Jimmy Button

Jimmy Button wasn’t hanging around the stars. He was one of the fastest riders of his generation and fully committed to a work-hard, play-hard mentality. He grew up racing Jeff Emig and later became one of Jeremy McGrath’s closest friends, sometimes having to choose sides. By the late 1990s, Button was finding his professional stride. He developed into a top factory Supercross and motocross contender, collecting wins and podiums against some of the deepest fields the sport had ever seen.

When two-strokes still ruled, Yamaha handed Jimmy its heavy, temperamental new four-stroke and asked him to help drag racing into the future. He changed his training to manage the extra weight, learned how to make the motorcycle work and won outdoors at Washougal. Long before four-strokes took over the starting gate, Button was helping prove they belonged there. He racked up several podiums and was looking at 2000 as his year to dominate.

Then, at the San Diego Supercross, a devastating crash left him paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors offered almost no hope, but Button proved them wrong. He fought his way back to his feet and helped create Road 2 Recovery as a lifeline for future injured riders.

Buttonfly could race with the best, party with the rest and survive the one battle no rider ever wants.