Jeff Emig was one of the top AMA Motocross and Supercross riders of the 1990s, and this Sunday at 8:30pm ET, he talks to Dave about his outstanding motocross record, his love of rock ‘n’ roll, his lifestyle choices and turning a lifelong speech impediment into a successful broadcasting career.
In all, Emig won four AMA National Championships, an FIM World Supercross title and was a six-time member of the U.S. Motocross des Nations team. He helped mold the motocross lifestyle that came to prominence in the 1990s and was characterized by a style of dress, music and a love for the sport of motocross. Emig earned a fanatical following of fans who wore giant fake afros in honor of his popular nickname “Fro.”
During his 11-year professional career, Emig captured 37 AMA national victories. When he retired, he was fourth on the all-time AMA 250 National Motocross wins list, sixth on the all-time AMA 125 motocross list and tied for seventh on the combined AMA Motocross/Supercross wins list. In 1997 Emig had one of his best seasons. In the 13-round series, he won seven races, finished second five times and had one fifth place. He won 17 of the 26 motos that year.
In early 1999, Emig received a call from Kawasaki to say they were dropping him from the team: “The next call I had to make was to my dad: ‘Hey dad something has come up. Last weekend I got into trouble in Lake Havasu and Kawasaki fired me.’ And that was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. And my dad was incredible.” Jeff Emig.
Emig would return as a privateer with a few sponsors and riding a Yamaha YZ250. He had his last major victory just a few weeks later; winning the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas before serious injuries ended his professional motocross career forever.
Emig is married to Jennifer, a huge Mick Jagger fan, and they have two children, Presley and Jagger. He is still very much involved in motocross, including television color commentary. Jeff Emig was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.
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