Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1142434
CN III ARCHIVES BY LARRY LAWRENCE T he 1986 Daytona Supercross proved a tipping point of sorts in the rider power structure of AMA Supercross racing. Riders like Da- vid Bailey, Jeff Ward, Ron Lechien, Johnny O'Mara, Broc Glover and even an aging Bob Hannah were, coming into that race, considered the elites of the sport. But when Rick Johnson came through to score his first victory at Daytona in convincing fashion, it was clear the torch had been passed to the fun- loving sixth-year pro from El Cajon, California. Johnson came into his own in professional motocross and supercross riding for Yamaha, so when he signed on to race for Honda in '86, he said early on, he felt like an outsider on a team already packed with talent. His Honda teammates David Bailey and Johnny O'Mara were best friends and trained together in Olympian-like fashion. "I went to train with them, and they about killed me," Johnson said. "Plus, David and Johnny had the Honda test track re- ally dialed in, so I felt slow trying to keep up with them there. I decided it would be best if I just went off and trained on the tracks I knew and did my own thing." To a certain extent, Johnson had to wonder during the off- season if he'd maybe made a P116 RICK JOHNSON'S GREAT DAY AT THE BEACH under the new rules. The opening race of the 1986 season was the Anaheim Su- percross, and it will go down in history as one of the best supercross races of all time. It was a Johnson and Bailey battle throughout, with Bailey coming from behind to eventually take the hard-fought win in front of a sold-out and enthusiastic crowd of over 60,000. Even though he lost, that race proved to be a turn- ing point for Johnson. "I knew it was my fault alone for losing that race in Anaheim," said Johnson. "I knew then that if I were going to beat Bailey, I mistake signing with Honda. One of the biggest reasons he went with Big Red in the first place was after testing the company's works 250 machine, he fell in love with it and knew he could win on that bike. But then the rules changed. Works bikes were out, and production-based bikes were in. "That works Honda was so good, I could go four-seconds a lap faster on it than my prac- tice bike, with hardly any setup," Johnson said. "When I found out I wouldn't be riding that bike, it felt like the carpet had been yanked out from under me." Johnson needn't have worried. It turns out the production-based Honda CR250Rs were terrific ma- chines as well, and would prove to be the class of the factory bikes Rick Johnson (5) celebrates his 1986 Daytona Supercross win over Honda teammate David Bailey (6) and third- place finisher Broc Glover (4).