Jeff Emig

Jeff Emig grew up riding the harsh tracks of the East Coast. He was rugged, burly and fearless. He and Jeremy McGrath came up inside the same tight circle that turned professional motocross into the greatest party of the ’90s.

Then Jeremy became King.

McGrath started taking up all the oxygen in the stadium. He collected millions and reshaped Supercross around his effortless style. Jeff was possibly the only rider fast enough to challenge him, but every time Fro got close, Showtime found another way to beat him, and make it hurt. Their competition moved from the racetrack into trucks, stereos, sponsors, boats, women and the loyalty of everyone around them. It became a full-fledged, bitter rivalry.

By 1996, the entire Kawasaki team had one focused mission: stop McGrath. But as McGrath completely dominated the season, the mission became stopping him from achieving a “perfect season.” Emig was running out of time, patience and excuses. To become champion, he would have to defeat the most dominant rider in Supercross history without letting the pressure destroy him first.

What followed became the heart of MOTO NINETIES: a season-long war that divided their circle and drove both riders toward one final race, a winner-take-all championship battle at Steel City.

But taking a title away from McGrath only heightened the war, and widened the battle. As Fro’s confidence, fame and appetite for the spotlight exploded, the same freedom that made the ’90s irresistible began pulling him away from the rider he had fought so hard to become.