It was 1980 when I got my first motorcycle and Bob Hannah was the biggest star in MX/SX. As I started buying Dirt Bike and MXA magazines, I discovered that the sports biggest superstar was sidelined with a broken leg. I was under the impression that Hannah missed the entire 1980 season. I remember 1980 was still a great season of racing. Mark Barnett finally beat Broc Glover for the 125cc title while Kent Howerton won the 250cc title and Chuck Sun gave Honda the 500cc crown. I remember Mike Bell winning the Supercross title also. It was decades later that a DVD rental from Netflix on the 1980 serious uncovered something I never knew. Apparantly Hannah raced one or two of the final rounds of the Supercross season! I later discovered through some pics and Vital that Hannah apparently also raced the 1980 Trans AMA series! I know Hannah was injured while waterskiing with Marty Tripes at the end of the 1979 season. Apparently it happened shortly after the season ended. Does anyone know any of the specifics or results Hannah had in 1980?
Here are a couple of pics that I've saved over the years. A couple things stand out. Hannah is no longer wearing JT Racing gear. He's wearing Griffs pants and you can see a HRP logo front and center on his Bell Moto III (where a DG logo was normally), right between his trademark lightning bolts. You can also see his bike displays 1981 graphics. I gather that he was in the process of starting his own gear company which he wore during the 1981 season.
Hannah65 by Wandell Asbell, on Flickr
Hannah101TransAMA by Wandell Asbell, on Flickr