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/553925
VOL. 52 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 11, 2015 P145 Grand Prix smack dab in the middle of that break on June 6, it presented a perfect opportunity for O'Mara to go over to Switzerland for the GP. The news of O'Mara coming to the Swiss GP was thrilling for European fans. Even though he was still just entering the prime of his career, the motocross fanatics of "The Old Continent" already knew about O'Mara. Two years earlier, O'Mara—riding a striking all white and exotic, hand-built 125cc Honda-based Mugen—shocked the Grand Prix riders and the established American pros by taking the victory at the muddy 125cc U.S. Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. To top that off O'Mara was part of the historic Team USA Trophee and Motocross des Nations squad that took victory in 1981. So the Swiss fans were eager to get to watch O'Mara race his one-off Grand Prix of the '82 season. There were 7000 strong filling the motocross facility near the scenic village of Frauenfeld in the German-speaking area of Northern Switzerland. The 125cc World Championships were being hotly contested with Belgian Yamaha rider Marc Velkeneers leading in a pitched battle against countryman and Suzuki ace Eric Geboers with Italian Gilera riders Michele Rinaldi and Corrado Maddii also squarely in the mix. Honda wasn't even seriously contesting the series, so having O'Mara show up on a Honda and beat all the series regulars was also somewhat of a poke in the eye to the other manufacturers. O'Mara had to go through what was called supplementary qualifying, just to make the field. He easily topped that group of riders and earned the fourth gate pick. In the first moto Suzuki's Harry Everts nailed the holeshot and led the group into the first turn. O'Mara was in the next pack battling over second. The "O' Show" didn't wait long to make his move. On the third lap he swooped under Everts braking for a hairpin turn to take over the lead. From that point on O'Mara was off to the races, surprisingly much to the delight of the Swiss fans. Geboers broke into second, but only lost ground to O'Mara who pulled away to a comfort- able margin. Notably O'Mara and Geboers were the only two riders making a massive double jump on the Swiss course, the other riders taking the jumps one at a time. O'Mara backed off on the final lap to win by four seconds over Geboers. Maddii was third, 48 seconds back. A charged up Geboers jumped out front early in the second moto rising to the challenge by O'Mara. Geboers had an opportunity to still win the overall and he and O'Mara gradually gapped the rest of the field. As the clock made its move to the 30-minute mark of the 45-minute, plus two lap moto, O'Mara put on a charge. Approaching the big double jump Geboers got sideways and O'Mara, fully on the gas, hit the jump perfectly and literally flew over the top of Geboers to take over the lead. The pass was spectacular and brought a loud roar from the crowd, which seemed to energize O'Mara, who went on to beat Geboers by 23 seconds. "He was the fastest rider out there today," Geboers admitted of his American competitor. Geboers would go on to win the 125cc MX world title that year over Maddii and Rinaldi. Interestingly, O'Mara had arrived a week early to train with fellow American Danny LaPorte in Belgium. The same day O'Mara scored his Swiss victory, LaPorte was earning his first 250cc GP victory in Corseul, France. The European fans and media swamped O'Mara after the race. One fan came over with a bottle of champagne. The fan recognized Honda's Roger DeCoster and offered him some of the champagne. "I didn't win today; Johnny did," DeCoster said to the fan. "But since he's busy in there I'll drink it for him. Danke [Thank You]." CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives