Career
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, he was one of the premier motocross racers of the 1990s with four major titles for the Yamaha and Kawasaki factory racing teams. He was often overshadowed by McGrath in the indoor supercross series. In 1997 Emig had one of his best seasons.
In 1999, Emig was dropped by the Kawasaki racing team
He would return as a privateer with a few sponsors and riding a Yamaha YZ250. He had his last major victory just a few weeks after being dropped by Kawasaki.
Winning the United States Open of Supercross in Las Vegas. On December 30, 1999, at the track of fellow Yamaha rider and neighbor Stephane Roncada in Riverside County, California, Emig came up short on a triple jump, reportedly snapping both forearms above the wrist.
The end of Emig’s career came on May 4, 2000, when he was preparing for the National Motocross Championship later that year.
Emig suffered another horrific crash where he crushed a vertebra in his back and compound fractured his right lower leg, forcing into retirement. Emig"s starting prowess was legendary. His clutch control and first corner fearlessness saw him lead many races into the first turn in the 1990s.
He was notoriously hard to pass, and always rode with his elbows high up in an outward position.
He is still involved in motocross on several levels, including television color commentary on Speed and Columbia Broadcasting System. Emig was inducted into the American Medical Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.