REMEMBERING MARTY SMITH
P76
Feature
haps improve its image to the outside world even
more. That person finally came along. His name
was Marty Smith.
Marty Smith was one of the first young super-
stars of the sport. The Southern Californian, who
grew up in San Diego, started turning heads at the
age of 14, especially when he won the 125cc class
on a Swedish-built Monark at the Hangtown Mo-
tocross Classic (the last year before it became an
AMA National). Immediately after that race, Honda
offered Smith a deal and signed the 17-year-old
to a factory contract to compete in the four-round
AMA 125cc Motocross National Championship's
inaugural season in 1974. He was given Honda's
latest RC125 works bike, the company's super-
trick race version of its popular CR125M Elsinore
production bike. He promptly won the first two
Nationals, took second place in the other two and
captured the number-one plate in his first try.
But what most of us who were lucky enough to
witness that 1974 season and Smith's two other
National Championship-winning seasons in 1975 and
1977 (500cc) will perhaps remember most about
Marty Smith was his long hair, and his surfer, teen-
idol looks, which also made him a fan-favorite with
the girls, whether they were into motocross or not.
