by Davey Coombs
40 Day Countdown To AMA Motocross Opener: 1988
Thursday, April 28, 2011 | 6:00 PM
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PrintWelcome to another step forward in Racer X Online's forty-day countdown to the drop of the starting gate for the 40th Annual Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Each day, Racer X Online counts off another year in American Motocross history, and today that year is 1988.
(Click here to view previous years)
Ronald Reagan was in his last year as U.S. president, the Soviet Union was running out of money, and the Cold War itself was running out of steam.... But 1988 was not a good one for the sport in America, as one very dark day clouded the entire industry for a long time to come. On the morning of March 16, two men on bicycles rode up the driveway of SX promoter Mickey Thompson's home and gangland-style murdered both Thompson and his wife. The police long suspected it was Thompson's old business partner Mike Goodwin who ordered the hits, but it would take years before an arrest was made.
Ricky Johnson was the fastest all around in 1988, but bad luck kept him from the 250 AMA Motocross title.
Photo: Gianni Prandi
It's too difficult to describe all that went down here, but if you want to read a fascinating, epic story about the Mickey Thompson murders and the subsequent years of questions that followed, check out this feature from LA Weekly.
On the track, 1988 was the beginning of a changing of the guard in American motocross. Old war horses like Bob Hannah and Broc Glover were beginning their rides off into the sunset while new stars like Jeff Stanton and Guy Cooper began to emerge. And waiting in the wings was a whole squadron of fast young American rookies-to-be, including Damon Bradshaw, Mike Kiedrowski, Larry Ward, and more—not to mention a fast and fearless young Frenchman who was about to rattle global motocross at its foundations. More on that tomorrow.
Two-time 125cc National MX Champion Micky Dymond was moving up to the 250cc class and Yamaha had snatched up the popular and entertaining “rock star” of American motocross. But Mickey never found the magic he had on that 125 Honda, beginning a long, slow slide out of the running.
Ron Lechien had a solid year in 1988, ending with a solid win at the Motocross des Nations for Team USA.
Photo: Gianni Prandi
The riders at the top of the charts in AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross included the usual suspects: Team Honda's Ricky Johnson and his Kawasaki rivals Jeff Ward and Ron Lechien. The 500cc Nationals would be won by Johnson, who captured half of the tour’s six rounds.
Johnson also captured half of the six rounds of the 250 National tour, but he would not be as fortunate here, as a mechanical failure at the third round in Axton, Virginia—David Bailey's renovated Lake Sugar Tree track—left him playing catch-up. Johnson ended up seven points short, costing him a chance to win three titles in a single season.
Team Honda riders George Holland and Guy Cooper (center) compare notes before a 125 National.
Photo: Gianni Prandi
Later on, those same three—Johnson, Lechien, and Ward—would make up Team USA's entry at the ‘88 Motocross des Nations in Versenne, France, winning over a home side led by Jean-Michel Bayle. That marked the eighth straight year the Americans won this race, and they were nowhere near being finished with their record streak.
Honda's 125cc champion-in-waiting George Holland leads Suzuki's Erik Kehoe at Gainesville.
Photo: Paul Buckley (find more old prints at BuckleyPhotos.com)
By the way, the winner of the last AMA Supercross of 1988—not to mention the last AMA Supercross of his amazing career—was Broc “Golden Boy” Glover. Talk about riding off into the sunset!
