MOTOCROSS ACTION PHOTO OF THE DAY: THIS MAN ROCKETED OUT OF NOWHERE ON A BIKE THAT WOULD BECOME ICONIC

Definitely not a nobody, especially to the MXA wrecking crew where he helped us with testing in the late 1970s, Johnny O’Mara wasn’t well know outside of SoCal until he got the deal to ride the Mugen Honda. What most people don’t know is that the Mugen U.S. importer, Al Baker, was also Johnny’s business manager. Mugen owner, Hiro Honda, was the son of Honda founder Soichiro, and he was willing to take the advice of Al Baker on who to hire. When O’Mara won the 1980 125 USGP ? everybody was happy. This photo was shot at the 1980 California Winter Series where Johnny showed up on crutches, but raced anyway.