James Dobb

Last updated

Jamie Dobb
Nationality British
Born1972 (age 4849)
Derby, England
Motocross career
Years active1987 - 2004
Teams Cagiva, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, KTM
Championships 125cc - 2001
Wins11

James "Dobby" Dobb (born 1972 in Derby) is an English former professional motocross racer. Amongst his achievements, he was crowned amca 125 world champion Motocross World Champion in 2001, [1] and was a top rider in the AMA motocross and supercross series during the mid-1990s.

Biography

Born into a motocross family, Dobb excelled at youth level, winning a host of domestic and European youth motocross titles. He turned professional in 1987, aged 15, signing a contract with the factory Cagiva team, widely acclaimed as a future world champion. In 1989, he won his first major adult title, the British 125cc Motocross championship, winning the 250cc category in 1990. In 1992, he was offered the chance to race in America, for the Pro-Circuit Kawasaki team, headed by Mitch Payton. During his five-year stint in America, Dobb would race for Pro-Circuit Kawasaki, Suzuki America and the Honda of Troy team. Whilst not winning any major titles, he was one of the series' top riders, winning an AMA National at Southwick.

Unfortunately, injury affected his 1996 season, and he was left without a ride for 1997. Disenchanted with the sport, he briefly pursued a modelling career in New York, before receiving an offer to return to Europe, competing for the Suzuki UK team. Dobb excelled on his return to Europe, winning the 1998 British 125cc Motocross championship, and a best finish of fifth in the World 125cc Motocross championship in 1999. His good form saw him move to the factory KTM team in 2000, a move which gave him the momentum to challenge for the 125cc world title. He was second to fellow KTM rider Grant Langston in 2000, before dominating the 2001 championship, securing his, and Great Britain's, first title in the 125cc World Championship. Dobb's title victory was a welcome relief for British motocross in 2001, with much of the domestic season cancelled due to the country's foot and mouth outbreak.

He moved to the premier MX1 class in 2002, but injury, and an uncompetitive KTM 250 machine, meant that he was unable to challenge Stefan Everts for the title. After a lacklustre 2003 season, he returned to MX2, with the RWJ Honda team for 2004. However, unable to mount a serious title challenge, Dobb retired from professional motocross midway through the 2004 season.

Since retiring from motocross, Dobb has pursued a successful business career in sports management. He is currently mentoring his motocross protégé, MX2 factory rider Tommy Searle, as he seeks to emulate Dobb in MX2.

Related Research Articles

Jeremy McGrath American motorcycle racer

Jeremy McGrath is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport, racking up 7 Supercross championships. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of Supercross." McGrath didn't start riding motocross until the age of 14 because he spent his younger years riding BMX. That experience helped him revolutionize the way supercross was ridden, employing a technique he learned in BMX allowing him to stay a foot or two lower over jumps by coming in with more speed then soaking up the landing into his body similar to the way you ride BMX. One of his BMX "tricks" during jumps on the supercross track, the most famous of which he called the "Nac Nac", helped spawn the sport of freestyle motocross. McGrath won the 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 stock car racing. 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.

Ricky Carmichael American motorcycle and stock car racing driver

Richard "Ricky" Carmichael is an American former professional motocross and stock car racing driver. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1997 to 2007 and in NASCAR from 2008 to 2011. Carmichael is notable for winning the AMA 450cc motocross national championship seven times and, the AMA Supercross Championship 450cc class five times. His unrivaled successes in the sport of motocross have given him the nickname "The GOAT"; standing for Greatest of All Time.

Donny Schmit was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1986 to 1989 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1990 to 1994. Schmit was notable for being a two-time motocross world champion, winning the 125cc title in 1990 and the 250cc championship in 1992.

Stefan Everts Belgian motorcycle racer

Stefan Everts is a Belgian former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1988 to 2006. Everts is notable for winning a record 10 FIM motocross world championships and 101 motocross Grand Prix race victories, making him the most successful world championship motocross racer in history.

Chad Reed Australian motorcycle racer

Chad Mark Reed AM is an Australian motocross and supercross racer. He is a multi-time supercross and motocross champion and the record holder for most main event starts in AMA Supercross history, with 265 starts as of 21 June 2020, with his career spanning almost 20 years. He was taught from a young age as being capable of competing at the sports most elite level. He has proven to be the most consistent supercross/motocross racer in the 2000–2009 decade, and has grown to be one of the sports most loved individuals, due to his years of experience and dedication to his sport. He has since ascended the international ranks of the sport to become Australia's most successful motocross racer.

