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Yes, Buckley captured a great shot! Last year of works bikes, the stands in the background... one of my favorites too.
My thoughts on current riders... I'm not out there now and I don't have all the facts but I, like many of you I'm sure, wish these kids understood the privilage and the honor and felt the responsibility to show up when their country asks and go represent to the absolute best of their ability! I got paid nothing, sacrificed the time, my body and nerves and emotions and met the pressure head on to try to win for the USA and my teammates and crew who worked behind the scenes. Times are just different now, these kids don't understand history or care that much. I'm not even sure it's their fault. It's understandable because there are so many distractions nd things these guys are asked to do, but I never saw it that way. I didn't see it as a hassle, I saw it as an opportunity to learn and grow as a rider and to see a plce and a track I'd never seen and it was always worth it. If these guys really truly loved to ride and race and loved their country and the privilage to make a good living riding, then it seems like a no brainer. You go and you find a way to win! Period
Their losses are in my opinion because if you don't take it serious enough the Europeas WILL beat you. We didn't always send our best teams, but we still won a lot because we took it serious! I've heard way to many excuses like, it's sandy, or it was their home track, or the crowd was crazy. Big deal, get starts, ride your heart out and bring home the trophy! In a culture where everybody gets a trophy though, I suppose it's not that important :-/
David, there have been a lot of comments around the current SX format and the perception that the organisers will move the a NASCAR-like chase format, what are your views on this?
Steve was actually the first rider I'm aware of who did a pretty major triathlon in Fla. and was good at everything. Racquetball, fuggettaboutit! Golf, don't bet against him.. ask Jojo. Boxing, be prepared to get hit and never get a punch in! During the Winter Am on a 125 Yamaha he would somehow at 6'3" make it look cool and missed damn near every braking bump out there. I really learned a lot from him and had fun riding with him. I think about him a lot and hope he's doing well. And I hope Kris' brother Kip is doing well.
A 3rd guy? It seems Bradshaw could've won more and hung around longer. I don't judge him on why or even really know why, but when he left, I lost interest for a while. I saw a kid who was great get labeled "The Beast from the East!" I'm not sure that was accurate. He was so good and I really hated seeing him get into on-track fights and nicknamed something that didn't really fit. His amatuer career, his first national at Millville, his first SX in Japan, his first SX in America (SD) he won his heat and was on the box in the main and then Miami... dammit, I think he had more and I'm not sure he was was handled/advised right, but he was awesome while he was out there!
Thanks for doing this David, you've always been one of my favorite riders to watch, announce, and just get your perspective on things.
The Shop
I don't know about all of that or what would even work for motocross. It's such a skill based sport (or used to be) that I don't really know what to make of it. I'm sure riders have done or are doing stuff, but I don't know what. My biggest fear was lifting weights and getting stronger and then pumping up. We all wanted to be as flexible and lose as possible. If it came down to getting tired, then it was usually heat index related or longer GP or Des Nations motos. That could be fixed by riding more, running longer or just riding better and picking better lines. It never even occured to me to find some speed in a drug when I raced. It was just a choice between lime or orange gatorade. Now, I suppose there are many flavors .. It sucks to think riders feel they need it. It messed up cycling, it messes up a lot of sports, but it's the world we live in.
On the Budds Creek thing I was just sitting in a sound booth laying down voice with Art (I think it was Art) and sort of looking at my watch to make sure I'm going to make my flight, figuring James is going to catch everybody and waiting my turn to add something colorful and then WHAT THE...? I didn't expect that. I was caught off gaurd by him going so far beyond the pre-jump lay it over thing. That was a marker in the sport for sure. More like a slice
Later when he got on the 250 at Budds Creek - I think Ricky was leading on a 4-stroke - James came out of that next right hander way back there heading towards the big drop off and hit the first breaking bump and jumped the whole messed up rutted, bumpy sawdust downhill take off and barely missed the lip and kept on flying all the way to where everyone else was landing. It was the sketchiest, gnarliest, thing I've ever seen him do. He came at it really fast, couple blips and then braaaap! He was leaving the ground a good 30 feet before the take off and if he missed.. Catastrophic!
Just wanted to say thank you. Best stories and viewpoints I've EVER read on here. You are an inspiration to us in more ways than you can imagine. So thank you!
