F
or only the second time ever,
the editors at Cycle News
considered naming a back-
to-back CN Rider of the Year re-
cipient. In 2001, we named Ricky
Carmichael our ROTY winner,
which was a no-brainer decision.
Carmichael rode off with the AMA
Supercross and Motocross title
for the first time, which included
winning 14 out of 16 Supercross
races, tying Jeremy McGrath's
record. That same year, he won
seven 250cc Nationals en route
to his second outdoor title and
won a 125cc National MX race,
breaking Mark Barnett's all-time
win record of 25. (Remember
that?) These are just a few of his
highlights that year.
The amazing part was Carmi
-
chael had an even more impres-
sive racing season the following
year, the year he won every out-
door National moto, along with
winning all the usual major titles
again, earning him our ROTY title
for the second consecutive time.
Fast forward almost two de-
cades, and we found ourselves in
a similar situation. Last year, Jett
Lawrence was our clear favorite
for Rider of the Year. Much like
Carmichael in 2002, Lawrence
clinched both Supercross and Pro
Motocross titles, winning every
outdoor moto along the way.
Replicating Jett's remarkable 2023
season would be a daunting chal
-
lenge, but it seemed possible until
a severe crash at Hangtown halted
his winning streak from the previ
-
ous year. Another injury shortly
after kept Jett out for the
P210
CN IIOBSERVATION CHECK
BY KIT PALMER
A YEAR TO
(BUT AREN'T THEY ALL?)
REMEMBER
