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/1497412
zuki. LaPorte's success with Honda was lukewarm at best, though he did get a couple of National wins, but it got hot really quick with Honda when he helped the all-red U.S. team win the Motocross des Nations (and Trophee des Nations for 250cc bikes) for the first time in 1981. It was at the 'Nations when he was approached by Yamaha's Racing Team Manager and former 250cc and 500cc MX World Champion Heikki Mikkola about a possible ride for 1982. LaPorte had always wanted to race for a World Championship. After asking and being declined by Honda to run the GPs that year (all the seats were already taken), LaPorte made the switch to Ya- maha, no doubt one of the best decisions he ever made regard- ing his racing career. Mikkola said moments after LaPorte won the crown in '82, "I started racing the GPs in 1969 and won my first title in 1974. This is the first time that some- one has won a title on their first try. That's one reason that we picked Danny, because we knew that he could do it. We knew that he was determined and consistent." The legend Mikkola was the first to spray champagne on La- Porte while LaPorte was still on the track moments from taking the checkers. When all was said and done, LaPorte had finished 13 points ahead of Jobe, 238-225. Cycle News spoke with La- Porte the day after he won the title, which is nothing unusual for CN—talking with the winners after a race or championship. But what was a little unusual this time, he called us! "Hi, this is Danny LaPorte," he said on the phone from Belgium. "I was just wondering if there was anything you guys needed to know about the race yester - day." That tells you what kind of a chill guy he is. "The first signal I got from the pits was that Jobe had crashed and was in last place," LaPorte said of the second moto while on the line. "I couldn't believe it! The first time all year [that Jobe had crashed]. He was determined to win because he was easily the fastest rider all day, he had the fast- est lap times by two or three seconds. I just thought, 'My gosh, he crashed, what luck!' It was perfect. I rode around, easy, with no problems, and finished second. Hansen was 15 seconds in front of me, so I just rode around like an old lady. "I'm just perfectly happy," LaPorte said while on the line. "Everything worked out perfectly. I got sign boards every lap on what position Georges was in. He was coming from 25th, to 20th, 19th, 17th, 12th, 8th, but it didn't matter if he beat me or not. The worst I could finish was seventh, and I was in second. Right there, I knew if I didn't make any mis - takes and the bike didn't break, I was okay." LaPorte returned to Europe with Yamaha in 1983 but lost the title to Jobe despite winning three GPs. He moved up to the 500cc class in 1984 but had little success on the GP circuit, mainly due to having far inferior machin - ery. LaPorte then changed his focus to off-road racing, par- ticularly rally racing and Dakar. But he had to prove himself first before anyone would give him a look. Three wins in Baja did just that. LaPorte would win a stage and take second overall in the Dakar Rally in 1992, riding for Cagiva. CN CNIIARCHIVES P122 Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives Jobe had crashed]. He was finished second. Hansen was 15 seconds in front of The t-shirt says it all. Going into moto two, LaPorte led Jobe by just 11 points. All the pressure was on the factory Suzuki rider, Jobe. He had to win and hope for the best.