promoting gender equity in a male-dominated sport. Support races for amateurs and veterans add family-friendly depth at most venues.
This dual-moto system uniquely rewards endurance over raw speed, as seen in legends like Ricky Carmichael who mastered it across eras. Crashes, mechanicals, or poor starts can derail a day, making comebacks legendary—like Eli Tomac’s multiple mid-season surges to titles.
Historical Evolution of Classes and Tech Shifts
Pro Motocross launched in 1972 amid America’s motocross boom, mirroring Europe’s Grand Prix scene but tailored for U.S. tracks. Initial classes mirrored displacements: thumping 500cc two-strokes for heavies and nimble 250cc for mids, with 125cc added in 1974 to feed talent pipelines. Early icons like Gary Jones and Brad Lackey rode smoky two-strokes to glory, but by the late 1980s, 500cc beasts hit 70+ horsepower, scaring off entrants—the class vanished post-1993.
The 1990s brought seismic change via U.S. emissions laws favoring cleaner four-strokes. AMA innovators allowed oversized displacements: 250-class four-strokes up to 550cc, bridging power gaps. Honda’s YZ400F in 1998 ignited the revolution, proving four-strokes could smoke two-strokes. By 2006, classes rebranded to MX (250-450cc four-stroke equivalents) and MX Lites (150-250cc), fully embracing the shift as two-strokes faded from pro ranks.
2010 cemented 450MX/250MX naming, standardizing around four-stroke volumes from factories like Honda CRF450R, Yamaha YZ450F, KTM 450 SX-F, and Husqvarna FC450. Tech highlights include electronic fuel injection, traction control whispers in some bikes, and suspension wizardry handling 20-foot jumps. Women’s evolution paralleled this: from 125cc two-strokes to modern 250MX machines, with stars like Ashley Fiolek dominating seven straight titles (2009-2015).
Comprehensive National Champions Tables (1972-2025 Full Breakdown)
Dive into the complete legacy with these era-spanning tables, capturing every titleholder, bike brands, and class transitions for ultimate reference.
1972-1993: Two-Stroke Glory Era
| Year | 500cc Winner (Bike) | 250cc Winner (Bike) | 125cc Winner (Bike) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Brad Lackey (Kawasaki) | Gary Jones (Yamaha) | – |
| 1973 | Pierre Karsmakers (Yamaha) | Gary Jones (Honda) | – |
| 1974 | Jimmy Weinert (Kawasaki) | Gary Jones (Can-Am) | Marty Smith (Honda) |
| 1975 | Jimmy Weinert (Yamaha) | Tony DiStefano (Suzuki) | Marty Smith (Honda) |
| 1976 | Kent Howerton (Husqvarna) | Tony DiStefano (Suzuki) | Bob Hannah (Yamaha) |
| 1977 | Marty Smith (Honda) | Tony DiStefano (Suzuki) | Broc Glover (Yamaha) |
| 1978 | Rick Burgett (Yamaha) | Bob Hannah (Yamaha) | Broc Glover (Yamaha) |
| 1979 | Danny LaPorte (Suzuki) | Bob Hannah (Yamaha) | Broc Glover (Yamaha) |
| 1980 | Chuck Sun (Honda) | Kent Howerton (Suzuki) | Mark Barnett (Suzuki) |
| 1981 | Broc Glover (Yamaha) | Kent Howerton (Suzuki) | Mark Barnett (Suzuki) |
| 1982 | Darrell Schultz (Honda) | Donnie Hansen (Honda) | Mark Barnett (Suzuki) |
| 1983 | Broc Glover (Yamaha) | David Bailey (Honda) | Johnny O’Mara (Honda) |
| 1984 | David Bailey (Honda) | Ricky Johnson (Yamaha) | Jeff Ward (Kawasaki) |
| 1985 | Broc Glover (Yamaha) | Jeff Ward (Kawasaki) | Ron Lechien (Honda) |
| 1986 | David Bailey (Honda) | Ricky Johnson (Honda) | Micky Dymond (Honda) |
| 1987 | Ricky Johnson (Honda) | Ricky Johnson (Honda) | Micky Dymond (Honda) |
| 1988 | Ricky Johnson (Honda) | Jeff Ward (Kawasaki) | George Holland (Honda) |
| 1989 | Jeff Ward (Kawasaki) | Jeff Stanton (Honda) | Mike Kiedrowski (Honda) |
| 1990 | Jeff Ward (Kawasaki) | Jeff Stanton (Honda) | Guy Cooper (Suzuki) |
| 1991 | Jean-Michel Bayle (Honda) | Jean-Michel Bayle (Honda) | Mike Kiedrowski (Kawasaki) |
