LOOKING BACK – MOTOCROSS ACTION: December 1982: America Claims Another World Championship, RJ Is A Punk, Hansen Shows His Promise And Four Strokes Are On The Rise!

On Oct 27, 2009

MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINE – DECEMBER 1982

By: Zap

Within one weeks time in 1982, America celebrated not one, but two, World Motocross Championship titles when after more than a decade of trying “Bad” Brad Lackey finally claimed his long sought after 500cc title and, one week later Danny LaPorte brought home the 250cc title in his rookie year on the GP Circuit.

The December issue was full of new bike info, ’round the world race action and a European journal captured by the then globe-trotting Jody Weisel. Inside the cover spread was a Fox ad that congratulated Brad Lackey for his historic win. The top-of-the-line SuperFox Quick-Draw boots that were advertised cost a whopping $135!

There was also an interview with Bob Hannah where he told of his intentions to leave Team Yamaha after a seven-year collaboration, to try to get a ride with Honda. “I hope to ride with Honda. If they’ll have me, I’ll ride there.” Honda, of course, did take Hannah and it was a wise choice as Hannah continued to be both popular with the fans and capable of winning races. In a remarkable sign of the times, MXA also printed a bulletin message that the AMA was planning to sue Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda for their alleged “conspiracy to monopolize restraint of trade” over their decision to not race the the Trans-USA series (in the end the case was settled out of court and the manufacturers had to pay the AMA).

Deeper inside was an interview with Belgian rider Andre Vromans that was promisingly mis-titled “The Man Who Would Be King.” The factory Suzuki rider was fast, but a World Championship title would elude him.

The race action started off with a report from the Mammoth Mountain Motocross where top National contenders like David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Donnie Hansen and Warren Reid vied for high-elevation glory. To help prove his “Too Hip/Too Punk” credentials, “RJ” borrowed my studded wrist band for a photo before riding off with both 125 and 250 wins. Another caption (perhaps the understatement of the decade) noted that both Johnson and Bailey seemed “bound for stardom.” Yeah, to say the least!

Next up was a report from the final round of the 1982 250 World Championship series ? one that provided America with it’s newest World Champion ? Danny LaPorte. In his rookie year in Europe and on a Yamaha, the former factory Suzuki/Honda rider went 4-2 at Vimmerby, Sweden, to fend off 1980 World Champ Georges Jobe and give Yamaha team manager Heikki Mikkola a repeat title following the marque’s 1981 title with Neil Hudson. Overshadowed on the day was Honda’s Donnie Hansen (pictured) who traveled to the Swedish round to prepare for the upcoming Motocross des Nations. Hansen cleaned the Euros’ clocks in Sweden with a double moto win. It was perhaps an inkling of the supremacy that he could have meted out in time, but was ultimately denied when a bad crash a few days later left Donnie with a serious injury which effectively ended his career.

Another rider whose career was also ascending, but that would unfortunately be cut short too was Danny “Magoo” Chandler, who was featured in a Hi-Point ad. Touting his breakout year which included a 500 USGP win as well as riding to win on the American team at the Motocross des Nations, the ad included a full package of riding gear. Although given additional spotlight in later years, when used by a Yamaha privateer from Michigan named Jeff Stanton, it was of course the Hi-Point boot which was embraced by the world over.

As usual there was no shortage of gear ads including this one from O’Neal that featured former two-time 500cc World Champ Andre Malherbe plus American up & comers (l-r) George Holland, Brian Myerscough, Erik Kehoe and Tommy Benolkin. Besides all the O’Neal gear, the following pages included info on a new boot from Italy made by a company called AXO, a company that would eventually go on to become one of the most successful gear companies of all time.

Among all the other bikes Jody got to ride on his trip to Europe was this prototype Husqvarna four-stroke. Sounding a bit like the new Husky TC250, Jody reported that “the bike was 20 pounds lighter than anything in its class. It has a neatly detailed four-stroke top end set on a smallish, almost two-stroke sized center cases.” The bike featured a Mikuni carb and ran with a six-speed transmission (although a four-speed was also available). “The trumpeters heralded the news over six years ago that the four-strokes were coming, but they haven’t gotten here yet. Whether or not MX ever sees a competitive four-banger out on the track against the two-strokes is a moot point. Husqvarna has the market profile, consumer awareness and type of loyal following to make the the new Husqvarna an instant success. Unfortunately, that instant success will have to wait for a 1984 release date.” It would be about 15 years after that that Yamaha would introduce their first race ready four-stroke.

For anyone within earshot of Glen Helen Raceway this weekend, don’t forget to take advantage of the unique opportunity to meet many of the riders who were making a name for themselves in 1982 when they gather for the “Monsters of Motocross” on Saturday night. You can join riders like Gerrit Wolsink, Tony DiStefano, Broc Glover, Gary Jones, Bob Hannah, Ricky Johnson, David Bailey and Danny LaPorte and many others for a night of unforgettable MX memories. Only at The Monsters of Motocross.