Jeff Emig photos from the 1997 Kawasaki press kit.

Jeff Emig’s 1997 Kawasaki press kit photo. Emig won four AMA national championships and was a six-time U.S. Motocross des Nations team member.

Emig was one of the icons when the MX lifestyle came to prominence in the 1990s that was characterized by a style of dress, music and a love for the sport of motocross popularized on the pages of the hot new magazine named Racer X Illustrated.

Emig earned a fanatical following of fans who wore giant fake afros at the races in honor of Emig’s popular nickname “Fro.”

One of my most vivid motocross memories was at Steel City in1996 when Emig edged out Jeremy McGrath to win the AMA Motocross Championship. I stood at the foot of the podium watching Emig get his No. 1 plate and heard a roar rise up from behind me. I turned around and a slew of Fro-wearing fans had just arrived at the podium celebration and were going nuts cheering for their hero. It was such a special moment, just being there sent chills down my spine.

Emig was a great champion and one of the all-time fan favorites. Today he does expert TV commentary for motocross and supercross evens.