by Nick McCabe
Where Are They Now? George Holland
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 | 7:25 AM
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PrintWelcome back to the first installment in our revitalized Where Are They Now? feature, brought to you by our friends at Bob’s Cycle Supply in Minnesota (www.bobscycle.com).
George Holland came to prominence in the 1980s after a stellar amateur and minibike career. He landed factory Suzuki and Honda rides as a pro and won the 1988 125cc AMA National Motocross Championship aboard the potent factory Honda CR125, racking up thirteen 125cc national wins and a few supercross podiums. Ranked eighth in all-time 125cc motocross wins, he’s up there with riders like Jeff Emig, Broc Glover, and Jeff Ward. His last season of racing was 1989, which saw him ride with a career-best national #3.
George Holland: I guess you could say that I was known as a 125 and outdoor specialist. I never was real comfortable with supercross, even though I got a few podiums and had some strong results in that series. I don’t know, I always put a bigger focus on the nationals, and considering that I grew up riding those real high-revving minibikes, I was always just real comfortable with smaller-displacement bikes. I was always getting pretty close to winning championships but had some injuries that just seemed to keep me from getting a championship. I think I had twelve or thirteen total overall national wins, but I’m not sure.
You had a pretty long career at the top and held a factory ride for nine years, which was almost unheard of back then. During your time with Suzuki, you won some races and came close to winning a championship but it never quite happened. It seemed like getting your ride on Team Honda those last two years was the push you needed to earn the championship. Was it a case of better equipment and team, or was it just your time to win?
Well, coming up, I was always a Suzuki guy. As a kid, I rode those Team R&D Suzuki minibikes, and I turned pro in 1981. Those minibikes were some of the best ones out there at the time. When I turned pro, right away, I had a factory Suzuki ride. I rode with that team through 1987. In 1987, I finished second in the outdoors [125cc] and fourth in supercross [250cc].
Our bikes were good, but not always the best ones. Back then, seven years on one team was a long time, and at the end of 1987, I went and got married and was on my honeymoon in Hawaii. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do in 1988, and I hadn’t signed a deal with Suzuki again. I had finished second and really wanted that championship, but my body was pretty banged up and I was questioning what I wanted to do. While on that honeymoon, Roger DeCoster called my dad on behalf of Team Honda and said they wanted to talk to me. When I got home, I drove down to Torrance and met with them and we signed a deal. It was a one-year deal, but it automatically renewed for two if I won. I saw that ride as the best motivation to help me finally get a championship, as my injuries were already coming. I really, really wanted to win a championship before I was done, and DeCoster was a big confidence booster for me. Also, Cliff White was my tech, and we had a good bike. Cliff was David Bailey’s mechanic for a long time and had a great reputation, so all that helped me with confidence.
Who were some of your big rivals back then?
I came up with Erik Kehoe on minibikes, and he was pretty much always there and always fast. Other guys seemed to come and go, but Kehoe seemed to be a 125 guy as well. We were the biggest rivals when I was with R&D Suzuki minibikes, though.
Talk about how you decided to hang it up.
I won my championship in 1988. I felt like I was the fastest guy out there, and my contract with Honda renewed again for ’89. I wanted to defend that championship and get another one but my shoulder went bad in Ohio. I had a a lot problems with that shoulder. In 1989, I came out and was leading the points but then got hurt in Ohio at Kenworthy's. I came back towards the end but was already behind in the points. My last-ever race was at Steel City back in Pennsylvania, and I was pulling away from everyone. I somehow high-sided and again hurt my shoulder, and that was it. I decided it was time to retire with that crash.
I was so burned out there at the end. Since I was 16, all I did was fly back East and stay in hotels. When I left, I didn’t want to travel and didn’t want to fly, so when it was over, it was over. I was done. Even now, I don’t even like to fly if I don’t have to.
In 1989, there were a bunch of really hungry kids coming up, but you had them covered before getting hurt.
Yes, we had Mike Keidrowski and Bradshaw, and those kids were young and pretty aggressive, definitely more than me. I definitely wasn’t as aggressive as I could have been, so it was tough. I had more speed, though, but my shoulder didn’t want to hold together.
When you look back at your career, what are some of your thoughts?
