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Remember walking through the pits one year at Foxhill Moto Parc, and bumping into Mike as he blasted the mud off his boots - while still wearing them - with a pressure washer. Totally approachable guy off the track back in those days, and a great rider on it. I wish him well for the future.
This is well worth watching for any fan of the Gunner....
Mike Healey 1991 Season
I remember a lot of stuff being posted around here about him involved in all sorts of criminal activity, getting lost in addiction and allegedly beating a lady up or something like that...and it leading him into prison. So good to see that he's cleaned up, enjoying life & doing his own thing...and has a sound mind to remember stories like he related in that video.
Watching some of the footage from that era just reminded me of a lot of fast guys which are generally forgotten. I have told my 10 year old son about several riders from the early 90's and the impression they left on me, especially Healey, Puzar, Parker and Schmidt. He couldn't give a shit.
I saw Mike's 250 Cagiva at the Seattle SX in 88 when I was 9 and thought it was the trickest bike ever. I finally found one 25 years later to restore. Following his career through Europe was very influential to me as a kid. I got to go to the Golden States in 92 and watch him on the Suzukis. When you look at the old YouTube videos you can really appreciate his strong style and aggression.
Mike seems like a genuine good dude and I'm glad to see him turn his life around. Keep up the good work Gunner!
Well he had crashed and it destroyed the silencer and of course they didn't have one, so his mechanic that didn't speak english, goes over and steals one off the Suzuki guys bikes and scurries off and somehow gets it to bolt up to the cagiva to where it wouldn't fall off. I'm pretty sure he made the main that year, I just can't for the life of me remember what year it was. 88-89-90-91-92. ??? I rode in 91 and 92 but I broke my leg in 91 so I don't think it was that year, my gut tells me it was 92 as the cagiva was red.
I still crack up thinking about that whole fiasco down there..
The Gunner and Fantomas.
Cagivas were only red until 87.
Pit Row
Note: I've hit my head too many times it would appear...
It was actually KTM that protested Mike at Daytona. At the time Lance Smail was trying to be the first 4-stk rider to qualify for a supercross. When mike showed up with the XR , Lance's mechanic, Tom Moen protested the bike. He was correct that the bike wasnt homolgated but it still sucked that Mike was DQ'd
Honda didnt protest but they also didn't want the XR competing in a race that didn't exactly suit the bikes original design and intent, so they wouldn't pay the homologation fee.
I was there. I don't remember it being super dusty or hot.
I've listened to three of Mike's interviews (two with Matthes and this one with Collier) and for whatever reason he always glosses over this time in his career. Given the importance of four strokes you would think that he has some good memories of being one the leading edge of the "revolution".
I would love to hear his side of the Daytona qualifying attempt. He also had a pretty awesome race in '96 , against McGrath at the world vet champ race at Glen Helen. This was before McGrath switched to Suzuki and it may have been the last race on a Honda. Mike pulled the holeshot both motos and lead McGrath most of each moto before MC pulled some bonsai moves to get passed Mike. It was a pretty cool day for the IMS crew.
I also remember he absolutely accordioned the backbone of the XR by turning two separate tabletops into a double (or would that be a quad?) out at Glen Helen. That thing came back to the shop all choppered out - HAHA
Fun times for sure...
There are 5 year old threads around here about his crime, and it was ugly no doubt. We were trying to appreciate his gp stories and recovery.
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