Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X
  • All Series
  • Subscribe Now
  • Supercross
    • News
    • Schedule
    • TV Schedule
    • Results
    • Standings
    • Teams
    • Riders
    • Tracks
    • The Vault
  • Motocross
    • News
    • Schedule
    • TV Schedule
    • Results
    • Standings
    • Riders
    • Teams
    • Tracks
    • The Vault
  • SuperMotocross
    • News
    • Schedule
    • TV Schedule
    • Results
    • Standings
    • Teams
    • Riders
    • Tracks
  • MXGP
    • News
    • Schedule
    • TV Schedule
    • Results
    • Standings
    • Teams
    • Riders
    • Tracks
  • GNCC
    • News
    • Schedule
    • TV Schedule
    • Results
    • Standings
    • Riders
    • Tracks
  • Loretta Lynn’s
    • News
    • The Vault
  • More Series
    • MXoN
    • WSX
    • Australian SX
    • Australian MX
    • Canadian MX
    • EnduroCross
    • Straight Rhythm
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Arenacross Report
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Next Level
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Lives They Lived
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • UnPhiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Shop
    • New Releases
    • Men's
    • Women's
    • Youth
    • Accessories
    • Sales Rack
    • Stickers
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Sell Racer X
  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Supercross
  • News
  • Schedule
  • TV Schedule
  • Results
  • Standings
  • Teams
  • Riders
  • Tracks
  • The Vault
  • Subscribe Now
  • Table of Contents
Results Archive
Supercross
Arlington
News
450SX Results
  1. Cooper Webb
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Chase Sexton
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Haiden Deegan
  2. Coty Schock
  3. Michael Mosiman
Full Results
Arenacross
Daytona Beach
News
GNCC
Wild Boar
News
Overall Race Results
  1. Jonathan Girroir
  2. Kailub Russell
  3. Ben Kelley
Full Results
XC2 Pro Race Results
  1. Grant Davis
  2. Angus Riordan
  3. Cody J Barnes
Full Results
Supercross
Daytona
News
450SX Main Event Results
  1. Ken Roczen
  2. Cooper Webb
  3. Aaron Plessinger
Full Results
250SX East Main Event Results
  1. R.J. Hampshire
  2. Tom Vialle
  3. Seth Hammaker
Full Results
MXGP of
Argentina
News
MXGP Results
  1. Maxime Renaux
  2. Romain Febvre
  3. Tim Gajser
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Kay de Wolf
  2. Sacha Coenen
  3. Simon Laengenfelder
Full Results
Upcoming
GNCC
Talladega
Sat Mar 8
News
Upcoming
Supercross
Indianapolis
Sat Mar 8
News
Upcoming
MXGP of
MXGP Castilla la Mancha
Sun Mar 16
News
Full Schedule
30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #12 Kent Howerton

30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #12 Kent Howerton

May 8, 2018, 4:15pm
Davey Coombs Davey Coombs
  • Home
  • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
  • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #12 Kent Howerton

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is now just 12 days away! The 50th Annual Hangtown Classic, just outside of Sacramento, California, will go off the starting gate on May 19.

Five years ago, on the eve of the 2013 outdoor season, the editors and contributors of Racer X Online did a countdown of the 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers of all time, ranking the best riders on the AMA Motocross circuit. You can check out that list right here.

But now we’re five years past that list, and in anticipation of a brand-new season of racing, we decided to revisit and update that list, adding in the results and championships accumulated in the past five years to our existing results, which go back to 1972. Our rankings include a mix of championships, race wins, and podiums; a rider's efficiency and longevity; the competition they raced against; and, of course, pure talent and speed. Remember, these rankings are based on the AMA Motocross Nationals—international events like the Motocross of Nations and Grand Prix events here and abroad will not be factored into our tally.

Kent Howerton was a quiet innovator from Texas who earned three AMA Motocross Championships during his career, which stretched from 1973 through the mid-eighties, as well as 23 outdoor National wins. (He also had some success in supercross, but never a championship.) His quiet, all-business demeanor at the races—the complete opposite of more flamboyant characters like Bob “Hurricane” Hannah and “Jammin'” Jimmy Weinert—kept the spotlight off of him, especially after he faded off the circuit. But one thing Howerton did remains with us today: He is widely credited with being the first rider to use the clutch to add power and pull to the motorcycle everywhere around the race track. He is also #12 on our list of NBC Sports Gold's 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers.

Racer X Archives

Howerton's first efforts in AMA Motocross date back to 1973, when he joined the AMA 250 National tour as a privateer from San Antonio after learning the ropes racing his CZ motorcycle against Texas legends like Wyman Priddy and Steve Stackable. One year later he found himself on Husqvarna, and he earned his first National win at the summer-ending New Orleans 250 National.

One year later, still with Husqvarna, Howerton won three of the five rounds of the short AMA 250 National Motocross Championship, but the more consistent Tony DiStefano would win the title with a single race win. It was enough to earn him a nickname from Cycle News' legendary reporter/photographer Jimmy “The Greek” Gianatsis, who started calling Howerton “Rhinestone Cowboy” in a nod to the Glenn Campbell hit from the same year.

