MX Sports Pro Racing provides us with a look back on the history of the FMF Glen Helen National MX, round two of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
The following is from MX Sports Pro Racing, organizers of the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship:
Glen Helen will host its 18th Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship race on Saturday. It has been held on Memorial Day Weekend each of its last five seasons on the schedule – ’08-’09 and ’14-’16.
• Glen Helen debuted as the final round of the 450 Class Championship in 1993 and became a Mother’s Day staple from ‘96-‘03, hosting the opening round in six of those years.
• Glen Helen once again served as the final round from ‘04-’07 and returned as opening round in ‘08, ‘09, and ‘14. It’s opened or closed the championship in 14 of 18 seasons.
• This is the lone stop of the championship to take place in Southern California, the heart of the motocross racing industry.
• Glen Helen features arguably the most dramatic elevation changes of any track in the world. Mount St. Helen, the track’s marquee obstacle, towers around 200 feet above the track. Riders will race up and down the hill at incredible speeds and steep angles.
• Glen Helen is the most familiar track virtually every rider in the championship. It serves as the epicenter of motocross testing for nearly every team in the sport.
• Glen Helen’s start straight is the longest in the championship and produces the sport’s highest speeds heading into the infamous “Talladega” first turn; the steepest and fastest turn in Pro Motocross.
• The dynamic Glen Helen layout has produced incredible parity. In 17 years of hosting Nationals, 12 different riders have emerged victorious at Glen Helen in the 450 Class while 13 different riders have won in the 250 Class.
• Five of the six competing manufacturers have won at Glen Helen in both the 450 Class and 250 Class. Husqvarna is the only OEM in search of its first win at the facility.
• Of the six international riders to win at Glen Helen in either class, four are Frenchmen – Marvin Musquin, Mickael Pichon, Stephane Roncada and Sebastien Tortelli.
• Grant Langston is the only international rider to win in both the 250 Class and 450 Class.
450 Class Stats
• 2015 Overall Podium: Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia, Ryan Dungey
• The first Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship race held at Glen Helen was on August 1, 1993. Mike LaRocco won on a Kawasaki. It was the first and only National in the history of the championship to have just one moto to determine a winner.
• Ricky Carmichael is the all-time leader in wins at Glen Helen with seven combined victories – three in the 250 Class and four in the 450 Class.
• Ryan Villopoto earned his first career 450 Class victory in his first career premier class start at Glen Helen in 2009 but was forced to step away from the championship a week later with a knee injury.
• The winner at Glen Helen has gone on to win the title just eight times in 17 seasons. The last time it happened was in 2008 with James Stewart. There have been three races at Glen Helen since that season.
• Carmichael and Stewart are the only two riders in history with multiple Glen Helen wins.
• Three international riders have won at Glen Helen in the 450 Class – Grant Langston, Mickael Pichon, and Sebastien Tortelli.
• Kawasaki is the only manufacturer to sweep both the 450 Class and 250 Class at Glen Helen, doing so three times.
