T-Dog’s Takes: Shae Bentley Had the Best Celebration in the History of the Sport

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I have a problem with the way the sport is heading. When the top guys win. I don’t see the excitement that I personally want to see. I want to see the excitement meter past 11 and lately the top guys who win all of the time aren’t showing me anything.

And don’t come at me saying they do sweet burnouts and try to blow their bikes up. I don’t want to hear it. Burnouts are lame and blowing a bike up is a waste of money, which is also lame.

The guys seem to be going through the motions and I’m over it. May I introduce you to a one, Shae Bentley. See, Mr. Bentley here was a Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider in the early 2000’s that had problems staying healthy. Yet, for one magical 2000 125cc West Region run…he defied all odds and became the champion after an unpredictable season and season finale where everyone and their moms crashed in the first turn.

I crashed in the first turn by just watching it on TV. Bentley made it up to 7th on the night, which was enought to win the championship by two points over David Pingree.

Apparently the AMA was still using finger math to count the points because Bentley found out in his TV interview with pit reporter Davey Coombs that he did in fact win the championship. Here is how it played out live on ESPN2 when it aired three months later on TV.

I love this reaction and WE NEED more of this energy! Here is a guy who has been kicked in the dick for many years and he’s just so used to things not working out for him that he just assumed he lost the title. Yet, when he’s informed that he did in fact win, he felt joy that he may have never felt in his life until that moment. He didn’t know what to do but look at DC with these whimpering eyes and it’s honestly the most wholesome celebration I’ve ever seen.

I bet David Pingree still wakes up in the middle of the night with cold sweats hearing those infamous words: “Yeah baby, I freakin’ won it!”

Bentley won the championship that season with 5-22-3-2-1-1-7 results. What a legend.

Yes, this reaction is way better than Brian Deegan’s ghost ride and exclaiming that he kicked everyone’s ass on the podium. That was villain mentality and Bentley is more of a golden retriever.

So, take notes Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan. If you don’t react like this after every win in 2025, we are going to have problems. I want to see your tears of happiness now. One day you’ll stop racing and the wins will be gone. Did you celebrate each win like it was your last?

Shae Bentley did.