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/1512679
A fter a few years of importing a pack- age deal of Euro- pean racers and their dirt bikes, motocross racing found traction in America in the 1970s. But even though the sport was growing throughout all the states, it would be California that grabbed the birthright of MX. The Golden State spawned the top riders; champions like Smith and Jones, Hannah, Glover and oth - ers were all Californians. Jimmy Weinert moved from the East Coast to become one of them. Even transplanted Euro - pean champ Pierre Kars- makers, born in Holland, called himself a Californian. Professional MX was no place for a kid from Nebraska, but Greg Theiss was determined to break through that Californian ceiling. A privateer rider from the state where winter can arrive anywhere from October to May, Theiss was on his way to estab - lishing himself as a real threat before a tragic accident stopped him and ended his career. It was the 1970s, long before Loretta Lynn was anything other than a country singer, and a time when factory rides were earned on the circuit, traveling from race to race. The odds were against the privateer rider. The factory teams challenged them to beat their best riders, who were on their best equipment. While the privateer rider was still making the long trip in their vans, the fac- tory riders were asleep in their posh hotel rooms. In 1978, Theiss finished an impressive ninth overall in the AMA's 250cc National series. But no factory team had beckoned. "I remember talking with people at Team Honda during the year." Theiss recalled, "but then they switched team managers. Gun - nar Lindstrom was in charge, and the call never came." But the muscular kid (Theiss' nickname was "The Incredible Hulk") from Omaha persevered, and his showing in 1979 was a season that would've been a solid year for any factory-sponsored rider. Theiss rode a modified LOP Yamaha YZ400 in the 500cc class, which was stacked with tal - ent. Reigning champion Rick Burgett, and 1977 champ Marty Smith signed up for the big bikes, along with Danny LaPorte, Jimmy Ellis, Steve Stackable, Tommy Croft, Billy Grossi, Darrell Shultz, Gaylon Mosier, Rex Staten and others. Theiss proved he could run with the big dogs, grabbing some solid finishes in the early part of the season. The series moved to Binghamton, New York, on August 12. On the hilly, rock- strewn course, Honda's Jimmy Ellis nailed the first moto hole - shot and appeared to be well on his way to the win when his crankshaft broke, leaving Theiss and fellow privateer Yamaha rider Mickey Kessler to battle for the win. With just two laps remaining, Kessler attempted to stuff his way past Theiss, a CNIIARCHIVES P118 GREG THEISS THE INCREDIBLE HULK VS. GOLIATH the call never came." was "The Incredible factory-sponsored rider. Theiss rode a modified the 500cc class, which was stacked with tal Steve Stackable, Tommy Shultz, Gaylon Mosier, BY KENT TAYLOR Nebraskan Greg Theiss was a well- known privateer motocrosser of the 1970s and early '80s.