1988 250cc AMA Motocross Championships
2/28 Gainesville, FL Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kaw
3/27 Sacramento, CA Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
5/1 Axton, VA Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kaw
5/22 Southwick, MA Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kaw
5/29 Mt. Morris, PA Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
6/5 San Antonio, TX Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
1988 250cc AMA Motocross Point Standings
1.) Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA 2642.) Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA 257
3.) Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA 208
4.) Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI 194
5.) Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA 193
6.) Jeff Leisk, Agoura, CA 186
7.) Johnny O’Mara, Simi Valley, CA 136
8.) Micky Dymond, Placentia, CA 127
9.) Mike Fisher, Santee, CA 116
10.) Brian Manley, Placentia, CA 95
Check out this '88 Pro Circuit ad, pushing the '87 accomplishments of top guys Wardy and RJ
1988 500cc AMA Motocross Championships
7/3 Buchanan, MI Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kaw
7/10 Binghamton, NY Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
7/17 Delmont, PA Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
7/31 Troy, OH Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA Kaw
8/14 Millville, MN Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA Hon
8/28 Washougal, WA Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kaw
1988 500cc AMA Motocross Point Standings
1.) Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA 276
2.) Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA 252
3.) Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI 215
4.) Jeff Leisk, Agoura, CA 201
5.) Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA 199
6.) Fred Andrews, Salem, OH 153
7.) Mike Fisher, Santee, CA 125
8.) Tom Carson, Hopedale, OH 118
9.) Doug Dubach, Costa Mesa, CA 114
10.) Tommy Watts, Shelbyville, KY 102
1988 125cc AMA Motocross Championships
2/28 Gainesville, FL Erik Kehoe, Granada Hills, CA Suz
3/27 Sacramento, CA Erik Kehoe, Granada Hills, CA Suz
5/1 Axton, VA Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Suz
5/22 Southwick, MA George Holland, Kerman, CA Hon
5/29 Mt. Morris, PA Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Suz
6/5 San Antonio, TX George Holland, Kerman, OK Hon
7/3 Buchanan, MI Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Hon
7/10 Binghamton, NY Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Hon
7/17 Pittsburgh, PA Erik Kehoe, Granada Hills, CA Suz
7/31 Troy, OH George Holland, Kerman, CA Hon
8/14 Millville, MN Donny Schmit, Bloomington, MN Suz
8/28 Washougal, WA George Holland, Kerman, CA Hon
Lechien rails one of those timeless berms of Southwick's Moto-X 338
Photo: Paul Buckley (find more old prints at BuckleyPhotos.com)
1988 125cc AMA Motocross Point Standings
1.) George Holland, Kerman, CA 513
2.) Donny Schmit, Bloomington, MN 435
3.) Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK 433
4.) Erik Kehoe, Granada Hills, CA 364
5.) Ron Tichenor, Palm Harbor, FL 309
6.) Larry Brooks, Alhambra, CA 304
7.) Mike LaRocco, La Porte, IN 269
8.) Todd DeHoop, Hudsonville, MI 260
9.) Ty Davis, Hesperia, CA 192
10.) Keith Bowen, Auburn Hills, MI 180
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"HOLE-SNOT"!!
Right on with the daily dose!
Thanks! These are great!
'88 was great. Dymond was very cool on his Yamaha. RJ was awesome. I switched to Suzukis and rode what turned out to be a high reving, slow, yellow sewing machine in the 125 class. Snapped a connecting rod at the last round of the Nationals and destroyed the barrel, cases, everything. Piece of junk.
Gary Semics came down from the US and put on a riding school and rode for our team at the Nationals. Got 5th from memory. Bit of a novelty - overseas riders generally only ever came to New Zealand if they got lost going to Australia!
Guy had broke his leg at a euro supercross in Dec 87, so he skipped the Supercross season to be ready for the Outdoors, which he was ...Cooper was so fun to watch ride at Millville, that year 88 wife and I got in the pits afterward and got our pic taken with Guy and Roger DeCoster.
that photo of Ronnie is from '89. Sorry, i'm so into this series I notice everything!
Great review of the years and evolution of our sport. Too bad today's mega-dollar pros and those who won't compete "without a contract" are quickly changing the face of off-road. (Not to mention the untouchables who won't even look up from their sun glass hidden faces when signing an autograph) Sour grapes who may be thinking fellow SX/MX fans? I've been around the scene and hundreds of events since 1973 and the trend quite literally stinks.
Sorry to say I lost touch with the sport from the mid 80's to the late 90's. What was the thinking making the 125's a 12 race schedule, but the 250's and 500's a split schedule??
JD232 - it was split so the top guys coudl race both 250 and 500 series
This is a great series of articles. Thanks guys!
Congrats hole-snot, quite a recovery indeed.
Even on a beater YZ 490, Stanton finishes 3rd in the Nats. Man, that guy soo deserved a 500 title and I really thought he had one in him.
How about Lechien in the MXdN? Another Cindarella performance from the enigmatic super-talent. Too bad DeCoster / Honda couldn't have given him a second chance, we'll never know what could have been.
It seemed Honda could plug anyone into their 125 program and come out with a championship. Could it have had something to do with their team manager? hmmmmmm........
