2000 Supercross Venues
By
crowds in the history of the sport
(upwards of 72,000 in the early
1980s) and helped launch such
esteemed riders as Donnie Hansen,
David Bailey, Johnny O'Mara and
Jeremy McGrath to winning seasons.
Universally known as the AMA
Supercross Series opener, Anaheim
ERIC JOHNSON
ROUNOS 1 ANO 2
EOISON FIELO ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
can be argued that the Anaheim
upercross is the most important
and prestigious race in American
moto-cross. First launched
on December 4, 1976, as an
exhibition race (it was won
by Marty Smith), within the
span of just a few years, the
event established itself as
one of major stops of the
AMA Supercross Series.
Held in the backyard of the
major factory teams - the Big Four
can get their 18-wheel trucks to Edison International Field within 45 minutes - Anaheim has drawn the biggest
4
JANUARY
12, 2000'
eye
I
e
be the opener. For four consecutive
years, it held that prestigious honor
until being superseded by San Diego
in 1985. In 1986, it was back to opening-round status, which the venue held
to 1988, upon which it became a political football in a tussle between Mickey Thompson and Mike Goodwin.
has actually found itself shuffled around
the schedule on a consistent basis. In
fact, it was not until January 31, 1981,
that the "Big A' was actually tapped to
n e _
s
Nonetheless, after 10 more years of
being bounced around, Anaheim, at
the request of the factories, made a
gallant return to the schedule during
Music fans thought they were Livin' la
Vida Loca during this sold-out Ricky
Martin concert at Route 66 Raceway
in Joliet, Illinois, but just wait until a
supercross comes to the venue this
year for the first time.
the winter of 1999. Reconfigured by
the fine folks at Walt Disney, the
newly named Edison International Field - which also
serves as Mickey Mouse's
touch football/whiffle ball field
- welcomed back the high flying stars of supercross with
open arms.
Interestingly, Anaheim will
stage not only round one in the
year 2000, but round two the very
next Saturday evening, as well. The
stadium now seats 45,000 people.
Tickets: 213/480-3232