The Des Nations helmet (one of them) was donated by Johnny O and it was the helmet he wore in Italy! Ludo and Marc bidded on it and got it and I see it when I visit them at 100%. So nice of Johnny to do that! Andrew Short bought mine. I was overwhelmed with how people responded and supported me and that whole event. I was face down in bed with elbow pads cuz I was getting sores on them from being prone for so long and I could sense the vibe from my bedroom. I'll always be grateful for the way that went down. And the riders who taught that school at Cahuilla. Millsaps, my dad and Short (I think) Pastrana and RJ, Alessi and Vuillemin, MC, O'Show and Ryno, that was really cool. I talked to McGrath after that and he said he'd never really taught before and it was fun and that he never had so much dirt all over him :-) That made all the difference for me and Gina and the kids and got me back and pointed in the right direction!
I don't ever want anything back, but sometimes people offer in a way tht I'll just accept it with thanks. Last year Michael Holligan sent me my 1984 JT open face helmet. Complete surprise. If I had thought of something that would be cool to have or just to look at again, that ranks way up there. I have a surprise for him if I ever get off my butt and send it...
Most recently, our AMA guy from the Maggiora, Italy trip, Ned Redway said I gave him my jersey from the final moto that day and he has enjoyed it all these years and thought I should have it. We'll see, but I'm going to try and meet with him and check it out. That's a good one too!
Thank you David.
Maybe the mods might want to create a locked QNA forum?
HOF rider/person!
Couple of questions for you
What are your thoughts on the Energy drink companies involvement and the pull they seem to have on the teams, do you see them as a necessary evil or do you actually like what they do?
It must break your heart to see the top guys dismissing the Des Nations for a rest due to these pop up races that have absolutely no bearing on the US guys seemingly being made to race them.
Did you ever get any offers to come and race a SX Down Under?
I will pre warn you that if i see you at Maggiora i will be one of the many annoying mongrels that asks for a photo with you, so sorry in advance
I was at the very first Bercy Supercross in Paris, and for us french fans who didn't have much of a clue of what SX was, watching you and the other american racers was quite a shock.
Probably less of a shock than for the euro pilots, though...
What memories do you have about the few times you were there? Any good story?
And what did you think about the euro racers in such conditions at the time?
I thought of another question that us moto-geeks tend to revisit regularly but there are WAYYYY too many ifs, ands and buts to really answer it with accuracy. It's regarding the battle of the eras, e.g., 70's versus 80's, Hannah verus RC, etc... In my opinion, the sport is so drastically different it is impossible to determine. A silky rider like yourself or Dungey would have been fantastic in the 60's and 70's when preserving the machine was equal to today's importance of scrubbing. Two completely different skills but equally important. RC and James would have had a harder time back then because the pretty much pound the track into submission. I also lean to the side that says that greats like Decoster, RC, MC, You, Hannah,... pick one, would have been fine regardless of era. Why? Because I think the greatest asset you folks have is your ability to adapt. That isn't era specific. It's simply a trait of a champion. From adapting to different surfaces to 6 hour time zone differences. A champ has that innate ability. I would like to here your opinion on any comparisons you think are notable, be it bikes, training, rider mentality, new techniques, or whatever. We know a current top 10 or 15 SX pro with scrubbing skills would probably win if placed into the 80's with a time machine but that's only because you guys didn't have that in your bag of tricks yet. I believe that once you guys were introduced to the technique, you same champs would have been winning again.
Oh, and to the Vital MX forum moderators, is there a way to publish this thread to PDF so we can keep it for posterity? I suppose any of us can print to PDF each page but we'd need a PDF publisher to merge them.
Thanks again for your time.
These guys don't need rest. It's their chosen profession. They get paid so much money and have so many comforts and percs. When they're 45-50 years old they're going to wish they were asked to do something or had something to prepare for and get nervous about. We live in a society of right NOW and entitlement and it has drained the ambition of a whole generation of riders.
Yes, one time I was going to do some testing in Japan and then go to Australia and I was stoked. It was cancelled for some reason so I flew to LA, got my girlfriend Gina and then flew to Bora Bora instead. It worked out okay
Come say hi! No worries mate
The Europeans seemed to struggle a little bit and if I'm being honest I was probably a little bit amused by it, but they were there and tried. I think that was the year RJ punted Vimond and that didn't go over good. Rick didn't know, he was just trying to make progress with very little room. The pit area was all open and tight like the track so everyone was on top of each other and it was a cool environment. At the Des Nations we'd never really see those guys. Since it was a low pressure type of thing, everyone was friendly. Johnny and I were 1-2 both nights so Roger was right. He said they were going to make it a unique event and it definitely was. I came home from that, went to Houston and won, then Saddleback and won, then Hangtown and won again. Bercy was tucked nicely into a great time in my life and I couldn't wait to go back.
