by Davey Coombs
The List: Top 10 Americans in Grand Prix Motocross
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 | 10:00 AM
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Riders from the United States of America have had a mixed history on the FIM World Championship tour. The last world champ born in the U.S. was Bobby Moore, who won the 125cc title in 1994. With the 2011 Grand Prix season starting up this weekend in Bulgaria, here's a look back at the ten best Americans in GP history.
10. Mike Brown: The last American to seriously compete for an FIM world title, Brown came close to winning the 125cc division twice ('99 and '00). He's made a long career as a highly respected motorcycle racer, landing the 2001 AMA 125cc National MX title as well as a WORCS off-road title. He's still extremely fast and versatile, as evidenced by his nearly winning the opening round of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.
9. Mike Healey: As part of a very competitive brigade of expats racing abroad, Healey battled with the likes of Donny Schmit, Trampas Parker, Bobby Moore, A.J. Whiting, Ricky Ryan, Bader Manneh, and more. His bad-boy image made him a favorite with fans in Europe. He's fallen on tough times since retiring; here's to better days for Mike Healey.
Danny LaPorte (center), after helping Team USA win the '81 Motocross des Nations
8. Tallon Vohland: The younger of the very fast Vohland brothers from NorCal, Tallon won a bunch of GPs in his career but never the world title. He finished third twice in the 250cc class a couple of times and is still working in the motocross industry with Acerbis.
7. Billy Liles: “The Georgia Peach” was a charter member of Kawasaki's Team Green way back in 1982. A hardworking rider who spent the majority of his career in Europe, he came close to winning the world title a couple of times, but injuries also wrecked his chances. To learn more, check out Nick McCabe's recent Where Are They Now? piece.
6. Danny LaPorte: “Danny the Door” might have been a little higher on this list had he not spent the majority of his career in America. But when an opportunity arose for him to race in Europe in 1982 as a factory Yamaha rider, he jumped at the chance and ended up beating Georges Jobe for the 250cc world title. He missed being “first American” by two weeks that summer, leaving that distinction to another Hall of Famer.
5. Jim Pomeroy: Though he never won a world title, “The Yakima Flash” was super-competitive in the 1970s on Bultaco equipment. He also broke through as the first American ever to win a Grand Prix, shocking the world with a win at his GP debut in Sabadell, Spain, in 1973. Pomeroy died in an automobile accident in August of 2006.
Bobby Moore won the '94 125cc world title.
4. Bobby Moore: The California minicycle legend gambled his whole career on a ride in Europe in 1986 and ended up staying there for a decade, winning the '94 125cc world title and numerous 250cc races. He then became a team manager and has been a driving force with Road 2 Recovery ever since his retirement from racing. Bobby's also an agent at WMG.
3. Trampas Parker: Easily one of the most unexpected success stories in motocross history, Parker landed in Italy in 1988 after failing to make a dent on the AMA circuit. He ended up with Farioli KTM and came practically out of nowhere to win the '89 125cc world title. He followed that two years later with the 250cc title, then nearly won the 500cc title in 1995.
Brad Lackey was the first American crowned FIM World Motocross Champion.
Photo: Moto Verte
2. Donny Schmit: The globetrotting hero from Minnesota landed in Europe in 1990 after riding in the States as a privateer in '89 and promptly won the FIM 125cc world title. He added a 250cc title two years later, then retired at a relatively young age in 1995. Sadly, Schmit passed away one year later due to a rare blood disorder. How cool was Donny? Here's an old clip from Fox Racing's Terrafirma to remind you.
1. Brad Lackey: While this NorCal hero has fewer wins and titles than others, he was still the first American to be crowned FIM World Motocross Champion when he captured the 1982 500cc title. Lackey spent a decade pursuing the championship at a time when GP motocross featured top riders like Roger DeCoster, Heikki Mikkola, Adolf Weil, Gerrit Wolsink, and more.
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Go Chad, Louisiana represented on the world list. Nice
Great read! huge fan of all of them, mostly Tallon Vohland...growing up in Northern california, racing 80cc when he was on 80's.....man he was fast! Same with his brother Tyson....great memories!
very nice piece. amazing riders all. Bad Brad what an amazing rider! No doubt had he stayed in America he would have put up some terrific AMA numbers. But he stands proudly for going against the best and delivering!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7-OdDvFw7A Here is a clip with 5 of the ten. There are a few more to be noticed. Bader Manneh, Ryan Hughes, Tyson Vohland, Mike and Phil Larson, Rodney Smith. Healey lost the title by 3 points in 1991 when Honda flew Stanton over to Japan to cause damage to Healey's Championship. A KTM winning the world title in Japan at Honda's track was not going to happen.
Donny was without a doubt one of the most humble, hard working athletes the sport has ever seen.
Many don't know but Donny retired and went and bought a couple Honda CBR 600s and went AMA roadracing as a full Privateer and finished in the ultra competitive 600ss class top ten a few times. Without ANY roadracing experience.