Man, that’s tough, it’s a mixed bag. Too many injuries. I had three surgeries on my shoulder. Towards the end there, my knee and shoulder were both bad, and I feel like I had to exit a little early. I think I could have won more races, but the shoulder was an issue starting when I was 16 years old. I was always fighting injuries—that’s why I kinda got cut short. But I had a ride for nine years, and it was a really good ride.
What are you up to now?
My dad always had a bike dealership [Holland Honda/Yamaha] in Kerman, California, and that’s how I got into the sport. Once I started making some money, we bought an almond farm and he sold that dealership. Me and my father just started the farm, and we just kept growing it. That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing since, along with raising my family. Today we farm nearly 2,000 acres of almonds. We do it all: we farm them, we package them, and we ship them.
Our business is located in Kerman, but I live in Fresno with my wife, Dana, and two daughters. Hayley is 18 and is on her way to Fresno State this fall to study Business Ag, and Taylor is 13 and going in the eighth grade. I’ve been married for twenty-three years now to Dana. Hayley might join us in the business—but we’ll see!
Can we buy your almonds in the grocery store?
Not really—we sell mostly overseas. We put the almonds in containers and ship them to Spain, China, and to the Middle East.
Do you still follow the sport?
Yes, I still do. I TiVo pretty much all the races and watch them on TV.
Do you still ride?
I did, but I broke my hip snowboarding real bad a few years back. With that injury, I had to gave up the whole thing. Sometimes I still ride Harleys locally, though—it’s a little more low-key.
I was invited to the MXdN but my shoulder was always bad, and I was afraid of having a problem over there. I didn’t want to let the team down, so I had to pass on it. It was probably a good decision.
Do you still stay in touch with people from the sport?
I still stay in touch with [Pro Circuit’s Jim "Bones" Bacon] mostly. I also stayed in touch with [Jeff] Stanton, but we mostly send Christmas cards back and forth because we’re both busy. I see Bevo [Forti, of Scott USA] when I go to the races, and he is certainly an old friend.
You seem to be very successful with your post racing life. What helped you make the move?
I guess I just got a little bit lucky. I had good people around me, especially my dad. Instead of buying a Porsche or blowing my money like some of the other riders have done, we bought ground and invested in it. I think the difference for me was that I was guided pretty well.
In the past ten years or so, the money a rider can make has really grown, and some of our top stars have done very, very well. What are your feelings on that?
It’s a damn tough way to make a living, so whatever they can make, more power to them. I say the only other thing that’s harder to make money at is Ultimate Fighting. Like motocross, it’s a tough sport with lots of pressure and injuries. The more they can make, the better!
Any closing thoughts?
Winning my championship was the biggest thing. That’s mostly what everyone remembers. Those days on the minibikes were some good times—back in the days with R&D, it was less pressure and just fun. But I got my championship. I wish I had a few more, but hey, I’m in one piece and did well!
Have a suggestion for a future Where Are They Now? subject? E-mail us at [email protected].
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Nick, I always have something to add, check your email.
It was fun to see Holland and Kehoe battle it out during the '80s. Good to hear George is doing well.
please do a story on Eddie Warren. I think he had one ,if not the most interesting careers n mx.
davey,what about the bowen bros.did you not race with keith and greg.
Keith wound up wrenching for Vullimen for a while. As far as his bo,not aware of him. If you`re talking about Keith about 44 years o****e{i like that better than old] rookie of the year n I think 84 factory Yami.. I raced against Keith,n Eddie for too long. Lechein was the only rider faster on a 85cc than Eddie
George Holland was one of the nicest guys as a Pro. Excellent article.
What a class act, the poster-boy for humility and modesty. "I think I had 12 or13 wins, but not sure". Well George, the author says it was 13. Most former pros can tell you how many motos they won (if any) and he isn't sure how many overalls he had. And that was racing O'Show, Ward, Lechine, etc. Trucker, have you seen the USGP at Unadilla with Hannah, O'Show and Bowen the year that Johnny ran out of gas? I think it was the 2nd moto that Bowen and Hannah had an epic dual. Bowen's finest moment.