| 1992 | Mike Kiedrowski (Kawasaki) | Jeff Stanton (Honda) | Jeff Emig (Yamaha) |
| 1993 | Mike LaRocco (Kawasaki) | Mike Kiedrowski (Kawasaki) | Doug Henry (Honda) |
1994-2005: Four-Stroke Dawn
| Year | 250cc/MX Winner (Bike) | 125cc/MX Lites Winner (Bike) | Women’s 125cc Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Mike LaRocco (Kawasaki) | Doug Henry (Honda) | – |
| 1995 | Jeremy McGrath (Honda) | Steve Lamson (Honda) | – |
| 1996 | Jeff Emig (Kawasaki) | Steve Lamson (Honda) | Shelly Kann |
| 1997 | Jeff Emig (Kawasaki) | Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki) | Tracy Fleming |
| 1998 | Doug Henry (Yamaha YZ400F) | Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki) | Dee Wood |
| 1999 | Greg Albertyn (Suzuki) | Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki) | Stefy Bau |
| 2000 | Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki) | Travis Pastrana (Suzuki) | Jessica Patterson |
| 2001 | Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki) | Mike Brown (Kawasaki) | Tania Satchwell |
| 2002 | Ricky Carmichael (Honda) | James Stewart Jr. (Kawasaki) | Stefy Bau |
| 2003 | Ricky Carmichael (Honda) | Grant Langston (KTM) | Steffi Laier |
| 2004 | Ricky Carmichael (Honda) | James Stewart Jr. (Kawasaki) | Jessica Patterson |
| 2005 | Ricky Carmichael (Suzuki) | Ivan Tedesco (Kawasaki) | Jessica Patterson |
2006-2025: Modern Four-Stroke Era
| Year | 450MX Winner (Bike) | 250MX Winner (Bike) | Women’s 250MX Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ricky Carmichael (Suzuki) | Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) | Jessica Patterson (Honda) |
| 2007 | Grant Langston (Yamaha) | Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) | Jessica Patterson (Honda) |
| 2008 | James Stewart Jr. (Kawasaki) | Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) | Ashley Fiolek (Honda) |
| 2009 | Chad Reed (Suzuki) | Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) | Ashley Fiolek (Honda) |
| 2010 | Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) | Trey Canard (Honda) | Jessica Patterson (Yamaha) |
| 2011 | Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) | Dean Wilson (Kawasaki) | Ashley Fiolek (Honda) |
| 2012 | Ryan Dungey (KTM) | Blake Baggett (Kawasaki) | Ashley Fiolek (Honda) |
| 2013 | Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) | Eli Tomac (Honda) | Jessica Patterson (Honda) |
| 2014 | Ken Roczen (KTM) | Jeremy Martin (Yamaha) | Marissa Markelon (Kawasaki) |
| 2015 | Ryan Dungey (KTM) | Jeremy Martin (Yamaha) | Kylie Fasnacht (Kawasaki) |
| 2016 | Ken Roczen (Suzuki) | Cooper Webb (Yamaha) | Kylie Fasnacht (Kawasaki) |
| 2017 | Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) | Zach Osborne (Husqvarna) | Kylie Fasnacht (Kawasaki) |
| 2018 | Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) | Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha) | Jordan Jarvis (Yamaha) |
| 2019 | Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) | Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki) | Jazzmyn Canfield (Yamaha) |
| 2020 | Zach Osborne (Husqvarna) | Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) | Jordan Jarvis (Yamaha) |
| 2021 | Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) | Jett Lawrence (Honda) | – |
| 2022 | Eli Tomac (Yamaha) | Jett Lawrence (Honda) | – |
| 2023 | Jett Lawrence (Honda) | Hunter Lawrence (Honda) | – |
| 2024 | Chase Sexton (KTM) | Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) | Lachlan Turner (Yamaha) |
| 2025 | Jett Lawrence (Honda) | Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) | – |
All-Time Records: Most Championships and Wins
Ricky Carmichael’s 7 premier-class titles anchor the record book, but modern stars like Jett Lawrence are rewriting history.
