Proof: Ron Lechien
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 | 2:45 PM
Share
Comment
Email
Print
At the end of the 1988 season, there was no doubt who was going to represent Team USA at the annual Olympics of Motocross, the Motocross des Nations. Three riders dominated all year indoors and out: Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward, and Ron Lechien. Two of the three were on Kawasakis, and Ward volunteered to race the 125—his first time on one in five years.
Lechien, on the 500, had a glorious day, going 1-1 to win his and the overall. The race took place in France (just like this year’s race), and although the French fans cheered on hometown kid Jean-Michel Bayle, he was no match for Lechien on this day. We spoke with Lechien about that historic race.
Racer X: Ronnie, I guess you being named to the MXdN team in ’88 wasn’t a big surprise, right?
Ron Lechien: It wasn’t really a surprise that year—we were the best three guys. I was stoked to get picked for the 500, though, because I got to run the #1, and also, RJ won both outdoor titles the year before so he could’ve got his choice of what to ride. I think they figured that I was a bigger guy. I rode the 500 well and RJ wanted to ride the 250. So Wardy went to the 125s—he was a smaller guy. The bikes in ’88 were good. I think our 500 was better than the Honda, to be honest.
The track was a little hilly, so with Ward being smaller, the 125 worked for him and we all got along well with our bikes that day. Like I said, I was pumped to ride the 500. I always rode those bikes good. Having the #1 and leading the team was awesome. Anytime you go to the MXdN, you give it all that you have.
Lechien went 1-1 at the '88 MXDN.
Photo: Racer X Archives
They could’ve stuck you on the 125—Johnson and Ward probably were a bit faster than you in 1988.
Yeah, it’s possible, but at some point I guess they all got together and decided this was best for the team. And it worked out for everyone. Wardy got stuck on a bike here and there that he didn’t want to ride, but he did what it took for the team. We knew the track wasn’t going to be great for me on a 125. I would’ve been a toad. It was a perfect track for me—it was like a lot of stuff that I rode in El Cajon. It was hilly and hard-packed and I couldn’t have asked for a better track to suit my style, to be honest. It worked out perfectly for me.
And you smoked them on the day, going 1-1, in what might have been one of the best rides of your life.
Yeah, pretty close, I’d say. Having Ricky and Wardy on my team and not racing against them was a relief. I knew the other guys in the 500 class--the Europeans--and I figured I had them covered pretty easily. There wasn’t a whole lot of pressure on me other than don’t go down and stay clean. It worked out cool, though. Going 1-1 and leading the USA team to victory is cool, but it wasn’t the hardest race for me.
JMB was on it that day on the 125, right?
Yeah, he was. I’m glad I didn’t have to really deal with him, but everyone else did. I was keeping my eye on him out there. If he had gotten some better starts, I might have had to race him a bit. He would’ve been nipping on my heels, but as it was, I was alone out front and keeping a comfortable pace.
That 1988 Kawasaki KX500 must have been a pretty good bike for you.
Yeah, it was my bike from the nationals. We shipped all of our bikes over there, which is a big help—I was comfortable with it. Like I said, I think we had the best bike in the class. It was great.
In the race you have these gigantic Dogger stickers on your bike and helmet. What’s the story behind those?
Well, we all know it was my nickname, but it was actually also the name of a casual clothing company. This guy had gotten a hold of me and sponsored me with some stuff. It was nice-looking. There really wasn’t much out there back then besides the Life’s a Beach guys. So I had some stickers from the guy—it was my nickname and I put it on my helmet and bike. I’m surprised that Kawasaki let me put it on the front fender like that. Or maybe they didn’t and I did it anyways [laughs].
Lechien at Binghampton in '88.
Photo: Paul Buckley
In the Motocross Action story from the race, they say you were not going to get hired back by Kawasaki until you dominated the MXdN. Was this really what happened? Did you know this at the time?
Yeah, I know that’s what they said—I have the story in a frame behind my desk here at Maxima. “The Resurrection of Ronnie” is what they call the story, but I don’t really know. It’s hard to say, to be honest. I know that even after I broke my femur in ’89, Kawasaki offered me a tryout and a deal for the ’90 500 nationals, which I didn’t take due to my personal problems and all that. Even with all that stuff, they still wanted me on the team in ’90. So I’m not sure if that’s true or not. I think they wanted me back in ’89 anyways. I was one of the top three guys.
I didn’t take that shot they offered in 1990, and I regret it to this day. I just wasn’t ready, both on and off the track. That’s a whole other story. The race in ’88 at the MXdN was good for me but I don’t think it was a turning point or anything like that. I really had a great shot at the ’89 500 title, especially after Rick [Johnson] got hurt, but if circumstances had been better, I’d have won. My private life ruined it for me, but I was fast.
