L
ast week, we revisited the
day Brad Lackey wrapped
up the 500cc Motocross World
Championship in Luxembourg
in 1982, this week we figured it
was a good time to visit Danny
LaPorte's big day in Sweden.
The entire motocross com
-
munity in the U.S. started keep-
ing tabs on Lackey's progress
when he went to Europe in the
early 1970s. The Californian had
built up a massive following over
the next 10 years. But while all
eyes were focused on Lackey
and what looked to be his year in
1982, there was another Califor-
nian, this one from down south,
who was coming on strong in
the 250cc Motocross World
Championship, somewhat under
the radar. Danny LaPorte was
leading defending champ Jorge
Jobe of Belgium, who was heav-
ily favored to win it again, by just
13 points while Lackey was busy
wrapping up the 500cc crown
on August 8. Three weeks later,
on August 29, in Sweden, it was
LaPorte's turn to shine.
Like the 500cc World Champi-
onship, the 250cc World Cham-
pionship came down to the final
moto that year in Sweden. In
the first moto, visiting Ameri-
can Donnie Hansen aboard a
factory Honda blew everyone
CNIIARCHIVES
P120
BY KIT PALMER
LaPORTE'S
TIME TO SHINE
Flanked by Georges Jobe (left) and
Kees van der Ven (right), Danny
LaPorte stands on top of the world
in Sweden when he won the 250cc
Motocross World Championship in
1982.
PHOTOS: HENNY RAY ABRAMS
