Above – Yogi, The King, and The Goat, San Diego 2001
So last week I had a really cool story to write about how the first Oakland Supercross was won with a paddle tyre, not a paddle tyre like we have now, but actual, full-on dune buggy style. Using that tyre was banned after that race, but enough about that. Let’s talk San Diego Supercross.
The Jack Murphy Stadium era.
This will be the first Supercross at Snapdragon Stadium, a new building that’s next door to where the first San Diego Supercross was held at Jack Murphy Stadium on October 25, 1980. That stadium would eventually be known as Qualcomm Stadium, a name I’m sure all readers will remember. That first race was won by Team Yamaha’s Mike “Too Tall” Bell, it was the final round of the year and capped off Bell’s championship-winning season.
Broc Glover would win in 1981 and 1982, both these races were also final rounds, the 1982 race saw a young Rick Johnson get his first Supercross podium, finishing 2nd to Glover.
After a couple of years off, 1985 saw San Diego back on the schedule as the opening round, that round also saw the first ever 125 Supercross race or at least at a national level. That 125 race was won by Todd Campbell, whom even my old ass doesn’t remember! 1984 Supercross Champion Johnny O’Mara won the 250 main.
San Diego would settle in as an almost regular early season round from then on, only off the schedule in 1988, 1997, and 2021. Rick Johnson would win 1986, 87, and 89, his hometown race proving a happy hunting ground. The 1990 winner was Jeff Stanton, 1991 was Frenchman Jean Michel Bayle, 1991 also saw Jeremy McGrath and Steve Lamson go 1-2 on their Peak Pro Circuit Honda’s in the 125 event. Damon Bradshaw won in 1992, it was the 4th of 9 wins for “The Beast from the East” in that tragic season.
Above – The “Bad Boy” in flight at the 1986 event
1993 to 1996 and then in 1998 it was the MC show, as were most rounds! Ezra Lusk won the 1999 race. David Vuillemin won his first 250 Supercross at San Diego in 2000, the Cobra would win again in 2002 where also James Stewart would win his first 125 Supercross.
In 2001 Ricky Carmichael won, surprisingly his only San Diego Supercross, the main reason for that was his rival, Chad Reed. The Two Two would win the next 3 and 5 of the following 6, surpassing MC’s record and he wasn’t done yet. Bubba won in 2006 and 2009 and would win the last-ever Qualcomm Stadium race in 2014. Davi Millsaps was a 2-time winner, taking the top step in 2010 and 2013 and Chad would get win number 7 in 2011, his first win with his own team. 2011, a young Eli Tomac would win his first Lites main event. Ryan Villopoto won in 2012.
The Petco Park era
New stadium, new winners, Trey Canard took the trophy in 2015 and Ryan Dungey won in 2016, twice! As that year San Diego hosted rounds 2 and 6. Ken Roczen won in 2017, his last win before his arm injury just a week later. 2018, 19, and 20 winners were Jason Anderson, Eli Tomac, and Cooper Webb. No Californian races in 21 and San Diego last year was of course Chase Sexton's first 450 SX win, it was also Michael Mosiman’s first supercross win in the 250 class.
Here's hoping San Diego was worth the wait, if it's half as good as A1 it will be.
Go Riding
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