Now back to the MXdN in ’88. It’s true that you were up most of the night before the race, right?
[Laughs] Yeah, I met this girl over there and it was a long night. They had my room right at the front of the hotel over there so I could just get out quickly and try to get a couple hours sleep, at least! It was a fun three weeks for me. We started it off in Amsterdam for a supercross, then it was the MXdN in France, and then from there it was a race in Maggiora, Italy. It was a fun three weeks and one I’ll never forget.
Did you like this article?
Check out HIGH/LOW
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Each of the five major manufacturers had its ups and downs during the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross campaign. Page 118.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I just wanna know where welker finished?
The mid to the late 80's were the best days in my opinion for motocross/supercross! Ronnie was one of my favorites as was Rick Johnson,
By the way, that picture of Ronnie with the rest at Binghampton was from 1989 not 1988! Rick on the #1 honda in the background is wearing JT gear! In 1988 he was wearing Fox! These are definately 89' bikes here!
Yup, that pic is from '89....Stanton on his first year at Honda with a #7 on the bike.
One of my childhood favorites for sure, Lechien your awesome man.....
Agree - the 80s was a great time to be an MX/SX fan since it was so competitive.
This first turn picture is interesting. It shows a huge contrast in the functionality of visors between 1989 and today. In '89, they were functional and they could actually block sunlight and roost while still allowing you to see the track. Put your head down enough to block roost today and you are staring at the front fender. Today's visors are nothing more than decoration and a place to put a sponsors sticker. I guess in this case form doesn't follow function.
My $.02
@ joemotocross 589, I am LMAO,,,,,, that was good , I was the one in the hotel room not Ronnie he is still pissed at me for sealing his woman LOL
I loved watching this guy ride. It's too bad about the personal problems. I remember his short-lived comeback where he wore number 100 on his, I believe privateer, Kawasaki.
I wish someone would ask Lechien to tell the story about how he totaled/ruined a rental car on his way to a race ... that was a funny story that I read in MXA way back in the day!
Always good storys with ron!! LOL
Where have all the individuals gone?
Riders are soo boring now..
You dont have to be J-Law to be a character!!
Long live Ronnie and people like him!
Please write a book of what you can remember from those times it would be interesting no doubt.
Never mind my first comment, but that was funny, Now Ronnie was so impresive when he wanted to be, I absolutly am amazed at the pass he did on Glover at the supercross I cant remember the one anyhoooo, The machine pased Brock on the outside on a flat turn standing on the pegs, that is pure talent! Hey Ronnie I wont say anything, I doubt you remember me? Leichen the machine was unbielvleable when he decided to turn it on. Most of us old timers can understand. Buy the way that was a bold statement to say the Kowie was better than the honda? I did try a production Kawie 500 in 88 and it was pretty good.
Hey Ronnie I am just glad you are still alive and doing good now, been there done that.
I remeber watching him at the ametuer natinoals.. That was fun indeed...
@joemotocross589, seriously funny sh&t dude, cheers! He remains unaffected by it all and the posts will remain the same (as you can tell by his most recent)........even cyberboard krytonite can slow the INFAMOUS WELKER!
Love the article. Great time in MX history for sure, the dude was fast as hell.
Southwick is going to be a mudder!! Dowd and Barcia will be at the front. Look for a PC kawi to blow up!!
Dogger Rules!
I rememeber 1988 LA Colesium SX.... The rider meet and greet down on the track was cool....Ron and cant beleive I am saying this, but Ron and Larry Brooks were the 2 coolest guys.....I became a fan of Lechein that night...especially when he won his heat race (i think)...laid it flat over the triples and all you could see was his cool looking radium lenses in his goggles.....next lap he did the signature no footer....my dad said he looked hung over that night......
Went to Ronnie's condo in El Cajon when he went to Honda, he had 2 500's,2 250's and 1 125. They all had the white factory frames that were not in production at that time. They were pretty bad ass! True factory bikes.
YES was 1989 500cc season Mr Matthes !!!!!!!!!
Probably by then you were still eating peanutbutter and jelly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Great Ron Lechien !
the video of the 1988 mxon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSkUhw2H57k&playnext=1&list=PLE864562B5A2BF3A0
With Ronnie, we always are left wondering ... what if he really applied himself?
great vid post
There are individuals who still have fun in racing these days. They are at the local tracks winning against lesser racers than them and occasionally being back makers at Nationals.
Love the Dogger. He killed it that day and the comments about shagging some local girl and having the Euros covered in the 500 class...lol.
I raced that day in France and remember how far you were jumping down the hill by the tree! Awesome dogger and those were the days. For team New Zealand it was an experience of a life time and for sure cool to ride with the legends.
