McGrath in Spotlight Today at Glen Helen

Jeremy McGrath, the winningest rider in America motocross history, will make his only appearance of the AMA national outdoor championship season today at Glen Helen Raceway.

With eight Supercross victories this year, McGrath has him 77 overall AMA wins and has moved ahead of Bob Hannah, who had 70 between 1976 and 1985. Sixty of McGrath’s victories were in Supercross. The second-best active rider is Jeff Emig, with 36 overall.

“The season is too long to ride Supercross and the outdoors season too,” McGrath said Saturday. “Besides, I want to ride in some European Supercross events, and the world championships in the Rose Bowl on Nov. 20 and the other three in France, Brazil and Germany. I’m also going to ride in the Summercross in the Coliseum in July.

“I can only do so much, and riding the season opener at Glen Helen will give me a taste of outdoor competition. I want a win for my team, Mazda Chaparral, and my family, who live down the road in Menifee.”

McGrath lives in Canyon Lake but is house-hunting in Carlsbad to be nearer the ocean and his motocross clothing business, No Fear MX Gear, of which he is half owner.

He rides a Yamaha, but is not affiliated with a factory. He won the 1996 Glen Helen race riding a factory-backed Honda. The following year he switched to Suzuki, then to Yamaha last year.

“Another important reason to concentrate on Supercross is that it means more to the factories,” McGrath said.

Most of the other riders today will be ones he defeated in Supercross, such as Emig, the 1997 Glen Helen winner and 250cc national champion; Mike LaRocco, the 1993 Glen Helen winner; Ezra Lusk, Larry Ward and Robbie Reynard, the reigning world champion.

There will be two 30-minute motos plus two minutes for 250cc riders, the same for the 125cc class.

Among the riders in the 125 field will be Kawasaki’s Ricky Carmichael, a two-time national champion who returns after severely injuring his leg last January.

The Facts

* What: AMA 250/125cc Pro Motocross National Round.

* Where: Glen Helen Raceway Park, San Bernardino.

* When: Today, 1 p.m.

* Price: $25, children 4-12, $12.50.

* Defending champion: Mikael Pichon, France, Suzuki.