On 18 May 1996, Australian Kim Ashkenazi created history becoming the first Australian to podium in an overall AMA Supercross Championship, finishing third at the final round in Denver in the United States. Earlier, in the same series, Australian motocross legend Jeff Leisk finished 9th in 1986 on a Honda and 6th in 1987 on a Yamaha. Since then Australians Chad Reed and the Lawrence brothers, Jett and Hunter) have all won AMA SX Championships.

After winning six Australian motocross Championships between 1992 and 1995 – and the prestigious Australian Supercross Masters series in 1993 and 1994- Ashkenazi moved full-time to America to contest the 1996 AMA 125cc SX West Series.

1996 would be Ashkenazi’s first full season in the United States after a one-off appearance in 1994 when he rode in the 250cc class at the San Diego Supercross. It was an impressive performance as a privateer up against the professional American factory riders.

In Denver, Ashkenazi finished second to the series winner Kevin Windham (Yamaha) and ahead of Americans Casey A Johnson (Kawasaki) and Michael Brandes (Suzuki) with Mexican Honda rider Pedro Gonzalez in fifth.  Windham won six rounds in 1996 to win the series convincingly, finishing on 170 points ahead of James Dobb (UK, Suzuki, 127) and Ashkenazi (101).

Earlier in the year, on 10 February 1996 in San Diego, Ashkenazi achieved his first podium finish in the United States finishing second in the AMX SX West 125cc round.  Honda rider Jeff Willoh won in San Diego ahead of Suzuki riders Ashkenazi and British Motocross Champion James Dobb, who would go onto win the World 125cc Motocross Championship in 2001.

After competing at the 1996 AMA SX West as a privateer on a shoestring budget driving across America in a utility without any support, Ashkenazi’s supercross performance earned him sponsorship for the outdoor motocross season in the US with Bill’s Pipes Primal Impulse Honda Team. But unable to secure a factory contract for the 1997 season, Ashkenazi returned home to Australia after competing in his fifth Motocross des Nations at Jerez in Spain. 

After winning his seventh and final Australian Championship in 2000, he moved to the United Kingdom and took up road racing.