Before he moved to 125's RJ had Leicien covered on 80's locally in San Diego which started that rivalry. JimM CarlsbadCa
I had friends that raced with George back in 1981. We would go to Indian Dunes and watch Erik Kehoe, George Holland and Larry Brooks battle it out on 80cc. Now those were the days.
I have to agree with the rest George was one of the nicest guys to ever throw a leg over a dirt bike I talked to him a few times back in the day; His battles with Kehoe at Red Bud were classic! Also glad to see Racer X bring back this feature; I like to hear how my old hero's are doing these days
First saw GH win at Lake Sugartree in '86 on his POS Suzook (lol). He drank most of the champagne instead of spraying the crowd.
Had the pleasure of seeing one of Holland's first pro races at Binghamton in 1982. Great ride,think he got top 5 ahead of Hannah who was back on an OW125 that year. Most of us east coasters had only heard about him from the World Mini write ups etc, took a few laps till we realized who the 3 digit guy was on the factory Suzuki. Totally humble in the pits. Thanks for the story.
Jimbo,thats crazy 2be faster than Lechein[rj]. Eddie Warren only raced against him a few times. Warrens from Michigan. I remember when Eddie told me someone beat him @ a national out n Cali,but that he also beat him. I asked if it was that he didnt know the tracks or if this kid Lechein was faster. He said both. My jaw dropped.And that Lechein was usually blown out from the night be4,what a talant ! Then he said it didnt matter because he[lechein]was sighning with yami,n Eddie was Kawi.I think next year is going 2be as talanted as those years n the 450 class.125cc then is like the 250cc of now,a bad start n only a few can make it top 5.Eddie Warren n the Chicken,were the reason Japan "outlawed Americans from their series .i think Tichioner to; spell check that one.Guess im doing my own Eddie Warren story . Eddie is the 1st ever sx lites winner[as a privateer]. Wound up n Australia n dominated their,but we lost touch to how his career wound up.
George had the trickest XR75's on the track as a kid. I was so jealous! He smoked yz,rm,kx 80's on a regular basis. He rode the Lake Madera track like a seasoned pro at a very young age. Super good dude, glad to here all is well with the Holland clan.....
my 15 seconds...I passed 'leventh one time in about '74...he was on one a those trick Holland honda XR75's... my practice session was ending and i see George getting on the track for his session... i stay out an extra lap to race with him...i was like 13 and on a 100 Yam(the year before monoshock) and my dad still teases me about it !!
hey...now check up on Gary Bowman...he had Georges ride with Suzuki the season before....and he's racing again ....i'm just saying. (fyi still lives in Bakersfield)
Holland v. Kehoe. Yeah!
I have some of those postcard style hand-outs from the nationals @ Sugartree in Axton,Va from that year.I will try gather up the 3 of them -Stanton,Holland,Kiedrowski-and post in the Your Collection section.I really treasure my old stuff I did keep from all those "old days" of two-strokes and Salem smokes, and staying in a 4 door Malibu at night just to watch the Pros on Sunday!
I remember George ridin a R&D RM80 at Mt. High The sound that bike made would give you cold chills. That thing had this metallic rev like I've never heard. There was this other kid by the name of Pat Galen also on a R&D RM80 that came from I dont know where. He barely beat Holland, which I thought was impossible. Whatever happened to that kid. Also what happened to R&D. What I would give to have a full on R&D KTM 50SX built for my son. And for the record Holland drove a Porsche. I seen him at my high school tryin to impress the chicks with his new 944.
George was WITHOUT A DOUBT, other than JS7, the fastest 80 rider ive ever seen in my life...... i have seen them all for 35 years, & know every one of them... None were as ragingly possessed fast as George was.... only James compares.... Bruce Bunch & Kehoe were very close, but it wasn't the same.... a insanely muddy Golden State series round in 80' near his house was the most impressive performance i'd ever seen in my life.... His 125 speed in 81' & 82' was no joke, either.... however he had to deal those 2 years w/ O'Show, Wardy, a Barnett that was running the table, Lechien, and RJ ( RJ only in 81' because he had gotten hosed in 82' by Holeshot).... RIP, Bruce Bunch.....
crooked, you ant kidding,that was one fast fu$ker on his 80 at saddleback park!
eny of you guys remember my dad darin powell