Pretty interesting and maybe not surprising is how many times, former GP racers, have won at the Unadilla circuit. Back in 1972, it was the first American hero, Gary Jones who won for the very first time at Unadilla, but just a year later, the first Euro got his hands on the winners’ trophy, when Pierre Karsmakers won in 1973.

What followed was a bit of a mixed relationship with the Nationals and Unadilla, with the series returning to this old school circuit in 1976 with Steve Stackable winning the 500cc Nationals and a year later, everyone’s boyhood hero, Marty Smith also won a 500cc round.

Again, the series would come and go, and it wasn’t until 1989 that Unadilla would host an AMA National, with another European, Jean-Michel Bayle winning the 500cc round and Damon Bradshaw winning the 125cc round.

Names like Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward would add their names to the winners list, but it was of course “The Goat” Ricky Carmichael who would own this place. Winning in the 125cc class in 1998 and 1999 and then in the 250/450 class in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. So, eight victories at Unadilla.

James Stewart also had some success with 125cc wins in 2002, 2003, and 2004 and 250/450 wins in 2008. Ryan Villopoto won on the 250 in 2006 and 2008 and on the 450 in 2011 and 2013. Ryan Dungey won on the 450 in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

Marvin Musquin won on the 250 in 2012 and on the 450 in 2017 and 2018. Of the current riders, Chase Sexton won in 2022 and 2024 in the 450 and Jett Lawrence won on the 250 in 2021 and on the 450 in 2023. Hunter Lawrence won in 2023 in the 250 class.

As you can see looking through the winners list, it was often the guys with great throttle control around the slick and rocky circuit.

450 Winners

8/10/24Chase Sexton

8/12/23Jett Lawrence

8/13/22Chase Sexton

8/14/21Ken Roczen

2020COVID

8/10/19Ken Roczen

8/11/18Marvin Musquin

8/12/17Marvin Musquin

8/13/16Ken Roczen

8/8/15Ryan Dungey

8/9/14Ryan Dungey

8/10/13Ryan Villopoto

8/18/12Ryan Dungey

8/13/11Ryan Villopoto

8/14/10Ryan Dungey

8/15/09Chad Reed

7/20/08James Stewart

7/15/07Kevin Windham

7/16/06Ricky Carmichael

7/17/05Ricky Carmichael

7/18/04Ricky Carmichael

7/20/03Kevin Windham

7/21/02Ricky Carmichael

7/15/01Ricky Carmichael

7/16/00Ricky Carmichael

7/18/99Mike LaRocco

7/19/98Jeff Emig

7/20/97Jeff Emig

7/21/96Greg Albertyn

7/23/95Mike LaRocco

7/17/94Mike LaRocco

7/11/93Mike Kiedrowski

7/29/73Pierre Karsmakers

7/16/72Gary Jones

250 Class

8/10/24Levi Kitchen

8/12/23Hunter Lawrence

8/13/22Jo Shimoda

8/14/21Jett Lawrence

2020COVID

8/10/19Dylan Ferrandis

8/11/18Dylan Ferrandis

8/12/17Jeremy Martin

8/13/16Cooper Webb

8/8/15Joey Savatgy

8/9/14Christophe Pourcel

8/10/13Eli Tomac

8/18/12Marvin Musquin

8/13/11Dean Wilson

8/14/10Trey Canard

8/15/09Christophe Pourcel

7/20/08Ryan Villopoto

7/15/07Ben Townley

7/16/06Ryan Villopoto

7/17/05Broc Hepler

7/18/04James Stewart

7/20/03James Stewart

7/21/02James Stewart

7/15/01Grant Langston

7/16/00Stephane Roncada

7/18/99Ricky Carmichael

7/19/98Ricky Carmichael

7/20/97Kevin Windham

7/21/96Steve Lamson

7/23/95Ryan Hughes

7/17/94Ryan Hughes

7/11/93James Dobb

10/13/91Guy Cooper

10/14/90Guy Cooper

10/15/89Damon Bradshaw

500cc Winners

10/13/91Jeff Ward

10/14/90Rick Johnson

10/15/89Jean-Michel Bayle

7/31/77Marty Smith

8/1/76Steve Stackable