Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
O'MARA . . .
1983 CMC Golden State National - Lake Madera
School me- did O’mara go off the rails at some point around 89-92 ish?
did he have some involvement with drugs or something?
Shadow Glen for the win. Such a cool shot. Thanks for posting.
No, the guys probably been drunk 10 times in his life.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Ive just realised, Im confusing him with Lechien aren't I?
That's like confusing JLaw and Dungey haha
Well said! hahaha
The "Valley Boy" butt patch is awesome....
Gotta remember that at that time I was like 9/10 years old. I just remember both of them riding KX500.
Curious how does AJ Cat fit in with Oshow and the Lawrence brother’s rider coaching?
Yes it was, Indian Dunes was Motorcycle Nirvana with all the variety of different riding areas and tracks.
We really never knew how good it was until it was gone.
This thread rocks--Johnny O is LEGEND.
I'll never forget the 1st time I saw his Mugen at the Dunes.
It was just a local race but the bike was just so amazing to see.
Let's not get off topic.
Aj cat doesn't deserve to be in this thread.
But Aj has nothing to do with coaching the Lawrence's.
Basically Aj has his own training school and they use the Lawrence's to give Aj more publicity.
Awesome photo, but to be fair if those HRC bikes couldn’t clear it, no other 125 stood a chance!
Johnny O in action, 2:40 min mark with a host of others. Saddleback National 1984
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l6s5ZMFCjkA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://youtu.be/l6s5ZMFCjkA
O’ show! Best in the training business PERIOD Sorry Ryno.
What is the deal with this pic? I've never seen pics of O'Mara on the 1980 Mugen wearing his Honda gear. Did O'Mara get to keep his famous 1980 Mugen ME125?
This is the end of 1980, He signed the Honda and JT and was testing, but didn’t have a bike. So at the end of 80 he was still racing the Mugen locally.
Yes, they let him have his bike, it sat in his garage with the N1 on it for years, and then about 10 years ago, he let a collector have it to refurbish it and put on display.
Pit Row
O'Mara is a Motocross hero. Dude raced MXdN 4 times and Team USA came in 1st place all 4 times
81 with Hanson, Laporte, & Chuck Sun
82 with Baily, Magoo, and Gibson
84 with Baily, Ward, and RJ
86 with Baily and RJ
1981 USGP - Carlsbad Raceway / 250 Support Race
1982 CMC Golden State National - Saddleback Park
1981 MX des Nations - O'Mara's 1st 500 pro race!
Saddleback Park was always a great place for media announcements . . .
O'Mara doing a little MXA testing at Saddleback Park . . .
Who owned the Porsche?
This is by far the best thread on the board right now! I think O’Mara was one of the most underrated riders of his era.
Thank you. It's because instead of talking about seven "deuce deuce" or someone asking about a cam shaft for a 2018 KTM 350....
...we're discussing Johnny the "O Show" O'Mara. =)
Signed,
Vital Forum Improvement Committee
When I was a kid I thought that oversized front plate and giant 40 was so cool. Trying to find oversize number graphics in Canada in 1981-82 was like trying to find a unicorn.
Agreed. This is the content I love coming here for.
I was lucky enough to bug Johnny (and Bailey, Johnson, Lewis, MC etc..) for years when he was riding behind my house in the hills of Simi. Not to mention him remembering me when I was bugging him at Indian Dunes on Friday nights and not blowing me off for that...
He is a consummate professional and if I was a pro I'd pay anything I could to have him in my corner.
Post a reply to: O’Mara