I wrote an article earlier this week about the lack of American riders in MXGP and then all of a sudden Steve Dixon gets on the phone to former rider Zach Osborne and a deal was done for young American Jack Chambers, who formerly raced for the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Rides Unlimited Racing KTM team.

Now, nobody expects Chambers to be a GP winner, or even a podium finisher, but just having an American in the European based series is a good thing and we all welcome him to our series. American riders drop in every now and then and the last high-level performer from USA was of course Thomas Covington, who won four Grand Prix’s for his country, the last in 2018 in Turkey.

Amazingly, Chambers good friend and training partner Osborne made his first statement in Europe with a GP win in Turkey, the rest is history with the former AMA motocross champion.

We all know the relationship between USA and Europe is the most important connection we have in the sport and the relationship between us and them is huge and the promoters Infront and MXSports are at an all time high with their good spirit. While we have had a huge number of riders coming from America in the past, the numbers dipped to zero at the start of this season, so having Chambers here might not be huge, it is good to see.

It was all the way back to 1973 when a young Jim Pomeroy captured the Spanish GP victory right up until that timely victory by Thomas Covington in 2018 in Turkey the riders from the land of the stars and striped have more than done their share of winning at GP level.

With Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto winning the Grand Prix of Thailand in 2015 and Thomas Covington winning, they join a select group of American riders who have had GP success.

Thirty-four American riders have won Grand Prix’s since Jim Pomeroy took their first at the Spanish GP in 1973. A large portion of those winning the USGP when it visited American soil, but many have found their success on the tough European circuits or in places like Japan, Indonesia and Venezuela.

Villopoto and Thomas Covington joined 10 other American riders to have won a single GP, those being Zach Osborne, Rodney Smith, Chuck Sun, Micky Dymond, Jimmy Ellis, Mike Guerra, Donny Hansen, Ken Howerton, Eric Kehoe, and Marty Moates.

The first ever American motocross world champion Brad Lackey won nine GPs, former 125cc world champion Bobby Moore won 12 GPs and multiple world champion Trampas Parker won 13 GPs. The winningest American rider in the Grand Prix series is another multiple world motocross champion in the late Donny Schmit. Schmit won 15 GP’s in his career in Europe.

Some of the most famous American winners were of course Jim Pomeroy, who was the first American to win a GP, way back in 1973 in Spain. Marty Moates classic 500cc USGP victory at Carlsbad in 1980 was the start of the American dominating of the USGP in the 1980s.

After Moates victory came wins by Chuck Sun in 1981, Danny Chandler in 1982, Broc Glover in 1983 and 84, David Bailey in 85, Ricky Johnson in 86 and Ron Lechien in 89.

Who can forget the very first GP victory for Brad Lackey at the famous Farleigh Castle circuit in England? Back in 1977 the young American racer showed great resolve to take victory and start his own success story in Europe.

Or Danny Laporte and his assault in the world 250 championship in 1982. Starting terribly the American came on strong in the middle rounds, winning in France, England and Holland. It was that run of victories that secured his world title.

As mentioned, Covington won four GPs, his first in 2015 in Mexico, then followed that with wins in Mexico again in 2017, adding wins in Spain and the final one in Turkey. Obviously that stunning GP victory by Ryan Villopoto in Thailand in 2015 was also special.

American riders to have won a single GP are Kevin Windham, Cooper Webb, R.J. Hampshire, Jessy Nelson, Ryan Villopoto, Zach Osborne, Rodney Smith, Chuck Sun, Micky Dymond, Jimmy Ellis, Mike Guerra, Donny Hansen, Ken Howerton, Eric Kehoe, and Marty Moates.

The list of American riders with two GP wins are Eli Tomac, Ron Lechien, David Bailey, Mark Barnett, Danny Chandler, Bob Hannah, Mike Healey, Mike Kiedrowski, while Mike Brown, Broc Glover, Johnny O’mara, Jim Pomeroy and Marty Smith won three each.

Four American riders have won four GP’s each, those being Thomas Covington, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Stanton and Tallon Vohland, while Danny Laporte and Billy Liles won six GPs apiece.

So while Chambers won't be on the podium this weekend, and might even struggle to make top ten, keep an eye on the rider from America and make sure to give him a cheer and some positive vibes, because having him here is great for the sport and series.