Jeremy McGrath

Jeremy McGrath
McGrath signing autographs in 2009
Born	(1971-11-19) November 19, 1971 (age 45) San Francisco, California
Occupation	Supercross Rider
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg)
Website	http://www.jeremymcgrath2.com

Jeremy McGrath (born November 19, 1971 in San Francisco, California) is one of the most popular American /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 the sport of . McGrath was AMA Pro Athlete of the Year Award in 1996. Still competitive in Motorcycle racing, he has tried his hand in many types of motorcycle competition. Lately he has expanded into off-road trucks in the Pro 2WD division of the LOORS Series and occasionally tries his hand at . McGrath lives in Southern California with his wife Kim and daughters Rhowan and Bergen. McGrath has the privilege of being the first rookie ever to win the AMA 250cc Supercross Championship, in 1993.

McGrath began racing motocross at the age of 15 after a successful career in BMX. He placed 8th in the 125cc West Region Supercross season of 1989. In 1990 he won his first supercross race and placed 2nd in that season. McGrath won the 125 West Supercross title in 1991 and 1992.

McGrath won a record of seventy-two 250cc Main Events and captured seven 250cc supercross championships between 1993 and 2000, a time now known as the "McGrath Era.". He also won the 1995 250 Outdoor Motocross Championship and had the 1996 title in sight before a late-season injury handed the title to Jeff Emig. He described the loss as follows: "I get mad at myself a little bit because I should’ve won the ’96 title too, but I was thinking I was invincible and tried a jump at Millville that I never should have attempted and got injured." McGrath also participated in two victories by the U.S. team at the –1993 in Austria and 1996 in Spain. 1998, 1999, 2000 seasons with The Chaparral Motorsports race team was the 1st non-factory team in the history of the sport to win a Supercross Championship

He started the 2001 season in typically strong form; winning 2 of the first 3 main events. However, he lost the next event to Team Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael. Carmichael would then win every race from there on out; dethroning McGrath as Supercross champion and equalling his 1996 win record of 13 consecutive main event victories. McGrath returned in 2002 to take a shot at regaining his crown, but chronic arm pump and perhaps age caught up with him, and he could only muster a 3rd place in the final standings behind Carmichael and Yamaha's David Vuillemin.

For 2003, he signed with Team KTM, but a pre-season crash on the much-maligned KTM 250SX made him rethink his future in racing and he decided to retire on the eve of the 2003 Supercross season. He did a farewell tour with KTM to show his appreciation and sign autographs for fans.