This Week in Yamaha History: Lechien in '83
Thursday, February 9, 2012 | 4:55 PM
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PrintIt’s round six of the seventeen race Monster Energy AMA Supercross series this weekend in San Diego. For This Week in Yamaha SX History, we’re going to hop into the time machine and go back to 1983 and in the very same stadium we’re visiting this weekend. Yamaha’s Ron Lechien was coming off of one of the hottest amateur careers ever and quickly proved he was ready to battle the best as a pro, winning the 250 supercross race at Orlando as well as some 125 nationals at just 16 years old. Lechien was already a star, and for the 1984 series, he signed with Honda to ride factory bikes, something that Yamaha had already announced they would not have for the ’84 year (Yamaha was going to race production-based equipment in an era that still allowed full-works bikes).
A young Ron Lechien.
The last race of that 1983 season was held in San Diego, but it was not an official AMA Supercross. It was sanctioned by the CMC but nevertheless, all the heavy hitters were there. Broc Glover, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Mark Barnett and many others all lined up on the starting line hoping to end their year with a win.
And Yamaha, upset that Lechien had already signed with Honda, did not allow Lechien his factory race machine for this race. It wasn’t an AMA race so they were not contractually obliged to Ronnie. With his new contract at Honda not officially started yet, Lechien, from nearby El Cajon, wasn’t going to just sit on the sidelines at his hometown supercross—he was determined to race.
And with that Lechien picked up a stock Yamaha YZ250 from a dealership, got Pro Circuit to do some motor work and went to San Diego to try his best against the best riders in the world on full works bikes.
And it was no contest! Lechien grabbed the holeshot in the main event and checked out. Ward chased after Lechien until his chain broke and that left Lechien’s ex-teammate Rick Johnson to try and reel Ron in, but it was fruitless.
The number 18 Yamaha was on another level on this night and in front of his family and friends, Lechien went unchallenged to win a race that might not have counted in the official AMA record books, but counted more than anyone could realize to the kid. On a bike that anyone could buy, Ronnie won the 1983 San Diego Supercross and then on that following Monday, went back to high school to resume classes.
What a night for Lechien and even though there was no help from the factory guys, it was quite a night for Yamaha as well as their production machine proved more than capable of winning at the highest level.
Check out the video here:
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I wonder if Yamaha actually planned it that way. Make Ron so mad that he'd ride his ass off, thus proving their production bikes were capable. If they didn't, it couldn't have played out any better for them. They must've run some ads about it. Any in your old mag collection Steve? And in watching the video, it becomes apparent that it took two decades for riders to go from "pumped" to "super pumped."
Holy crap! I thought that top picture was a black and white of Dean Wilson! :-D
Actually, I think all he did was bolt on an Ohlins rear shock!
It just goes to show you that it is the rider that is the biggest variable in the racing equation. The bike needs to run and all, but the rider is much more than half of the equation in this era of fast, reliable bikes. No matter what I ride, I am still a slow old fart out there scaring myself!
Cool article, I remember that. Considering he did it on a 1983 yz 250, is even more impressive, that was the only yz I ever owned, and I hated it, suspended for a 85 lb 4ft 9 japanese guy, if ya asked me. great motor , turned on a dime though. If ya didnt comprss a few verts 1st.
It looks so weird watching them single most of the jumps. They must have been running their CMC numbers.
Man what he could have done if he had RC's head.
My first trip to CA, I arrived in SD the night before this race (planned to get there in time for this). By Saturday night, I was riding to the race with a carload of California boys. My first SX, and boy were the locals psyched! Super cool experience. Trying to recall ... anybody remember the dealer Ronnie bought the bike from? I think I heard Lucky Yamaha (later Yamaha/Suzuki of Lemon Grove). Those were the days when most of the top riders were California natives: Lechien, Johnson, Hannah, Breker, Ward (via Scotland), O'Mara, Chandler, Burnsworth, Holland, etc, etc.
Anyone notice Johnson's black background on his number plate? If anyone knows about this I'd sure like to hear why. That's been the color of 125cc/lites plates for as long as I know.
I remember that race! Tracks were really different in those days! In fact it was a brand new 1984 YZ 250 that Ronnie rode!! That was at the end of the 83 season. There were also other riders on brand new Hondas out there as well. I believe Jeff Hicks rode a brand new 1984 Honda CR 250 in that race.
Holy Cow! I woulda swore that was some kind of old picture of some relative of DEANO! That is really wierd how that dude looks like Deano!
One of the things I love about MX is it really is about the rider unlike any other motor sport.. Leichin is a great example, in any sport that usually the most talent is rarely the most successful...did you see how much their bikes moved around? Wow, nothing has improved as much as suspension has.
Awesome video,brings back memories.I had one of those 83 CR250's
.Lechien KIND of like Stewart,when the planets were in line he was unbeatable.
He was one of the greatest talents to be spoiled by his own talent...his opponents took things serious...Leichen did not...he was and still is a cool dude thuogh..
Look at how the rear ends of the bikes swap and the way they rebound off of the jumps. If they doubled the bike would likely send the rider over the triple by themselves.
What Ronnie had and I have no way to prove it till I take a look at as pick of the bike? I called it the RJ yamaha I had one with the YZ 490 rod, a 10mm spacer on the base, yes it used 2 base gaskets, A YZ 60 ignition and I did have O"Lins shock and internals on the forks with procicuit porting and pipe. It was mabe the best bike I ever had. Also you could build it yourself. I also had a titanium powervalve made and a few other small (?) mods done to it. I could do majic on that bike till I found out I was not invincable and managed to crush my leg betweent the tripple tree and frame???? OUCH.....
Man...that was such a killer video! I think I almost forgot how cool racing used to be in those days. It is still amazing, but those guys in the 80's were just animals to power those machines around that track. I loved the commentator. Who was it? "give no quarter, take no quarter!". I think I will spend the next several hours reconnecting with my early motocross roots by looking up old moto videos on youtube. lol
Wow! what trip back in time! That was in the era when I truly fell in love with the sport. I had one of those 83's CR 250's. I was still in highschool and raced twice a week parcticed every Wednesday at Smith Road Raceway, I remember when it was "cool" to wear your goggles on top of your helmet... And the boot protectors! had them too. I'm feeling all nostalgic now. think I'll go "bolt" some numbers on my front number plate
I have been to Smith road raceway,but it was in the late 80's.I had a 89 KX250 then.
Pro Circuit tuned production bike winning a supercross? Sounds familiar! Also, Bevo as his (privateer) mechanic!
The Gear was way cooler and hardcore looking back then,most of the racers today look like clowns in their pajamas with all the gay colors and goofy designs, silly neck braces,gay ass sounding bikes,its no wonder girls think mx is a little boy sport today.Back then all the girls wanted to go out with a motocrosser.It used to be a mans sport. Reeds gear looks good though!
I miss those days. I remember 1983. Honda ruled all 3 classes in the magazine bike shoot outs. 125, 250, and 500. I think it was an air cooled 480cc. Then in 85 then came out with the water-cooled 500.
The commentator was Larry "Supermouth" Huffman.
Lechien had such raw talent. I remember getting his autograph at the Rose Bowl SX when he was sitting in the stands with his entourage. Didnt he ride a rotary valve works 125 in the Nationals?
Pretty sure he got the bike from Don Vescos Yamaha