Woke up got out of bed dragged comb across my head morning of March 16. Wife and I purchased home in Duarte CA Dec. 1986, married Feb 1987, we still married and live in same home. March 16 I walked out to my truck to leave for work-battery dead-dammit. As I stretched jumper cables I noticed at least 5 helicopters a 1/2 mile west of my home hovering in the foothills. I am thinking another bear down from the mountains stuck in a tree media frenzy, must be slow news day? Then took off from my cul-du-sac onto main street that heads towards what i thought was a slow news day. Sheriffs officers searching every car at stop sign, opening trunks, camper-shells, rear seats. When it was my turn I had asked but officer just thanked me and said "move along". Local AM radio had my answer before I was on freeway on my way to work in Pasadena. Bad news sucks, and hits you really hard when its in your backyard. The Thompson's murdered in there driveway! I knew where they lived, worked for off road team in the early 1980's when Micky and Trudy just started there off road series. I had been to there home twice (excellent garage/workshop) to pick up carpets Mickey wanted us to use in the pit area at Pomona Fair grounds where the first races were held. I was and still am huge MX/SX fan so as this story played out in the media and Mike Goodwin linked to this nightmare, not even going to comment or pass judgement. Mickey's off road series grew pretty successful in the 1980's but only lasted a couple more years after he was gone and SX still going strong. I look forward to this countdown brings back so many great memories, 1988 countdown started off mentioning the murders-just thought I would share what I knew-sorry kind of a bummer.
Jeff Leisk was NOT from Agoura CA !!!! Haha.
All the way from Western Australia. The Down Under Flying Freckle was ripping it up in the AMA while Chad Reed was still in Nappys!
@KIWImxer YES the 88 RM125 was a POS!!! My bro rode tham and it blew a lot of times that year!! Ahhhhhhhhhh Lechien if he had RC's work ethic hw could have been the GOAT!!!
Lechien is rocking an epic mullet there. Outstanding, 10/10.
DirtClod - your post was amazing man...youi should be allowed 450 words in racerx
Is it me or does the gear from 88 - 89 look better than the stuff the kids and I (Argh) wear today?
brian wrote:
about 15 hours ago
that photo of Ronnie is from '89. Sorry, i'm so into this series I notice everything!
I'm gonna have to disagree you on your observation. That's a 500 he's riding and he finished 4th in the points in '87 giving him the #4 for '88. In '88 he finished 2nd giving him the #2 for 1989.
Hey Davey another great article! Now Im gonna shout! BRING BACK THE 500CC 2 STOKES !!!! I belive it was De Coster said there are only a hanful of riders that can ride a 500cc 2 stroke to it full potential ? No I was not oneof those people. What I wanna know is can the top pro's go faster on a 4 stoke 450 or a 500 cc 2 stoke? Even though I was racing a YZ 250 I was still able to win a lot in 88 in the over 30 expert class. Hey Calsbad I like your comments. I could still build some good bikes in 88. I finnally retired the long rod 85 YZ and build an 88 250 YZ made titanium power valve and machined the transmision with brass bushings, who says you cant build a factory bike? I still loved my Ohlins suspension. Yes that year Yamaha bought out Ohlins or there shock patents.
I know Im late on my post.
How about a video of bubba twisting a 500cc 2-stroke?
'Dirtclod' is the best username yet! An lookit that pic of lechein at southwick. Perfect motocross dirt, I would go roll around in that stuff if I had some right now!.
MotoJunkie - Dogger's on a 250 (white background). Also, check out the uni trak lettering on the swingarm - thats an '89 model.
So many memeries....so many memories.
THIS IS A GREAT SERIES!
Thanks
Thanks DC, I read every word of the LA Weekly Thompson story-very well written. I agree with "bring back 500cc 2 strokes" in fact bring back all 2 strokes as far as I am concerned. Oh sure they pollute more, but when you consider energy needed to manufacture the parts to rebuild a 4 stroke(and 2 more strokes should not increase rebuild costs 500-600%)it would all be even-wow I even shock myself just made up that theory, but when you consider BTU's needed just too cast machine and heat treat new valves alone-it gets you wondering how much "greener" a 4 stroke really is. Before you respond the the 2 stroke exhaust pipe uses a lot more steel, the energy used to print the money to pay for that high tech 4 stroke exhaust tube with a few bends compared to how much less you pay for a much more complicated to produce expansion chamber-ooooooooops I hope them exhaust manufactures do not read this.