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383
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6/20/2009
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Zionsville, IN, USA
Edited Date/Time
4/23/2019 9:00pm
As mentioned above?
And it doesn't look like he scored any National points in 77 on the Yamaha.
i didn't know either until i looked it up
fast forward to 4:15
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Broc Glover #1 - Jeff Ward #336 - 1978 Escape Country National. Note: Thor swingarm, FOX Air Shox and the Porcupine head on JW bike
If I remember correctly, I saw Wardy on a Yamaha early in the SX season in ‘78, but he was on a Suzuki for the start of the nationals that same year. Either way, I did go to that Escape Country National, and it’s still one of my favorite race memories. Ribbons laid out on a deep grass-covered hillside to mark the course. It had also rained earlier in the week. It was about as good as it gets for a race in So. Cal.
Snow fencing marked the boundary for the pits, and the road deteriorated badly enough on the way in that I had to drive over the fence and through the pits to leave at the end of the day.
We both were struggling, I think my best moto was an 11th at Racing World. It was a lot of fun being on the road with my good friend, Tim. Jeff had this awesome black Dodge van with "FMF SoCal" on the side in gold and the trailer was a chopped off van, totally matching and way cool. The funny part was that on the trailer it said, "Jeff Ward, the Flying Freckle". We took pictures of it parked in front of a Texas whorehouse and laughed about sending them to Jody at MXA, but we never did. Unfortunately, I broke my collarbone at the fourth round in Omaha and that was the end of my nationals.
Love these threads about the old days. Being born in 1969, I lived through them. I remember going to the Pontiac supercross every year starting in about 1978 and being blown away by how the bikes got more travel and the jumps got bigger every year. Then my family started attending Red Bud, and seeing Ward and all his competition on that track was truly amazing. In I think 1982 Magoo crashed like three times in one of the motos and every time he charged back through the field. That was wild to see in person as I walked around the track to different corners during the race and watched him pick people off left and right. I remember Ward between motos with his shirt always off. And it was cool to get the signed pictures from the riders, no big lines for those like there are today, it was way more chill. I can't even imagine racing those 45 minute motos in the Michigan heat. And didn't Ward and a few others race two classes sometimes?
I remember him FLYING on that 1983 or 1984 KX125 with the Red seat at Hollister. He was ON IT. Way faster than everyone else.
???
Photo: Tim Buck
That first picture keeps being referenced as 77 on the interwebs, but after the 78 Nationals does make a lot of sense. It'd definitely explain why he talks about doing well on the factory Yamaha but not being credited with any National points on one.
Pit Row
Would have been an interesting Yamaha team if they would have kept Ward on for a couple more seasons.
Post a reply to: How long was Jeff Ward a Factory Yamaha rider (relative to 1978)?