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/127607
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That off-season, I ventured up to
Graham's-ranch in Salinas, Californ ia,
where I interviewed him about the sea son tha t had just passed: Oddly, I felt
as u ncomfortable about asking questions about his arrest as Graham felt
about answering them . In spending
time with Graham, I could sense his
sincerity. He had sworn off drinking,
and vowed to return in '92 a new man.
I believed him.
Th a t winter, Graham and I went
riding togethe r several times. Once, I
even let h im race my persona l
motocross bike, and insisted that he
borrow some of my riding gear after
see ing the somewhat weathered ou tfit
he owned. "Man, you're the best sponsor I' ve ever had," he joked .
Ricky Graham was no lo n ge r a
grumpy old man. He was my friend .
Just as he promise d , Graham
The confident,
friendly guy that I
had seen on
television six years
earlier had become a
grumpy old man.
returned in '92 sober and ready to race.
Though he won only one race, he
silenced the doubters by turning in the
most consistent finishes in the field.
Except for two freak DNFs, Graham
never finished worse than four th.
I need no t describe 1993. In what
can only be labeled as the sport's most
remarkable comeback, Graham domina ted the season and set a number of
n ew re cord s en ro ute to his third
Grand National Champ ionship.
N either he nor I could believe the
way the sea son w as unfolding. After
his secon d win"of the season at the
Lima Half Mile, Graham had said to
m e, " Man , wouldn't it be great if I
cou ld go on a te ar and win a lo t of
races, just like Jeremy McGrath did in
supercross?"
Little did we know.
Ricky Graham was
no longer a grumpy
old man. He was
my fri end.
With the ' 93 se ason in the history
books, Graham was forced to make
what was undoubtedly one of the most
difficult decisions of his career. Should
he stay and defend his title, or capitalize on an opportunity to pursue a different avenue that his heart yearns to?
Though Graham has decided to pursue a career in road racing (while competing in the dirt track Nationals that
his schedule will allow), one thing is
for sure - no one can ever take away
the remarkable turnaround that he has
performed both on, and off, the track.
Graham had been at the top , then hit
rock bottom, but somehow put everything together to return to th e top
again like a true champion - nine years
later.
It is such that made him the unanimous choice w hen it came time for our
staff to elect the 1994 Cycle News Rider
of the Year.
Con gratu lations, Ricky. And thanks.
It's been a great ride.
CN
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