Every year my older cousin would take me to the USGP at Carlsbad. I started going in 1982 up until this final race. Carlbad would host 125,250,and 500 nationals every year. Along with the Golden State Nationals. Good times as a kid there for me.

Fantastic!!! As a kid, I used to wait all year for ABC to broadcast this race!!! When men were men and they raced 500cc two strokes!!!!

@easilyscan

3 жыл бұрын

Same for me. Wide world of sports & 45 minute motos!

Ahh the glory days. There's nothing like a full field of pro 500cc two strokes on the start. The earth shakes.

Man racing this track use to kill me to where I get off the bike my hands would cramp closed from muscle spasms. I was never that good but my buddies I rode with thought I was. This track was a test of your physical and mental condition. I had the pleasure of watching Rick Johnson when his folks took him every weekend to race.Sure miss it!

Thanks brother you take me back to a good time in my life I appreciate that

Not sure what's more bad ass... racing 500's or racing 500's with those open face helmets!!

I'm British and have great respect for Thorpe and what he achieved but the top American's of that era were better Magoo being my favourite

First helmet cam? BEAutiful. Ward is the man!

At fifty two years old when I watch these races on hardpack I can feel the pain of crashing my brains out. Thankfully I now ride much more controlled than I did at sixteen, but I'm still feeling the pain of those impacts.

Used to go to that race as a kid. I grew up 3 miles from there. Still live nearby, it's a business park now. I used to see Ward pulling out of there from time to time driving a lifted Nissan Hardbody truck with a couple of bikes in the back.

Incredible athletes -- these guys were true warriors. Sad to see this famous track fall victim to suburban sprawl. Lots of memorable events took place here. Glad to see the Americans victorious at this final Carlsbad race.

That was a stacked class of fast riders.

Ward is still in great shape

I remember missing this on ABC. I was racing all weekend. Man, Sam Posey was just awful at calling that race but the racing footage from good ol Carlsbad was awesome. One of my favorite tracks of all time. Ricky Johnson was going faster that year than any other rider, ever. He was the first UBER FAST MX'r ( Magoo get a shout out, but he was a crash machine )

In the Moto world…..y’all have no idea this is like super epic….big….these races pave the way

I think that the AMA should most definitely bring back the premier class 500cc two stroke outdoor MX national championship again ! Absolutely loved racing these big bore monsters and even more watching the PRO'S do what amateurs could only dream of doing on them !

If I had to pick one person to win on a 125 250 or 500 it would be rick johnson

Rick Johnson inspired Me to DANCE Awesome Spinning Like A Top, Nice

Charismatic RJ is!

@stkyfngrszmooth

Жыл бұрын

He was a great ambassador for the sport. Rick was smooth as glass with a mic in his face as he was on the track.

Can watch the 2stroke 500cc all day can't stand 4stroke bikes

that ended the works bike era, the US guys out riding the works bikes : )

@stevechartrand4362

6 жыл бұрын

Those Honda works bikes back then were soooo innovative and bitchin!

@dougharvey9766

6 жыл бұрын

Steve have you ever seen the HRC Honda's 1990 prototype automatic transmission RC 250M | M ...www.pinterest.com/pin/543387511274026879/ I also have an old Racer x interview from May 05 with David Thorpe and he said in 1987 he bike was semi automatic...

@nitrogary1324

6 жыл бұрын

Actually it was the start of the works bikes. Except Honda, the true works prototype 500cc came in 1988 and 1989 for Yamaha and 1990 for Kawasaki. It was Honda who decided to drop the works bike and eventually the others followed suit. The Works Yamaha YZM500 was a thing of beauty, and the SR500 from Kawasaki in 1990 was kinda a works 500cc lump shoe-horned into a modified and strengthened KX250 chassis. This thing about the end of works bike only came about because the factories were spending too much money on aftermarket parts. Which ironically is where they are now

@dougharvey9766

6 жыл бұрын

Nitro Gary 1 sorry mate but you don't know what your talking about...The YZM was run in 87 and 88. The USA introduced a production rule in 87 the frame and some other parts I think Engine casings had to be off the production line. Pre 87 I know for a fact that the factory Honda had frame sizes to fit there riders Geboers Thorpe Malherbe They also had options to run 4 or 5 speed gear boxes, all sorts of stuff what ever they wanted.Even down to cranks, moose or tubular tires the list goes on... The KX your talking about yes it was just a 250 perimeter frame with a 500 motor pretty neat but a far cry from the Factory days. Its all on the internet if you want to research its just that im old enough to remember seeing it and being around it. Thorpey was regularly at a place I used to practice/train at in the south of England.

@nitrogary1324

6 жыл бұрын

Well firstly, Thorpe's SR was not a 250 perimeter frame that one was a factory prototype.

I forgot how badass that track was, and how grating Sam Posey’s commentary was. He could drone on forever without really saying anything important.

Great comment about the annoying four strokes if you ever raced a 500 you would know why D.h

Rick Johnson not fit to clean Dave Thorpe's boots . Dave was riding conservatively for points and went on to be world champ for the second time. He won his third title in 1988.

@H43339

4 жыл бұрын

Are you serious ? Ricky was better than anyone at that time, and your holding back comment is just an excuse, if he was a true champion he would prove it to the world.

@arnoldsanders6878

4 жыл бұрын

Johnson kicked Thorpe's butt in the Des Nations That same year. And Omara beat Thorpe on a 125. Go sit down somewhere.

@fkhan577

4 жыл бұрын

Bollocks ..

@NinetyTres

4 жыл бұрын

Thorpe could not even keep up with Johnny O'Mara on a 125, let alone RJ on a 250, or Bailey on a 500 Watch MotoX des Nations 86 for a lesson

@bmdbigfeet1031

4 жыл бұрын

b Not only on a 125 but a production 125 against a works 500.