Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Millionaire Mark Barnett takes life easy at home on the farm. Mark Barnett Moving on In life without MX By Tom Mueller Anyone who has followed professional motocross racing to any degree will have a hard ~ime disputing this fact: Mark Barl1ett was one of the best motocross racers in the history of the sport. The stocky, blondhaired competitor won the AMA 125cc National MX Championship i"n 1980, 1981 and 1982, and 42 also topped the 1981 AMASupercross Series. Barnett, 25, will always be known as one of the (astest, most talented athletes in motocross. His illustrious career did o[(er rewards; Barnett was the reci pient of one o( the largest salaries ever paid in professional motocross. He signed a three year contract with U.S. Suzuki (or a whopping$l million during the 1982-1984 raci ng seasons. 1985 was Barnett's last year in pro· fessional racing. After his stint with Suzuki ended in 1984, he rode (or Kawasaki the following year. As 1986 approached, Barnett's opportunities seemed limited. He spoke with all the japanese factories, but nothing materialized. As Mark put it, "When the gate dropped (or Anaheim (the 1986 supercross opener) and] wasn't there, I pretty well knew my racing career was over." To date, Barnett hasn't ridden a motorcycle in three months. He recently vacationed in Hawaii with his wife Anita. '~That was 'the (irst time in my whole life ] can remember getting on an airplane without a gear bag," said Mark. I recently had the .opportunity to visit Barnett on his (arm in Alabama while I was in the area on business. As r took the last few turns and headed onto Mark's property, r reminisced about a time five years before, when I drove down the same road on my way to interview Barnett as a Cycle News staffer. The year was 1981, and Mark hadjust locked up the 125cc National MX al}d ~u~rcTOss. titles.. At .that point Barnell was at the peak of his career; now it was over. The day was enjoyable. It was hot and sunny, and Mark and I LOok a long run on some woods trails near his house. Two (armeFs stopped by to look at Mark's herd of cows - he's planning LO sell them soon so that he'll be free LO travel and pursue other activities. It was a day I'll fondly remember. After lunch, I pulled out my tape recorder and talked LO Mark about the past and future. What follows is Mark Barnett's farewell to Cycle News readers, and LO the spon of motocross. Mark, update us on ~hat you've been doing this year. Well, (or a while I just sat around. Some weekends I'd just sit and sip Crown Royal and watch the Chicago Bears on TV. I've been doing some traveling recently, to Hawaii, to Florida, and back home to my parent's place in Illinois. What happened after the 1985 season? Did you try to renego.tiate with Kawasaki? Kawasaki said they wanted to stay strictly with (Jeff) Ward and (Ron) Lechien, and that was it. They didn't want anyone else. I was willing LO talk, but there weren't any options. I talked to just about everyone else about a ride, but it was prelly late in the season after I got an answer from Kawasaki. The other japanese factories had their teams organized by that point, and I began to realize that I wasn't going to get a ride. What was your attitude like at that point? . Well, I was sort of tired o( racing, but I wasn't ready to quit. If I would have landed another ride I would have raced,. ,?",~! kl}tz~ _~!l~!1 ! g~)( _into racing that it would all end someday. the head angle and things like that. In my case it just ended a little Suzuki paid you $1 million for three quicker than I thought it would. years when you rode for them. Were I wish Kawasaki would have given you worth the money? me one more shot at it. I thought I was worth every penny, They Ward an9 Lechien would be having a wouldn't have spent that kind of beller year than they are, because money if I wasn't worth it. My career Kawasaki's bikes are really good. I was timed just right, and I made good don't know if it would be any different money back then. But I know Ward if I was on the team this year, but and Lechien are making big money, Ward andLechien sure haven't posted and I'm sure the guys at Honda and any results, and they should be for the Broc Glover are making good money money they're getting paid. Kawatoo. saki could have spread out the cash Do you have one race that you rememand had two or three more good ber over all the others? riders. I sure do, the Superbowl of MotoI kept up with the races for a while cross' win in the Los Angeles Coliin Cycle News, but now that a few seum in 1979.1 was young and hungry months have passed I'm kind of forto win. I trained for it really hard, and gelling about it. I'm not going LO I knew I could win it. I can remember ·worry about not'racing. I'm not racgoing out to LA, and how strong I felt. ing, and I'm not going LO sit there It was a long race, 20 laps seemed and cry about it. It's not always easy forever. Gaylon Mosier WjiS up front to forget about it, especially after for a while, and then Ward came up you've been doing something for 15 on me. Mike Bell challenged me at years. Life does go on withoui racing. the end and was right on my tail, but What are you planning to do with all I held hi m off. your free time? . What was the high point of your I don't really need to go to work right career? now because financially I'm prelly The 1981 season. When I went to a well off, but I need LO keep myself race in 1981, ] wasn't happy unless I occupied. If you sit around and don't had a 45 or 50-second lead. If I wasn't do anything your brain SLOpS work· pulling six seconds a lap on the ing. I need to get out and do things, second place guy, I wasn't happy. or I'll go crazy. The Suzukis were really good, and I have two apartment buildings up when I went racing I knew] was in Chicago, along with some other ingoing to win.] was 21 that year, and I vestments. My mom and dad have was really f1yin'. been taking care of my affairs for a What advice would you give a young long time now. Since I'm not racing up-and-coming rider? anymore, I think I'll move up there You have to want to win, and if and learn the business and take care you're serious you should expect to of my own stuff. go all the way. There's only a handWhat's your opinion on the current ful of guys who can win, and if you state of professional motocross racing? are winning it won't last forever. If There doesn't seem to be any compeyou want LO win, everything in your tition. It looks like Bailey and johnIire is racing, and nothing else matters. son are running away with the SuperCould you be competitive again in cross series, and there will be no motocross? future. for the sport i( only two guys No problem. If I wan ted to. I'd need a can wm. change from here (on the farm) beThe AMA put the production rule ca use I've done it from here before. If into effect so that the equipment 1 moved away I could do it. I'd like to would be more equal, so that outside race some sort of cars, and I'd like to sponsors would come into the spon race motocross if I could get in with a and start their own teams. I'm still company outside the sport. ] think it capable of riding in the LOp five would be exciting to ride for a team and possibly winning - and I'd love likein NASCAR. If motorcycJeracing to ride for a team with -an outsidegot as competitive as NASCAR, I'd industry sponsor. like LO be a pan of it. The AMA told us that the producAnything else you'd like to tell the' - tion rule would get more sponsors Cycle News readers? involved, and that motocross would I'd like to thank all the fans I've had, be more like NASCAR (stock car racand all my sponsors (or letting me ing). Now it's a year later and there's , have such a successful career. I'm just still not one new sponsor in the sport. enjoying life and taking it as it comes. It's like Hannah said a while back: I'm finally relaxed, without racing to Honda is still going to be winning, worry about, and I'm taking my time no matter what the rules are. You can thinking about the (uture. look at the bikes and tell they're not I'm really proud o( myself. I won production. They have different (our championships and made lots of wheels, shocks, forks, and you know money, and I'm satisfied. I'll have a they've going up into the motor. You lot o( things to show my grandkids and a lot o( stories to tell, • can't see ~ow th~ fra_J'!l~'.s_~!1...~ut,_

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