1996
Stefan Everts wins the first of two back-to-back 250 MX World titles for Honda as he works on developing the aluminum chassis that will debut in production in 1997. The irony is that the '96 CR250R with the final steel frame is good enough to make McGrath set aside his beloved '93. It wins shootouts everywhere and is probably the finest CR250R ever made. Had it been eligible, that '96 probably would have won motocross shootouts in 1997 and 1998. Jeremy McGrath and his CR250 win a fourth U.S. supercross title in a row, taking Honda's unique run of success to nine consecutive crowns. Suzuki becomes the first, and ultimately the only, Japanese brand to switch to a conventional fork with the all-new RM250. Off-road the big news is burgeoning numbers of four-strokes. Honda, Husaberg, Husqvarna and KTM (adopting the now-familiar orange color scheme for the first time) all make 400cc off-road models. The XR400R changes the landscape of off-road riding overnight and the bikes are everywhere. To sort out all the new midsize thumpers, Dirt Rider pulls off the first giant 24-Hour test. We run four stock bikes 24 hours and four modified bikes for 12 hours. Among the test riders are Larry Roeseler, Malcolm Smith and singer/actor Lyle Lovett. KTM racer Shayne King from New Zealand becomes the last rider to win a 500cc class World title on a two-stroke. He does the deed on a KTM 360. Mid-year 1996 Tom Webb was promoted to editorial director of DR and two bicycle books. Ken Faught moved into the editor's seat, and Donn Maeda came aboard to handle the Moto section, training ground for his current position as editor of TransWorld Motocross. Twice World MX champ Donny Schmit dies of a blood disorder just months after winning the Four-Stroke National title for CCM. It is possible his extreme fitness allows him to function with the disease until it is too far advanced to cure.
David Barrett | 
Kevin Windham | 
Dick Burleson |
1997
Stefan Everts retains 250 MX crown, but he seems to be the only rider who can get a handle on the aluminum-framed CR250R. After years of dominance, Honda virtually drops off the competition map. The red bikes bomb in shootouts as well. McGrath switches to Suzuki to avoid racing the aluminum Honda. Despite a works bike he jokingly refers to as his "175" due to the lack of power, McGrath misses out on the SX title to Jeff Emig thanks to a flat tire at one race. Ricky Carmichael began his first full year as a pro with a win at the season-opening national in Florida. Yamaha shocked everyone at the same race when Doug Henry showed up for the Gainesville National opener on a fully works handbuilt 400cc four-stroke. The bike shared little in common with the 1998 production model, but it was an immediate player against the best two-strokes. At the time the AMA allowed four-strokes up to 550cc in the 250cc class, but Yamaha wanted a bike that still handled like a 250. Later in the year Dirt Rider spins off sister publication MXRacer with Donn Maeda at the helm. Scott Hoffman comes aboard to handle the Moto part of the magazine. By this time the Dirt Rider 24-Hour test was the off-road must-attend fun event of the year. We tested GNCC/enduro two-strokes, and they all handled 24 hours with no problem.
Ricky Carmichael | 
Doug Henry | 
Shane Watts |