The next year, Husqvarna bumped Howerton up to the 500cc Class, and that's where he finally broke through to earn his first championship over Gary Semics. But come '77, his title defense was not what he’d hoped for, as he finished fifth without a win. Disappointed in the lack of development of the Husky, which was falling behind the Japanese bikes—and, quite honestly falling apart at the races—Howerton made a switch the following season, joining Suzuki. His results did not improve immediately, though, as this time he actually finished sixth.

Howerton's change to yellow began to pay better dividends in 1979, when he finished second to his nemesis Bob Hannah, who by that point was at the absolute zenith of his dominance. But in the off-season, Hannah was injured in a water-skiing accident, the boat driven by his friendly rival Marty Tripes. Howerton pounced immediately, winning that fall's Trans-USA Series (though by then, it was a shadow of its old self).

Racer X Archives

Howerton made the most of the 1980 season, dominating the 250 Nationals for a second career AMA National Championship with six wins in seven rounds. He added the Trans-USA title again for good measure, and he won the Unadilla 250cc U.S. Grand Prix for the second year in a row. He was now the top dog in American motocross.

Even when Hannah came back in 1981, Howerton was ready. The two engaged in some hellacious battles, most notoriously at Saddleback Park, where a collision left Howerton with a gash in his arm that required stitches. Hannah won that battle, but Howerton would go on to win the war and retain his #1 plate.

Howerton seemed well-placed to win a third straight title in 1982, especially since Yamaha was sending Hannah down to the 125 Class. But he broke his wrist that fall, so Suzuki dispatched Howerton to the later-starting 500cc Class. He would win the opener—Suzuki's last AMA win on anything above a 250 until Ricky Carmichael in 2005—but he broke his leg a couple of rounds later and his season was finished. So was his time with Suzuki.

For 1983, Howerton, now on the circuit for more than a decade, switched over to Kawasaki, and he would finish second in the 500 Nationals, right between Broc Glover and Danny “Magoo” Chandler. Howerton also won the Gatorback round—his last win as a professional. Over the next few years he would pull back on racing, and he rode his last AMA Motocross race in June of 1988, finishing 11th at the Good Times National at Lake Whitney.

Want to see all of Kent Howerton's results over his long and successful professional career? You can find his SX/MX scores in the Racer X Vault.

Racer X Archives

Other Entries

30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #1 Ricky Carmichael Sat May 19 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #1 Ricky Carmichael 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #2 Bob Hannah Fri May 18 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #2 Bob Hannah 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #3 Rick Johnson Thu May 17 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #3 Rick Johnson 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #4 Ryan Dungey Wed May 16 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #4 Ryan Dungey 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #5 Jeff Ward Tue May 15 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #5 Jeff Ward 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #6 James Stewart Mon May 14 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #6 James Stewart 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #7 Ryan Villopoto Sun May 13 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #7 Ryan Villopoto 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #8 Broc Glover Sat May 12 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #8 Broc Glover 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #9 Jeff Stanton Fri May 11 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #9 Jeff Stanton 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #10 Mike Kiedrowski Thu May 10 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #10 Mike Kiedrowski 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #11 Jeff Emig Wed May 9 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #11 Jeff Emig 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #12 Kent Howerton Tue May 8 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #12 Kent Howerton 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #13 David Bailey Mon May 7 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #13 David Bailey 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #14 Mark Barnett Sun May 6 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #14 Mark Barnett 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #15 Ken Roczen Sat May 5 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #15 Ken Roczen 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #16 Doug Henry Fri May 4 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #16 Doug Henry 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #17 Marty Smith Thu May 3 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #17 Marty Smith 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers:  #18 Eli Tomac Wed May 2 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #18 Eli Tomac 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers:  #19 Mike LaRocco Tue May 1 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #19 Mike LaRocco 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #20 Jeremy McGrath Mon Apr 30 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #20 Jeremy McGrath 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #21 Ron Lechien Sun Apr 29 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #21 Ron Lechien 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #22 Jean-Michel Bayle Sat Apr 28 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #22 Jean-Michel Bayle 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #23 Tony DiStefano Fri Apr 27 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #23 Tony DiStefano 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #24 Steve Lamson Thu Apr 26 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #24 Steve Lamson 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #25 Jimmy Weinert Wed Apr 25 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #25 Jimmy Weinert 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers:  #26 Chad Reed Tue Apr 24 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #26 Chad Reed 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #27 Brad Lackey Mon Apr 23 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #27 Brad Lackey 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #28 Gary Jones Sun Apr 22 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #28 Gary Jones 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #29 Pierre Karsmakers Sat Apr 21 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #29 Pierre Karsmakers 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #30 Jeremy Martin Fri Apr 20 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers: #30 Jeremy Martin
Previous Next
On This Day in Moto: May 8 Tue May 8 On This Day in Moto: May 8 250 Words: No Pressure Plessinger Wed May 9 250 Words: No Pressure Plessinger
Read Now
April 2025 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The April 2025 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2025 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Preferences | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
designed at: Website Design at Impulse Studios