Most Championships by Rider
| Category | Rider | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 450/250 Class | Ricky Carmichael | 7 |
| Eli Tomac | 4 | |
| Ryan Dungey | 3 | |
| 250/125 Class | Ricky Carmichael | 3 |
| Ryan Villopoto | 3 | |
| Mark Barnett | 3 | |
| 500 Class | Broc Glover | 3 |
| Jeff Ward | 2 | |
| Women’s Titles | Ashley Fiolek | 7 |
| Jessica Patterson | 5 |
Most Overall Round Wins
| 450/250 Class | Wins | 250/125 Class | Wins | 500 Class | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Carmichael | 76 | James Stewart | 28 | Broc Glover | 19 |
| Ryan Dungey | 39 | Ricky Carmichael | 26 | Pierre Karsmakers | 16 |
| Eli Tomac | 32 | Mark Barnett | 25 | Brad Lackey | 16 |
| Bob Hannah | 27 | Steve Lamson | 20 | David Bailey | 15 |
| Jett Lawrence | 24+ | Jeremy Martin | 20 | Jeff Ward | 12 |
Legendary Venues: Tracks That Defined Eras
These hallowed grounds host multi-decade battles, each with signature soil—from RedBud’s loam to Southwick’s sand.
| Venue | Location | State | Hosting Span | Signature Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadilla MX | Unadilla | New York | 1972–present (gaps) | “The Wall” climb |
| Hangtown Motocross Classic | Rancho Cordova | California | 1974–present (gaps) | Rocky, rutted California dirt |
| Red Bud MX | Buchanan | Michigan | 1974, 1976–present | Loamy paradise, huge crowds |
| The Wick 338 (Southwick) | Southwick | Massachusetts | 1976–present (gaps) | Deep sand whoops |
| High Point Raceway | Mt. Morris | Pennsylvania | 1977–present (gaps) | Fast, flowing Pennsylvania hills |
| Washougal MX Park | Washougal | Washington | 1980–present (gaps) | Technical Northwest woods |
| Spring Creek MX Park | Millville | Minnesota | 1983–present | Rolling Minnesota meadows |
| Budds Creek | Mechanicsville | Maryland | 1989–present (gaps) | Sandy East Coast classic |
| Thunder Valley | Lakewood | Colorado | 2005–present | High-altitude elevation changes |
| Fox Raceway at Pala | Pala | California | 2010–present (gaps) | Smooth SoCal starter |
| Ironman Raceway | Crawfordsville | Indiana | 2014–present | Endurance-testing layout |
Broadcasting: How to Watch Every Lap
NBCUniversal’s multi-year deal elevates visibility: Peacock streams all motos live (7 exclusives), NBC broadcasts select live races, and USA airs delays with highlights. Motocross Pass app offers on-demand replays, GPS tracking, and live timing for diehards.
| Platform | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Peacock | Full live streaming, 7 exclusive rounds |
| NBC | 2 live races per season |
| USA Network | Tape-delayed races + highlights |
| Motocross Pass | Replays, timing, rider GPS |
Supercross vs Motocross: Key Differences Explained
| Aspect | AMA Motocross | AMA Supercross |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Outdoor natural tracks | Indoor stadiums, man-made dirt |
| Season | May-September (11-12 rounds) | Jan-May (17 rounds) |
| Format | 2 motos/class (30+2 min) | 1 main event (20/15+1 min) post-heats |
| 250 Class | Single national champion | East/West regions + finale |
| Track Evolution | Degrades over day | Static, jumps higher with grooming |
| SuperMotocross Tie | Combined playoffs since 2023 | Same |
Dual-Discipline Legends and Rookie Feats
Versatile aces conquer both: Jett Lawrence (2023 450MX undefeated rookie), Eli Tomac (3 MX + 2 SX titles), Ryan Dungey (2010 rookie sweep).
Rookie Milestones:
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Jett Lawrence: 2023 perfect 450MX season (12/12 wins).
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Ken Roczen: 2014 450MX title.
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Dylan Ferrandis: 2021 450MX crown.
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James Stewart: 2002 125MX domination.