Jeff Emig
Encyclopedia
Cam Jeffrey Emig was one of the premier motocross
racers of the 1990s with 4 major titles for Yamaha
and Kawasaki
. His main rival was Jeremy McGrath
. Emig won more motocross races than any other competitor (besides McGrath) in the 1990s with 36 wins and 4 titles. He was also the only rider in the '90s to win back to back 250cc motocross national championships in 1996 and 1997. He was a six-time member of the United States Motocross des Nations
team, with the U.S. team winning the Championship in 1992, '93, and '96. In 1998 he was injured after a five race span in which he won four, and placed second in the other. He was often overshadowed by McGrath in the indoor supercross
series.
In 1997 Emig had one of his best seasons. In the 13 round series he won seven races finished second five times and had one fifth place. He won 17 of the 26 motos that year.
In 1999, Emig was dropped by the Kawasaki racing team. He would return as a privateer with a few sponsors and riding a Yamaha YZ250. He had his last major victory just a few weeks after being dropped by Kawasaki; winning the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas
.
On December 30, 1999, at the track of fellow Yamaha rider and neighbor Stephane Roncada in Riverside County, California, Emig came up short on a triple jump, reportedly snapping both forearms above the wrist. The end of Emig’s career came on May 4, 2000, when he was preparing for the National Motocross Championship later that year. Emig suffered another horrific crash where he crushed a vertebra in his back and compound fractured his right lower leg, forcing into retirement.
Emig's starting prowess was legendary. His clutch control and first corner fearlessness saw him lead many races into the first turn in the 1990s. He was notoriously hard to pass, and always rode with his elbows high up in an outward position. He is now married to Jennifer, they have two children, Presley and Jagger. He is still involved in MX on several levels, including television color commentary on Speed and CBS. Emig was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racers of the 1990s with 4 major titles for Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
and Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
. His main rival was Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of Supercross." His tricks during jumps on the supercross track, the most famous of which he called the "Nac Nac", helped spawn...
. Emig won more motocross races than any other competitor (besides McGrath) in the 1990s with 36 wins and 4 titles. He was also the only rider in the '90s to win back to back 250cc motocross national championships in 1996 and 1997. He was a six-time member of the United States Motocross des Nations
Motocross des Nations
The Motocross des Nations is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross"...
team, with the U.S. team winning the Championship in 1992, '93, and '96. In 1998 he was injured after a five race span in which he won four, and placed second in the other. He was often overshadowed by McGrath in the indoor supercross
Supercross
Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Professional supercross contest races are held almost exclusively within professional baseball and football stadiums.-History:Supercross was derived...
series.
In 1997 Emig had one of his best seasons. In the 13 round series he won seven races finished second five times and had one fifth place. He won 17 of the 26 motos that year.
In 1999, Emig was dropped by the Kawasaki racing team. He would return as a privateer with a few sponsors and riding a Yamaha YZ250. He had his last major victory just a few weeks after being dropped by Kawasaki; winning the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
.
On December 30, 1999, at the track of fellow Yamaha rider and neighbor Stephane Roncada in Riverside County, California, Emig came up short on a triple jump, reportedly snapping both forearms above the wrist. The end of Emig’s career came on May 4, 2000, when he was preparing for the National Motocross Championship later that year. Emig suffered another horrific crash where he crushed a vertebra in his back and compound fractured his right lower leg, forcing into retirement.
Emig's starting prowess was legendary. His clutch control and first corner fearlessness saw him lead many races into the first turn in the 1990s. He was notoriously hard to pass, and always rode with his elbows high up in an outward position. He is now married to Jennifer, they have two children, Presley and Jagger. He is still involved in MX on several levels, including television color commentary on Speed and CBS. Emig was inducted into the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2004.
Major titles
- Multi-time Amateur National Motocross Champion
- 1992 125 AMA National Motocross Champion (Yamaha)
- 1996 250 AMA National Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
- 1997 250 AMA Supercross Champion (Kawasaki)
- 1997 250 AMA National Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
- 1997 King of Bercy (Kawasaki)
- 1999 US OPEN champion (Yamaha)
- 1992-1997 member of the mx of nations for team USA