Jeff Emig might have just one premier class AMA supercross title, but it is probably one of the all-time shocks when he beat home Suzuki mounted Jeremy McGrath in the 1997 AMA Supercross championship.

A winner of the MXoN with Team USA in 1992, 1993 and 1996 and a winner of AMA motocross and supercross championships, he was one of the best of his era and an American legend. Below he talks about some important moments in his illustrious career.

Moving to 250’s

Jeff Emig: I was thrown to the wolves in the 250 Supercross class. I wasn't physically mature enough and certainly not mentally mature enough. I needed more time to develop. Unfortunately, because of the progression points system, I was moved up before I was ready. Therefore, I would start at the front, only to be passed or crash. Supercross wasn't good for me in 1992, but in the 125 Nationals, I found my form as a professional racer. Halfway through the season, I started winning races and eventually won the 125 National Championship in the final moto of the final race. I finished 1992 on a high note, winning the Motocross des Nations with Mike LaRocco and Billy Liles in Australia.

The Big Change - Kawasaki

Jeff Emig: After four years, I was there, just behind Jeremy McGrath. But I needed a change. I'd been with Yamaha for a while. My lifestyle was really enjoyable off the bike. We had a good time and were burning the candle at both ends. Keith McCarty and I didn't really connect with who I was as a person. He wanted me to clean things up a bit, have a little less fun, and be more serious about racing. I felt like he wasn't engaging with me. Yamaha gave me a great offer, but Roy Turner at Kawasaki showed a lot of interest in me. When I signed that Kawasaki contract, it was the most money I'd ever made in my career. Roy was thrilled to have signed me. I don't remember Keith feeling the same way about me.

1997 – The Season

Jeff Emig: From mid-1996 to the end of the summer of 1997, I basically won everything. I was at the pinnacle of the sport, winning the 1997 Supercross and National Championships in the same year. I was named to my sixth Motocross of Nations team and was the King of Bercy. I was having the best time of my life. In retrospect, in 1998, I was basking in the previous year's accomplishments. Supercross was a real struggle, and I couldn't focus. But in the middle of the summer of 1998, I got back into shape. I won four outdoor races and said, "Okay, I'm getting back on track." During practice in Millville, I rolled my right wrist forward and hurt my right thumb. I won both motos that day. A week later, my orthopedic surgeon said, "Your thumb is broken. We have to work on it, or you're going to mess it up even more." I had Lasik surgery on my eyes and thumb. During this time off, I just had fun.

The Rock Star

Jeff Emig: I didn't have long hair, smoke cigarettes, or walk around with a bottle of Jack Daniels, but in a way, I wanted to do that. I I never really wanted to be a professional athlete; I always wanted to be a rock star. Later in my career, when I got the tour bus and all that, it was my way of manifesting my desire for that rock star lifestyle. It was definitely fun, and I had a great time. Fans loved it. It created the image I wanted, and I felt like it was pretty authentic to me. Ultimately, it probably wasn't the best career choice if you were a professional motorcycle racer.