Godspeed Donnie
Maybe in 20 years from now we can add a few more American names to the list... Including myself. Few people listed above I have looked up to growing up. Now I am following their foot steps. Pretty cool feeling
Davey, you alway have some of the best articles! I like the old time MX stuff. Yes we new Parker as Chad here in TX. and I got to ride with him before.Alsso Bobby Moore was at this riding area east of Deer Valley road in Pheonix AZ before he headed to europe that year. I was living in Pheonix that year. At the time it was the best place to practice in Pheonix and yes he was going fast. There was a giant hill there and we could lay out our own tracks. I never knew he was heading to Eourope till he told me that day.
Michael, good luck in Bulgaria! Thanks for checking in, and look for me at Valkenswaard for Round 2. I already told your folks I am going back on the beat to do a feature on your new gig over there as a factory rider. Really looking forward to the trip. I will drop you a line next week.
DC
MX Sports
I would've ranked LaPorte #2 because of the "1st American 250cc World Champion" achievement. To me, Danny & Brad accomplished the feat the same year thus, simultaniously. What? no Marty Smith? The recent article in RXI should've had him fresh in everyone's mind(s). That was an AWESOME endeavor never to have been duplicated.
Best of luck M. Lieb, bring home some gold! You're fighting the good fight and I / We are VERY proud of you!
1. Brad Lackey and Donny Schmit, 3. Trampas Parker, 4. Danny LaPorte, 5. Jim Pomeroy..., MXA are angry for not see Ryan Hughes on this list :), some top US AMA riders did some great trip in Europe for one GP, Donnie Hansen in 250cc (1982, 1/1) and maybe Johnny O'Mara in 1983 in 125cc (1/1 ahead The Kid Eric Geboers?) sorry for my bad English
Watching Donny ride that snow track game me goose bumps(not from being cold). I remember watching Lackey for years trying to win it. A huge deal back then, with little coverage compared to today. Ditto Welker's comment.
Yes, watching Donny ride in the snow was awesome. I wished they had made it a longer session. I'm going home tonight to watch it on DVD. I think I have it on DVD.
Michael,
Good luck in Europe and have fun. I will definately look for you in the standings. Hopefully that will not be hard.
Hey, no disrespect to Ryno-- he's one of my best friends and I was with him in Italy back in '99 for a couple of weeks -- but he didn't have the wins that these other guys did. Same goes for Marty Smith, an all-time legend, but he only did that one partial sason in Europe and only won the Danish GP over there. Rodney Smith was a tough one to leave off too.
Thanks for reading, something fun next week too.
DC
MX Sports
I'm not sure how you came up with this list, but obviously the person who compiled it doesn't know much about the sport. Marty Smith finished 4th (according to the FIM record books; not third like your recent magazine article stated) in the world in '76 while racing part time; he was also the first American to go 1-1 in a Grand Prix (Mid-Ohio 1975). Danny LaPorte won the world championship 1n 1982 ! You left these champions off the list, but included names like Mike Healey ?! Give me a break.....
Oooops my bad - - LaPorte is on the list - - - but no M. Smith..?
Most of the people on this list lived overseas for years. It took Bobby Moore, Healey and Parker years of living over seas before they were household names. I remember at the 250 usgp at unidilla Jeff Stanton telling a reporter that the american's racing for a world title were "HAS BEENS" and after hearing this they refused to stand under the american flag next to him. Good job DC on the list. Remember Healey comming back to steel city in a ford aerostar van and a year old clapped out RM125 practice bike to win a moto ahead of Emig, Larocco, Hughes, Ward, Macrath, henry, swink. I have this epic moto on tape.
I can't believe it's been five years since Pomeroy died! Seems like it was a year ago!
Great article DC. Brings back alot of memories. Good luck to Michael Leib, will be watching and hoping for the best. Myerson, don't stink up the joint with your negative comments. Since it's been mentioned already though regarding Stanton, I never cared for him. Dude always came off like a jerk. I think I actually remember him making those has been comments. If it weren't for RJ that guy would never have been s**t.
Myerson, I respect your comment, but I think I do know what I am talking about. Marty was amazing, but 1976 was not a great season for him on either continent. He won the Danish GP and the USGP and that was it. Gaston Rahier and Bob Hannah dominated the 125cc class on either tour. Marty had bike problems, only rode eight races and struggled with travel and his health. The guys on this list spent multiple years over there and won more races and titles.
Nevertheless, it's just my opinion, and you disagree. Buti I disagree with your comment I don't know what I am talking. I saw every one of these guys multiple times and stand by this list. Just bench racing and it's fun.
DC
MX Sports
Other honorable mentions: Magoo, Mike Guerra, Chuck Sun, Mark Blackwell, Zach Osborne, Bud Ekins (first point back in the early fifties).
