How old is too old to race professional motocross? That answer depends on the rider’s health, genetic makeup, mental
fortitude and willingness to continue.
Motocross is a young man’s sport
due to the physical strain that racing
puts on the body. Statistics don’t lie.
Only four riders over the age of 30
have ever won a 450 Supercross race,
and no one in his 30s has ever won
a 450 Supercross title. Modern racers
typically turn Pro around 17 and,
if they’re lucky, log a dozen years
before calling it quits. Father Time is
unforgiving to even the greatest. But
then there was John Dowd, a rider
who didn’t turn Pro until he was 21
and hit his stride at the tender age of
28. Apparently, the “Junkyard Dog,” a
nickname he acquired working at his
father’s junkyard, found the fountain
of youth between two broken-down
Winnebagos on the family lot in
Chicopee, Massachusetts.
In a four-year span—from 1994 to
1997—John Dowd finished no worse
than seventh overall in a series. He
was runner-up in the 250 Nationals
(twice) as well as the 1996 AMA
125 East Supercross champ. Yamaha
team manager Keith McCarty signed
Dowd to a factory deal in 1995 alongside rookie Kevin Windham. John
Dowd later said, “Kevin and I clicked.
We had a lot of fun and hung out
together. It was our first year on a
factory team, so there weren’t any
preconceived notions about how we
were supposed to act.” Dowd rewarded Yamaha with outstanding rides,
including victories in the 125 and
250 Supercross and National classes. Oddly enough, after Dowd finished second overall in the 1997 250
National series, Yamaha asked him
to drop down and race the 125 class
for 1998. The strangely hatched plan,
although thought to be asinine at
the time, worked. John collected the
125 West Supercross title over David
Vuillemin and was close to winning
the outdoor crown. If it hadn’t been
for a blazingly fast red-headed kid
from Florida by the name of Ricky
Carmichael, Dowd would have swept
the field in 1998.
John Dowd knew that besting Ricky Carmichael in the 125
Nationals was going to be a tall
order. He later admitted, “I remember
FADED GLORY
those races well, and thinking if it
weren’t for that little Carmichael kid,
I would have won the title [laughter].
Throughout the series I had battles
with Carmichael, Steve Lamson and
Robbie Reynard.” Dowd started the
series with strong 2-2 moto performances behind Ricky Carmichael at
the Glen Helen opener. Dowd won the
first moto at round two in Hangtown,
but it was hometown hero Steve
Lamson who captured the overall.
The points remained tight between
Carmichael and Dowd throughout
the beginning stages of the championship. Southwick, Massachusetts,
served as the fourth round of the
series. It turned out to be a magical
day for the 32-year-old. He went 1-1 in
front of friends and family.
Dowd can still vividly recall the 1998
Nationals. “I was actually surprised
to do what I did with Carmichael,
because he was already one of the
prospects the year before. Everyone
expected him to come in and win. I
had a couple surprising races, races
where I even surprised myself. I did
think I could get him at Southwick,
and I beat him that year. He’s from
Florida, so he was a good sand rider. I
went 1-1 on the day. His bike blew up
in the first moto, but my claim to fame
was that I passed him before his bike
blew up [laughter]. We had a lot of
fun. I got along well with Ricky, and
we were always pretty good friends.
I ended up winning Binghamton that
year, too, which was kind of cool.”
When the dust settled, Ricky
Carmichael won the 125 National
title by 48 points. While Dowd never
earned the coveted National crown,
he proved that age is just a number.
If the fact that Dowd won a 125
National at 32 doesn’t shock you, then
consider this: he finished third over-
all at Southwick in 2009 at age 44.
What’s his secret? According to the
Dowd, it’s all about having the right
mindset. “I still feel like a little kid,
and I love riding. It’s better than ther-
apy. In fact, motocross is my therapy.”
We can all learn from John Dowd. ❏
JOHN DOWD DEFIES THE ODDS