All-Time Wins at Glen Helen (Total Wins)
Ricky Carmichael (5)
James Stewart (2)
All-Time Wins by Brand at Glen Helen (Last Win)
Honda: 6 (2015)
Kawasaki: 6 (2009) Suzuki: 2 (2005) Yamaha: 2 (2007)
KTM: 1 (2014)
First-Time Winners at Glen Helen
1993: Mike LaRocco (Kawasaki)
2000: Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki)
2001: Tim Ferry (Yamaha)
2009: Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)
Brand Sweeps at Glen Helen (450 Class & 250 Class)
1997: Kawasaki – Jeff Emig & Ricky Carmichael
2006: Kawasaki – James Stewart & Ryan Villopoto
2008: Kawasaki – James Stewart & Austin Stroupe
Riders to Win at Glen Helen in Both Classes (Years Won)
Ricky Carmichael (250 Class ’97 / 450 Class ’00)
Ryan Dungey (250 Class ’09 / 450 Class ’14)
Grant Langston (250 Class ’01 / 450 Class ’07)
James Stewart (250 Class ’02 / 450 Class ’06)
Ryan Villopoto (250 Class ’06 / 450 Class ’09)
Past Winners at Glen Helen
May 23, 2015 / Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO / Honda
May 24, 2014 / Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / KTM
May 23, 2009 / Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki
May 25, 2008 / James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki September 9, 2007 / Grant Langston, South Africa / Yamaha September 10, 2006 / James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki September 11, 2005 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Suzuki September 12, 2004 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda May 11, 2003 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda May 12, 2002 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Honda
May 13, 2001 / Tim Ferry, Largo, FL / Yamaha
May 14, 2000 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki May 9, 1999 / Sebastien Tortelli, France / Honda May 10, 1998 / Mickael Pichon, France / Suzuki
May 11, 1997 / Jeff Emig, Kansas City, KS / Kawasaki
May 12, 1996 / Jeremy McGrath, Menifee, CA / Honda
August 1, 1993 / Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN / Kawasaki
250 Class Stats
• 2015 Overall Podium: Marvin Musquin, Justin Hill, Jessy Nelson
• The first 250 Class race held at Glen Helen was on August 1, 1993. Doug Henry won on a Honda. It was the first and only National in the history of the championship to have just one moto to determine a winner.
• The 250 Class could feature its 10th straight new Glen Helen winner in 2015.
• KTM’s sweep of the overall podium last season signified the first time in the brand’s history that it accomplished such a feat.
• Jeremy Martin’s first career win at Glen Helen in 2014 also signified the first victory for Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha in Pro Motocross. Martin has won nine races and two championships since then, while Star Yamaha has 13 total victories from three riders.
• Glen Helen served as the site where two riders won their Pro Motocross debut – Grant Langston (2001) and James Stewart (2002).
• Ricky Carmichael, Stewart, and Langston are the only three riders in history with multiple Glen Helen wins.
• Kawasaki won at Glen Helen for seven consecutive seasons from ’02-‘08. The brand has won 10 of the 17 races held at Glen Helen in the 250 Class, but not since 2008.
• Ryan Dungey became the first 250 Class rider to win at Glen Helen on a Suzuki in 2009.
• All three of Yamaha’s wins at Glen Helen were the inaugural Pro Motocross victory for each respective rider.
• Honda has not won at Glen Helen since earning the inaugural victory in 1993.
All-Time Wins at Glen Helen (Total Wins)
Ricky Carmichael (3)
Grant Langson (2)
James Stewart (2)
All-Time Wins by Brand at Glen Helen (Last Win)
Kawasaki: 10 (2008)
Yamaha: 3 (2014)
KTM: 2 (2015)
Honda: 1 (1993)
Suzuki: 1 (2009)
First-Time Winners at Glen Helen
1996: Kevin Windham (Yamaha)
2000: Stephane Roncada (Yamaha)
2001: Grant Langston (KTM)
2002: James Stewart (Kawasaki)
2008: Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki)
2014: Jeremy Martin (Yamaha)
Past Winners at Glen Helen
May 23, 2015 / Marvin Musquin, France / KTM
May 24, 2014 / Jeremy Martin, Millville, MN / Yamaha
May 23, 2009 / Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN / Suzuki
May 25, 2008 / Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, NC / Kawasaki September 9, 2007 / Ben Townley, New Zealand / Kawasaki September 10, 2006 / Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA / Kawasaki September 11, 2005 / Grant Langston, South Africa / Kawasaki September 12, 2004 / James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki May 11, 2003 / Mike Brown, Johnson City, TN / Kawasaki May 12, 2002 / James Stewart, Haines City, FL / Kawasaki
May 13, 2001 / Grant Langston, South Africa / KTM
May 14, 2000 / Stephane Roncada, France / Yamaha May 9, 1999 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki May 10, 1998 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
May 11, 1997 / Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL / Kawasaki
May 12, 1996 / Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, LA / Yamaha
August 1, 1993 / Doug Henry, Torrington, CT / Honda
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