I remember when I was 16 and got my 1986 KX250... I remember pulling a holeshot at a race in Dixon CA.. the entire race I imagined myself being Ron Lechien and tried to ride as smooth as he used to... Only problem was I didn't have his skills and faded back to 5th or 6th place by the end of the race... and I was only racing in the Novice class... But still, on my KX250 I could at least pretend to be the Dogger :)
Great interview... Can you imagine either of the two Ryan's saying this year after Des Nations that they knew they had the Euro's covered before they showed up and that they had a "long night" with a local girl the night before the race? The 80's were definitely a great era... just before the business of racing killed most of the fun!!! I'm pretty sure I even remember a story about Lechien rolling a rental car into a cops front yard (who was having a BBQ in the back yard at the time)... can anyone else remember that? Makes JS7's fake police lights seam a little tame by comparison. I know Ron said he was dealing with some bad personal stuff back then and he probably doesn't look back at those times in a positive light but still... it makes for some funny stories!
The 80's had the best music, the best movies, the hottest chicks and HANDS DOWN, the best motocrossers. 'nuff said.
Greetings from Italy Ron. I bought my first MX bike in those years, a Kawasaki KX 125, and I was following the US scene and especially you on the magazines, you were great!
I can remember Ron drinking a beer right after a moto at spring creek. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I walked up to him and had him autograph my coolie! He was so cool about it and today I wish I still had that coolie! He also partied it up with some friends of mine that had a practice track near Rochester they used to practice on when they came to town. Met Eric Kehoe and some others too. Eric says to me "hi I'm Eric Kehoe can you tell me how we get up to the track?" Yeah no introduction needed- I know you're Eric Kehoe. the good old days
@Shayne king, Hi World Champion !
Those stories are what makes motocross so great, especially if you ride. A possible hung over,sleep deprived lechien just waking up, heading out to the biggest race there is and just absolutely flat out smoking all those guys on a kx500 beast! Then grabbing the champagne,trophy girl and going home.
Good stuff! Thats Unadilla in '89 not Binghamton...the rocks are the same though. The reason we know is the pits were down the start straight on left at Bing and the turn was a 180. That's the old rising first turn at dilla that had so many crashes.
The deep gargle of 500's on a start, I miss that.
I doubt you look like Ron Lechien of 1988 with your ugly M-Robert, especially you are small and ugly!
I was there, 1989 Washougal, the Dogger dogged in the first moto, 9th place. Then he lit it up with THE most amazing ride I've ever seen- just effortless- yet, hell- Ward said he couldn't he couldn't even see him. It was amazing to see that kind of raw speed, and a week later he's done with a snapped femur... I feel the pain, I've got the broken bones... too
GERTRUDINA: if you ever come around here and see a 6.2 176 pound dude, just run away, you small 5" fat retard, I'll stick your Mongolian face into the tank of my KAWA, loser
I first met Ronnie in 1979 when we brought a group of young riders to SoCal. We had never seen anyone ride an 80 like he did. he inspired us and some of our riders went on to great things.Jamie Dobb, Paul Malin and Mervin Anstie among others. Whenever we met around the world, sometimes years apart,Ronnie always had time to say hello. Racerbob007.
Back in the day when they ran the Giants stadium Supercross in New Jersey, we all raced the amateur race. We got to rub elbows with the big boys. My buddy told me he got to share some party favors with Ronnie. He was an outlaw even then. Around 1987 or so. He holeshot the race and hit the triples so hard he probably scared himself. In the 125's a local guy from upstate New York stole the show. With nothing to lose, he laid it flat over the triple every lap. It might have been Paul Carpenter, maybe? The crowd went crazy! I also won Guy Coopers jersey that day and I didn't kill myself over the triples. A great experience! Never forget those days. The 80's were awesome. On any given day, one of eight guys could win the day. Johnny O'Mara was smooth as silk! Wardy, RJ, Stanton, Bailey, Bayle. It was nuts!
Picture is definitely Unadilla
manes blow, you are a liar, you probably at 5-10! 176 pounds? it's the weigth of my 15 years old kid! and he reach 1M94! i'm small compare to my son, i'm only 1M85 but i'm 225 pounds of muscle, I will destroy you and you vespa px 50 whit my old CR500!!! italians know how to fight now? ha ha ha ha ha like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy3qc1hmqNI
You know what kind of son you have, there is no need for me to tell you. What a poor human??? being
Pray I won't catch you loser, just that
Italy made the history of the world and of course of motorcyles, Mongolia can just teach people how to dig holes to find roots to eat, retard! Hide yourself in your bathroom, always if you have one, which I doubt
@ moron manes, don't soil this article of the great Ron Lechien, move into the racerx gp report moron, i will kick your @$$ again and again! "italian made the hystory of the world" ha ha ha ha, with they cowardices? ha ha ha ha, ala litlle benito? ha ha ha ha MORON!!!!!