KWindham_D

Profile: KEVIN WINDHAM

 

 

 

On May 18, 2003, at the second round of the AMA 250 National outdoor motocross series, Amsoil Chaparral Honda rider Kevin Windham did the seemingly impossible: He beat Honda's reigning 250 Supercross and motocross champ Ricky Carmichael in the first moto. That incredible feat-performed by Windham on Honda's revolutionary CRF450R four-stroke motocrosser-ended Carmichael's record-setting string of 30 consecutive moto wins. Then Windham broke RC's record streak of overall race wins, doing the deed at the seventh round of the series at Unadilla. Ironically, it was Windham who was the last rider to beat Carmichael before RC's run of motocross wins, and he did it at Washougal back in 2001. As a reminder of this, Windham and his CRF450R took a second consecutive overall win in 2003, again at Washougal.

 

 

 

All this from a young man who broke his femur at the Atlanta Supercross round in February 2002, then stepped away from the sport for more than a year to heal, and to rediscover his desire to race-and win-once again.

 

 

 

Windham has always been an incredibly gifted rider, but it takes someone very special indeed to spend so much time away from racing, and then return at the very top of his game. K-Dub showed just that at the opening 250 National motocross round at Glen Helen in 2003, where he finished second to Carmichael in the second moto. Windham also showed a bit of rustiness with a crash in the first moto. By the third round, though, he finished back on the podium; in fact with one exception, he podiumed in all of the remaining races. By the end of the season, Windham finished second overall in the points standings to RC.

 

Amazingly, Windham didn't have to change his riding style to adapt to the four-stroke CRF450R, despite having spent his entire 10-year career on two-strokes.

 

 

 

"It's been a blessing to have the opportunity to ride the Honda CRF450R," Windham says, "because it's almost as if the bike was built for me. I'm very happy with it."

 

 

 

For 2004, Windham will be racing both the AMA 250 Supercross and 250 outdoor Nationals on the 450. He skipped the 2003 Supercross season because his wife Dottie gave birth to their first child, daughter Madelyn, in December 2002.

 

 

 

"That's the reason I didn't ride Supercross last year," he says. "One, so I'd be completely ready and focused, and two, to make sure I was there to support my family."

 

 

 

A completely ready and focused Kevin Windham is precisely what his competitors should fear most. His time away from the sport obviously did him a world of good. And his ability to beat the previously unbeatable Ricky Carmichael should give K-Dub's confidence a Saturn-rocket-style boost.

 

 

 

As Windham himself says, "Every aspect of this comeback is right where it needs to be and couldn't get any better."

 

 

 

Except maybe with a couple of AMA championships.

 

 

Statistics: KEVIN WINDHAM

 

 

 

2003

 

 

 

- 2nd AMA/Chevy Trucks 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

2002

 

 

 

- Leg injury forces him to miss most of the season

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

- 2nd AMA/Chevy Trucks 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

- 4th AMA/EA Sports 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

2000

 

 

 

- 3rd AMA/Chevy Trucks 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

- 4th AMA/EA Sports 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

1999

 

 

 

- 2nd AMA/Mazda Trucks 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

- 7th AMA/EA Sports 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

1998

 

 

 

- 4th AMA 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

- 8th AMA/Mazda Trucks 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

1997

 

 

 

- AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series Champion

 

 

 

- 2nd AMA 125 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

- 18th AMA 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

1996

 

 

 

- AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series Champion

 

 

 

- 2nd AMA 125 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

- 19th AMA 250 Supercross Series

 

 

 

1995

 

 

 

- 5th AMA 125 East Region Supercross Series

 

 

 

- 16th AMA 250 National Motocross Series

 

 

 

 

 

Born: February 28, 1979, Baton Rouge, LA

 

 

 

Residence: Centerville, MS

 

 

 

National #: 14

 

 

 

Began riding: 1981, age 3

 

 

 

First race: 1981, age 3

 

 

 

Training: Weight training, running, BMX and mountain biking

 

 

 

Hobbies: Flying

 

 

 

Height/weight: 6' 1"/185 lb.

 

 

 

Marital status: Married (Dottie, daughter Madelyn)

 

 

 

Current race bike: Honda CRF450R

 

 

 

Mechanic: Jonathan Hyland

 

Done