DC
MX Spors
Thanks DC! I dont recall ever seeing that Lackey pic,very cool! I've always loved reading anything on Grand Prix moto (or roadrace or enduro). Something unique about the different gear,styles,bikes,tracks,even the banners and signs are cool. If you get a chance try to find a pic of Mike Healey that mxa ran a full page photo of him on cagiva. Very colorfull and had a sense of speed to it. I just remember that it was a really cool photo and have always thought if I would ever see it again it would be in RacerX.
Great write up DC. Love that Lackey pic btw. Never saw it before and it really represents that era well. Slick, hardpacked, hilly track with the fans crammed in along the snowfence. I was lucky to see Lackey win on his works SR500 at the Unadilla Trans Am in '79. The GP's have changed so much! Looking forward to your write up on Valkenswaard.
Donny Schmit was a super nice guy. I had the plesure of talking to him a few times. Always willing to chat. I have a really cool picture of him from Budds Creek GP 1994 that is on my wall at my computer desk. I look at this pic every day. To me Donny was the # 1 GP racer from the US. Thanks Davey.
Mickey Diamond spent a year with parker on the gp circuit in 92 or 93. I remember Mickey in the nationals in 86 and 87. Here is a guy you never hear about that accomplished a ton. I'd love to see some pics of Mickey in Racer x with an article.
DC, seldom have I had cause to disagree with a column or position you have taken, but I honestly think you missed it with the Marty Smith thing. Your position is defensible on pure stats, but I think you perhaps undervalue the circumstances of Smith's GP wins and their significance at the time. We know now that US riders would catch up and surpass the Euros, but at the time it felt pretty hopeless. Pomeroy had won that ONE race in Spain several years earlier and that was still all we had to live on besides lighting candles for the Mad Monk (Lackey) and his seemingly futile quest.. I was at those '75 and '76 USGPs at Mid-Ohio (uber-massive crowds) when Smith just crushed the Europeans at "their" sport. The track was not at the present Mid-Ohio sports car track, but miles away in the boonies. Point is, this was not a casual crowd, but dedicated racers or followers who knew the score. In 1975, when there were just a few laps left, and OMG, it looked like it was really going to happen; every one there knew it was history. My GOSH, the cheers around the track…goosebumps unavoidable…. they were a roar and I think we all felt like we were helping bear him around the track. I found I was tearing up and trying to hide it when I looked around and didn't care because half the guys around me were crying or concealing.. We made eye contact and just nodded or made a little laugh while wiping with a shirttail. Instant brotherhood because it was one of US out there on a bike that looked like ours beating the revered Europeans, and convincingly at that. DC, it didn't matter a bit that MXA seemingly didn't attend or care enough to cover it properly. Didn’t matter that it didn’t happen in Cali. It didn't matter that years later when someone else won a California USGP (not 125s) that that they did (and do) pretend that it was the firs USGP win. Silly Californians. Anyone present & familiar with the MX big picture at the time knew that something changed that day. Marty Smith had other GP wins, as you point out, but even if that 1975 day was the extent of his GP career, it ought to enough to make this list. It was an awesome day to be an MX-loving American. We still loved the Euros and they deserved much respect; but they were no longer Gods. Marty Smith did that.
ElsinorRacer...says it all! I was there also...that first lap when Marty was being pushed and he doubled that drop away jump. The crowd went silent for a moment and all knew right then that America had become an MX power. Sure some had won motos, some had won GP's but to see the Europeans dominated that bad...it was a glorious day!
Marty Smith raced G.P.'s part-time in '76, on a junk machine (and the U.S. nationals at the same time!) and still finished 4th overall - - in his first try! If Volland and Healey are on this list (who were not even in Smith's league), Smith must surely be included as well. I know, I know, its all in fun......
Quick note - Trampas Parker is still riding (and racing) - won the 2010 Louisiana Cross-Country Series Championship. ...he can ride in the woods too! Video interview with him here: http://www.acadianaracing.com/Interviews/2010Trampas.htm
What Trampas did was unprecedented. Thanks to mxa for introducing him to me in a way cycle news did not. Once again-many more cool pics of parker out there,educate your young readers and maybe more will follow in liebs footsteps. Go Team Husqvarna! Come on dave hook us old dudes up. Next RX full page photos of this top ten.
That clip of donnie from Terra Firma is awesome. I play that in my VCR in the garage all the time.
"Oh! It's a crappie! That's good eatin'. I think we reached our limit, so LET's GO RIDING'!"
Till this day I scream to my ridin bros before we fire em up, "Let's go Ridin!" in my best mid west accent as a tribute to Donny.
Also love the U tube clip with the world champ race. Healy's hair and blades were sweet!
Wow! I did not realize what an epic mullet Donny had back then! He is even more of a hero now than ever! Savage Mul, Bro!
It is also really cool to hear the 125s at full song. Nice!
Donny was one of my best friends and will always be #1 to me. The video on the ice is just a short vid of what really happened. The guy had pure talent and a work ethic like no other. I still think about him every day and wish everyone could have met him. God speed Donny... Davey I got to party with you a little after his death, Emigs party where the police rushed up the back yard and kicked us all out. I was hanging with Carrie.