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/1492570
number-one plate hold- ers in D-37 and cemented their team relationship crossing the finish line of the 1974 Barstow-to-Ve- gas Hare & Hound side by side, tied for first overall in front of 3998 other riders. Bell/Norman: Robbie Bell and Kendall Norman are modern-day throw - backs to the early days of off-road racing with five SCORE overalls as a team, including two Baja 500s (2006/'08), two San Felipe 250s (2006/'08/) and one Ensenada 250 (2007). The sons of D-37/38 desert/enduro racing number-one plate holders, Robbie and Kendall were predestined to be champions almost from birth and remain two of the sport's greatest ambassadors. The Top Five Off-Road Duos of All Time 5th Miller/Ogilvie: Chuck Miller and Bruce Ogilvie are not only legends as racers but also for their careers as motorcycle in- dustry product developers, sales planners, team managers and leaders. Starting out on Yamaha with support from Dale's Modern Cycle before getting a factory Yamaha ride and later in 1983 as part of American Honda's first official Baja effort, Chuck and Bruce were smart, fast and ready to race anyone. Their wins at the 1979 Mexicali 250, 1980 SCORE Baja 500, 1983 Parker 400, 1985 Las Vegas 400, and 1986 Baja 1000 were just the start of long careers that led to many other overall victories riding with vary - ing partners. Riding in one of the most competitive eras ever for two-person teams, Miller/Ogilvie was a tough, tough team to beat. 4th Roeseler/Johnson: Larry Roeseler and Jack Johnson joined forces, as both became men. That would prove to be ter - rible timing for every other team competing against them. They quickly staked out their turf, win- ning the first race they entered as a team, the 1977 Baja 500. Over the next three years as members of Team Husqvarna, and later in 1980, after switching to factory Yamaha, LR and Jumpin' Jack were prohibitive favorites to win every race they entered. The win list includes consecutive Baja 1000's (1978/'79/'80), two Las Vegas 400s (1978/'79), and one SCORE Mexicali 300. What made this team so tough to beat? LR's savvy and finesse, Jack's take no prisoners, and how-fast-do-you- want-to-go aggression. Larry's since made a living win - ning Baja races on two wheels and four. Jack accumulated additional overalls with other riders and has competed and won on four wheels. They are fourth on the all-time list with seven overall wins as a team. 3rd Wallingsford/ Harden: From 1977 to 1982, Brent Wallingsford and I had a good run. The best part was we survived, both without major injuries. Trust me; this is as important as the wins. We have seen plenty of horrible things happen to fellow racers and friends while partici - pating in the sport. Log enough miles, and the law of averages catches up. As it turns out, we won every SCORE off-road race at least once, including the Baja 500 (1978), two Baja 1000s (1977/'81), two Parker 400s (1978/'79), one Mexicali 300 (1978), and two Las Vegas 400s (1980/'81). We set a then-record with four consecutive overall SCORE wins, starting at the 1977 Baja 1000 and ending at the 1978 Baja 500. In addition to the win totals, we finished second overall at another seven events, which means we were in the hunt at most every race we entered. This was the first time I had consid - ered this before being asked to write this story. I know that we got to chase our dreams for five years, won a few races, and had many more good times than bad. We end up third on the all-time "Top Duos" list with eight overall victories. CNIIARCHIVES P100 wheels and four. Jack won on four wheels. They Bruce Ogilvie (left) and Chuck Miller got Honda on the board when it came to racing in the desert.