There is a triple crown in our sport for AMA racers that is often forgotten in this current climate of World domination by the Grand Prix riders. Winning the AMA Supercross and AMA motocross championship in a single year and the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations isn’t something that comes often and just nine American based racers have done it. That is going back to 1982, some 40 years and many, many of those during the Team USA domination of the Monster Energy Motocross of Nation s.

When Eli Tomac took out the triple crown this year, it reminded us of the legends of the past who have been able to record that feat and while it had been a while since an AMA racer captured all three titles, the list from the past is an impressive one.

Tomac joined just eight other AMA racers who have taken out the triple crown, those being Donnie Hansen, David Bailey, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto.

While the World media are going crazy about where Ken Roczen will end up in 2023, we are also hearing stories about Eli Tomac’s 2022 season being the best ever by an American racer, its time to look back at what type of seasons some of the other AMA legends had.

No doubt, it was without question the best season of Tomac’s career and I think every single one of us was happy to see him not only finally win a moto at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, but also take home the Chamberlain Trophy with Team USA. Without that victory and his past MXoN performances, his legacy was a lot less than it is now.

Again though, what a sensational season. In the AMA supercross he looked brilliant, consistent and held his nerve better than ever in his career. It was the perfect start to what has been a season for the ages. His dog fight with Chase Sexton in the AMA Nationals was another level all together, with the veteran beating the youngster and entering the MXoN, these two were giving Team USA a good look.

The fact Team USA, who had won from 1981 until 1994, then won another seven in a row from 2005 until 2011, but then had gone 3-2-3-2-3-9-5-6 in the overall finishes from 2012 until 2022, and Tomac himself had done 2-16-3-6-4-5 for moto finishes, I still had major doubts Team USA could pull it off, but they did and surprisingly, I was super pumped for them.

Tomac then travelled to Wales and won the opening round of the World supercross and also travelled to Paris to finish second overall to Ken Roczen. Yes, it was a major year of success, but compared to some of the past champions, it wasn’t for me the best season ever by an American racer, but it was damn close.

You only need to go back as far as 2011 when Ryan Villopoto took out the AMA supercross and AMA motocross championship and also won the MXoN and the field Villopoto was racing was in my opinion a lot better than the 2022 field Tomac beat. RV was up against the likes of Chad Reed, James Stewart, Ryan Dungey and many more. All legends of the sport. 

Of course, after the 2011 MXoN at St Jean d’Angely, Grand Prix riders started regaining ground on the AMA guys and for an AMA guy to get the triple crown was nearly impossible in the last decade. A year earlier in 2010, another Ryan, Ryan Dungey scored the triple crown with AMA SX and MX titles and the MXoN victory.

Chad Reed and James Stewart never took out the triple crown of AMA SX and MX and the MXoN in one year, but that’s because that small red head was doing that. Ricky Carmichael won everything from his 1997 debut season to his final full season in 2006. Only injury stopped him from complete domination and a handful of triple crowns. Title victories by Reed and Stewart only came with RC out or retired and that is a fact.

Carmichael had a handful of dominant years, but his best two were when he won the triple crown, the AMA supercross, AMA motocross and MXoN in 2001 and 2005. He should have won those three again in 2006, but injury ruled him out of the MXoN and again in 2003 he won both indoor and outdoor titles in USA and won the individual overall at the MXoN, only to lose out in the team performance to Team Belgium.

Before them of course there was a guy called McGrath, who dominated supercross, struggled with motocross, but still won himself two MXdN in his illustrious career. McGrath was also a big deal in Europe and in 1995 won the AMA supercross championship, Bercy Supercross, Barcelona supercross, Fastcross and much more. McGrath never got close to taking the triple crown but did win the AMA SX and MXdN in 1996 and again, dominated like no other before him in supercross.

In an era where the AMA 500cc motocross and AMA 250cc motocross was considered a similar title, with many of the leading riders doing both, we got to see a handful of AMA legends get the triple crown. It WAS the era of Team USA and some of the biggest names in the sports history picked up the ultimate prize.

One of the at times forgotten legends of AMA racing, Jeff Stanton won both the AMA MX and SX titles in 1989, 1990 and 1992, also winning the MXdN in those three seasons. So, three triple crowns for the quiet achiever. That 1992 season he also won the King of Bercy, a title that he had trouble with at times with the likes of J.M. Bayle and Jeremy McGrath getting in his way.

We can go even further back to the golden era of AMA racing, when names like Ricky Johnson, David Bailey and Jeff Ward were taking out multiple titles. In 1986 Johnson was the AMA 250 motocross champion, AMA supercross champion, MXdN winner and then again in 1987 he won the AMA 250 and 500 motocross championships, the MXdN and was King of Bercy. A year later Johnson won the AMA supercross championship, the AMA 500cc motocross championship and again, the MXoN, so like Stanton, three triple crowns. It might be mentioned, when the Americans from this era went to Europe, they were often levels above anyone else. It wasn’t a question if they would win an MXdN moto, but by how far.

In 1985 Jeff Ward won the AMA 250 motocross championship, the AMA supercross championship and the MXdN, so he also got himself a triple crown. In 1983 David Bailey won the AMA 250 motocross championship and the AMA supercross championship, then flew to Europe and won the MXdN. In 1982 Donnie Hansen on the AMA supercross and AMA 250 motocross championship and also the MXdN, so he took a triple crown.

Triple Crown Winners

1982 Donnie Hansen

1983 David Bailey

1985 Jeff Ward

1986 Ricky Johnson

1987 Ricky Johnson

1988 Ricky Johnson

1989 Jeff Stanton

1990 Jeff Stanton

1992 Jeff Stanton

2001 Ricky Carmichael

2005 Ricky Carmichael

2010 Ryan Dungey

2011 Ryan Villopoto

2022 Eli Tomac