Kevin Windham American motorcycle racer

Kevin Windham, is an American former professional motocross racer. At 17 he received a full factory ride from Team Yamaha. He has raced for many factory teams and holds several titles, back to back AMA 125 West Supercross Championships in 1996 and 1997, the 2005 Motocross des Nations team championship, and 2nd in points for the 2008 supercross season. In 1999 Windham won the United States Grand Prix of Motocross held at Budd's Creek, Maryland. Despite his longtime status as one of the world's fastest motocross racers, he is yet to win a major National or World Championship. He is better known by the nickname K-Dub on the racing scene. He announced his retirement from racing at the third round of the 2013 Supercross season.

Roger De Coster Belgian motorcycle racer

Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. De Coster's name is almost synonymous with the sport of motocross, winning five Motocross World Championships during the 1970s and tallying a record 36 500cc Grand Prix victories. His stature is such in the sport of motocross that he is often simply referred to as "The Man." As a team manager, he captained the first American team to win the Motocross des Nations in 1981. De Coster was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. The motorcycling publication Cycle News named him Motocrosser of the Century in 2000. In 2010, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Sébastien Tortelli is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1994 to 1998 and, competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1999 to 2005. He returned to Europe to compete in the 2006 FIM Motocross World Championship for his final season of professional motocross. Tortelli is notable for winning two FIM motocross world championships. He was one of the few competitors who could beat both Stefan Everts and Ricky Carmichael in their prime.

Bob Hannah American motorcycle racer

Robert William Hannah is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1976 to 1989, most notably as a member of the Yamaha factory racing team. He was one of the most successful motocross racers in AMA history, with 70 AMA national championship race victories and 7 motocross national championships.

Ben Townley is a former professional motocross and supercross racer originating from Taupo, New Zealand. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2001 to 2005 and in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2006 to 2013. Townley is notable for winning the 2004 MX2 world championship.

David Vuillemin is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1995 to 1999 and won the 1999 supercross world championship. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2000 and 2008 before returning to the Motocross World Championships for one final season in 2009. Although Vuillemin never won a major championship, he was twice the runner-up in the AMA Supercross championships and, was one of the few competitors who could beat both Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael in their prime.

David Thorpe is a British former professional motocross racer and racing team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1983 to 1993. Thorpe is notable for being a three-time FIM 500cc motocross world champion.

Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990, winning five world championships in eleven years. Geboers is notable for being the first motocross competitor to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc divisions. His 39 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fifth overall among motocross world championship competitors. In 2011, Geboers was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. Geboers died in a drowning accident in 2018.

Mickaël Pichon is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1992 to 1994 and in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1995 to 1999, before returning to compete in the Motocross World Championships from 2000 to 2009. Pichon is notable for winning the 250cc motocross world championship in 2001 and 2002. His 38 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fifth overall among motocross world championship competitors.

Tanel Leok Estonian motorcycle racer

Tanel Leok is an Estonian professional motocross racer. He has competed in the Motocross World Championships since 2001.

Tommy Searle is an English professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2005 to 2008 and competed in the AMA Motocross Championships in 2009 and 2010. He returned to the Motocross World Championships from 2011 to 2019. Searle is a three-time MX2 World vice-champion. His fourteen MX2 Grand Prix victories make him Britain's most successful MX2 rider and ranks third in total victories across all classes to multiple world champions David Thorpe and Jeff Smith.

The 2010 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 54th season of World Championship motocross competition. It consisted of three different classes; MX1 and MX2 classes over 15 events beginning on April 4 in Sevlievo, Bulgaria and ending on September 12 in Fermo, Italy, and MX3 over 12 events also beginning on April 4 in Cortelha, Portugal and ending on September 5 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ivan Lee Tedesco is an American former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2000 to 2014. Tedesco was the 2005 AMA 125cc Motocross National Champion and was a member of three winning American teams at the Motocross des Nations. He is nicknamed "Hot Sauce", and he raced using the #9.

The 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 59th F.I.M. Motocross World Championship season. It included 18 events, starting at Losail in Qatar on 28 February, and ending at San Bernardino, California in the United States on 20 September. In the main MXGP class, Tony Cairoli was the six-time defending champion, and entered the 2015 season looking to score a record seventh consecutive premier class title, for Red Bull KTM. In the MX2 class, Jordi Tixier was the defending champion, after taking the title in the final race of the 2014 season, also for Red Bull KTM. Tixier defends his title with Team Monster Energy Kawasaki.

The 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 61st FIM Motocross World Championship season. It included 20 events, starting at Losail in Qatar on 25 February, and ending at Villars-sous-Écot in France on 17 September. In the main MXGP class, Tim Gajser was the defending champion after taking his first title in 2016. In the MX2 class, Jeffrey Herlings was the 2016 champion, but he moved up to the MXGP class after taking his third MX2 title.

References