I think the riders before me were a lot tougher. Seeing Adolf Weil on a 500cc Maico holeshotting '74 Unadilla in an open face with NO mouthgaurd... I mean, you tell me. They rode bikes with down pipes for 40+2 on rocky dusty tracks that were never groomed. They didn't even have gatorade yet did they? As things have progressed the approach has been made easier and easier so it's probably made us softer - really really skilled, but softer. Hannah used to drive with McCarty in the boxvan on the road. I did that at times with Cliff. You wouldn't see that now I don't think. It's all been uncovered and discovered and today they have monitors and watts and lit pros and go pros and multiple private tracks with special watering nozzles, practice bike mechanics, laptop settings, dynos, launch control buttons, holeshot devices and electric start! The mindset with all of that has definitely changed, but I'll bet Heikki Mikkola could beat the crap out of Justin Bogle right now. Nothing against Bogle, but pick anyone.. A rider in my opinion who has a real appreciation for the sport's history and who paved the way and takes all of it into consideration as they set goals will do well and inspire riders and fans 30 years from now.
Pit Row
My question is do riders like yourself and those mentioned ever bench race and swap moto stories like the rest of us? Thanks again, sir, for the time and effort you gave to this thread.
I'm sure they do. They probably don't camp out on it, but people look up to them and from time to time just like on here with me, they'll get asked things and I imagine it stirs up some good stories, battles, friendships and funny stories. Broc has a great detailed memory for things. Bell, I'm glad you brought him up. Great guy! I spent entire days trying to figure out how to tuck it around the inside of a flat turn with the head tilt and soak up a jump like he could. I remember him racing his mountain bike at the Coliseum and even Carlsbad I think and knew he went to the Tour De France and saw gnarly athletes suffering big time. Weinert is a story teller I think and we all like hearing Hannah's take on things. Johnny and I visited a couple times recently and he remembers things I don't. He and Wardy were fierce competitors, but now they ride mtb's and enjoy life and they probably still recall or get asked about their battles. Rick and I recently had lunch and bench raced a little bit, but mostly just talked about life and other things. We were fortunate to do well and in front of thousands of people and although I feel like any other person with my helmet off, I recognize I had a gift and it's fun and the least I can do to share those days with people who are interested.
I saw you mention the '84 SX at Foxboro MA.
That's where I saw you race for the first time. (1983) You slayed 'em all.
I took plenty of photos that race but you and Jimmy Holley were the only 2 autographs I got that day.
Technology like this and the ability to speak/write to a hero directly makes me glad I lived this long!
It's been a long road! All great memories here.
I just wanted to say simply, Thank You.
You are a mountain of a person.
David , as a fan from the UK , we never go to see the bikes the US teams rode, but do you think the development from 1980 to 86 was sustainable if they hadnt made the 'stock' rule.
How much input did you guys get , or was it more engineers coming up with stuff, and having to with it what you could
Many thanks
Phil
My question is as follows,
I started riding Motocross two years ago, and was immediately drawn to the smooth riding styles of riders such as yourself and Jean Michel Bayle! Every since I have tried to emulate my personal style after you both. Do you have any tips for a kid trying to develop a smooth riding style?
Thanks
When we tested, it was what Japan had been working on. Probably without my knowing Dave Arnold and Roger and the mechanics would feed them things, but our first tests were usually in Japan and their engineers were the ones (to my knowledge) coming up with the new package. So radical to see a new bike for the first time! Sometimes it was amazing at first glance like '82 and '85 and other times it would grow on us. During those tests we the riders would give our feedback like it hit's to hard, or there is nothing on the bottom, or 2nd and 3rd gear are to close together, or the pipe sticks out as well as stuff we liked such as comfort, more power all around, it feels really stable, it feels light etc. The mechanics would offer their feedback as well and that data would be implemented into the next test which sometimes was in Japan again later in the year or in California. That's when the mechanics would really work hard fabricating and planning to go on the road with parts and we would ride 'em a lot to get race ready. Each rider had things Honda would sometimes make special. Whatever our desire was, Honda Japan (HRC) or American Honda would do their best to address it and solve it. Before Daytona and then again for the outdoors we would get more parts for more power, better suspension ideas for higher speed etc. They always had something new!
100% had a poster years ago and I think it read - regarding motocross, Not because it is easy, but because it is hard!
thank you for all of the thoughtful and informative answers, just another example of why you are the Icon..
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