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ESCO
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Part 2
#11: Steve Lamson
Lammy rode for Big Red for six years and captured two 125 MX titles (’95, ’96). Lammy was on a bit of a different career path, as he was placed in the 250 class for two years before dropping down for outdoors. Steve never won a premier-class race, but 13 podiums indicate he was more than good enough if things had fallen right. Still, Lamson's 21 wins in 125 Pro Motocross leave him just outside our top 10 here.
BOTTOM LINE: We were going to flip a coin between Steve and his teammate Doug for the 10th spot, but then decided to just add #11 instead.
The "We Got a National Title or Two" Guys!
#12: Donnie Hansen
Tragically, Hansen never got to defend his two titles in 1982 because of a crash while getting ready for the MXoN. He was really coming into his own in his third year on the team and the first with the ultra-trick lowboy HRC works bikes. He's above some others with better stats because of the "What if?" factor and two titles in classes that were stacked (250SX and MX).
Total Races for Honda: 53
Wins/Podiums: 7/21
#13: Chase Sexton
What an idiot I was for saying I didn't think Chase was ready for the 450 when Honda moved him up for the nationals in 2020! Although he's on his third OEM now, many of us think he's never had more raw speed than those years he rode for Honda, he broke through the title drought (since RC's 2003 SX title run) for Honda and got that 2023 450SX title and that 2023 450 MX season-long battle with Eli Tomac was something special for sure.
Total Races for Honda: 83
Wins/Podiums: 13/45
#14: Hunter Lawrence
Close call between Lechien and Lawrence for this spot. It won't be long before Hunter climbs higher, but for now, he's got two 250 titles for Honda. Unlike some other guys on this list, he's benefited from Honda getting back into the 250 class. Amazing he's only won one 450 MX race but has 17 podiums in 22 races!
Total Races for Honda: 122
Wins/Podiums: 72/26
#15: Ron Lechien
The Dogger moved from production Yamahas to factory Honda for only two years, but he almost won the '84 250 MX title and dominated the '85 125 MX season for his only national title. All in all, Lechien won an MXoN, 250SX, 125 MX, and 250 MX, as well as the '84 USGP race—all for Honda. Ronnie was arrested for bringing weed into Japan and fired from Honda at the end of the '85 season, but it's not a "What if?" story for Honda because he was already on his way to Kawasaki.
Total Races for Honda: 47
Wins/Podiums: 15/27
#11: Steve Lamson
Lammy rode for Big Red for six years and captured two 125 MX titles (’95, ’96). Lammy was on a bit of a different career path, as he was placed in the 250 class for two years before dropping down for outdoors. Steve never won a premier-class race, but 13 podiums indicate he was more than good enough if things had fallen right. Still, Lamson's 21 wins in 125 Pro Motocross leave him just outside our top 10 here.
BOTTOM LINE: We were going to flip a coin between Steve and his teammate Doug for the 10th spot, but then decided to just add #11 instead.
The "We Got a National Title or Two" Guys!
#12: Donnie Hansen
Tragically, Hansen never got to defend his two titles in 1982 because of a crash while getting ready for the MXoN. He was really coming into his own in his third year on the team and the first with the ultra-trick lowboy HRC works bikes. He's above some others with better stats because of the "What if?" factor and two titles in classes that were stacked (250SX and MX).
Total Races for Honda: 53
Wins/Podiums: 7/21
#13: Chase Sexton
What an idiot I was for saying I didn't think Chase was ready for the 450 when Honda moved him up for the nationals in 2020! Although he's on his third OEM now, many of us think he's never had more raw speed than those years he rode for Honda, he broke through the title drought (since RC's 2003 SX title run) for Honda and got that 2023 450SX title and that 2023 450 MX season-long battle with Eli Tomac was something special for sure.
Total Races for Honda: 83
Wins/Podiums: 13/45
#14: Hunter Lawrence
Close call between Lechien and Lawrence for this spot. It won't be long before Hunter climbs higher, but for now, he's got two 250 titles for Honda. Unlike some other guys on this list, he's benefited from Honda getting back into the 250 class. Amazing he's only won one 450 MX race but has 17 podiums in 22 races!
Total Races for Honda: 122
Wins/Podiums: 72/26
#15: Ron Lechien
The Dogger moved from production Yamahas to factory Honda for only two years, but he almost won the '84 250 MX title and dominated the '85 125 MX season for his only national title. All in all, Lechien won an MXoN, 250SX, 125 MX, and 250 MX, as well as the '84 USGP race—all for Honda. Ronnie was arrested for bringing weed into Japan and fired from Honda at the end of the '85 season, but it's not a "What if?" story for Honda because he was already on his way to Kawasaki.
Total Races for Honda: 47
Wins/Podiums: 15/27
