Jeff Emig

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Cam Jeffrey Emig (born December 1, 1970 in Kansas City, Kansas) was one of the premier motocross racers of the 1990s with 4 major titles for Yamaha and Kawasaki. His main rival was Jeremy McGrath. Emig won more motocross races than anyone else in the 90s with 29 wins and 3 titles. He was also the only rider in the 90s to win back to back 250cc motocross titles in 1996 and 1997. In 1998 he was injured after a five race span in which he won four, and placed second in the other. He was often overshadowed by McGrath in the indoor supercross series.

In 1995 a new generation of motocross began, as evidenced by the first Crusty Demons of Dirt video. Jeff and a few other motocross professionals had their first real on-screen 50cc pit bike racing. For a $5 purse for the win and a $5 purse for best take out move, although not an AMA event yet, this is where the pitbike race scene started as per the film. It was seen as mostly a drunken mechanics race; during the races of Crusty Demons of Dirt the riders were all severely intoxicated.

In 1999, Jeff Emig was arrested after he was stopped while walking under suspicion of drug use. The officer noticed a bulge in Jeffs pocket and asked him to remove it. The object was a soda can, made into a bowl for smoking marijuana.

Jeff Emig was arrested and dropped by Team Green Kawasaki, and fell out. For a while he went privateer with a few short list sponsors and a Yamaha YZ250, still with Shift motocross gear. He had a victory just a few weeks after being dropped by Kawasaki; winning the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas.

But this was not the end of his problems. At the backyard track of fellow Yamaha rider and neighbor Stephane Roncada in Riverside County, California Emig came up short on a triple jump, reportedly snapping both forearms above the wrist.

Emig is said to be one of the fastest and smoothest outdoor riders ever. He now has a wife and a child, still involved in MX. Emig was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.