Rick Johnson's Epic Speech -- World Supercross Finals

In the 1985 World Supercross Finals at the LA Coliseum, the top two finishers in each heat race were supposed to start the Main Event in a second row behind the slower qualifiers. This led to faster riders sandbagging to get a front row start.

Into this controversy stepped a young Ricky Johnson who summoned the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rocky Balboa to deliver one of the greatest speeches in human (or at least motocross) history.

I didn't include what happened in the final heat race between RJ's interview and his speech when Jeff Ward hid behind the peristyle, out of sight from the fans, to go from 1st to 3rd.

Category:

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• Rick
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• motocross
• supercross
• Jeff
• Ward
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• O'Mara
• Ron
• Lechien
• Broc
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• David
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• Phil
• Larson
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• is
• great
• actor

[jdh023]

It's very possible SuperCross would not exist as we know it today if RJ had not had the balls to tell it like it was. Many props to RJ and I think any true SX fan will agree.

[BETTERTECH824]

HANDS DOWN RICK WAS THE KING! THANX FOR THE MEMORIES!

I'LL NEVER FORGET!

[billycrash138]

RICK JOHNSON FOR PRESIDENT!!!

[jkelly102]

Tell it like it is RJ!

[racerx276]

rj for President

[OsamaBinLadenx]

rj wore lifes a beach gear because his good friends brian simo n his brother started that line. when rj beat up ron lechien in the pits they started calling him bad boy. that old bad boy image of the guy w spiked hair flexing is that of RJ. the bad boy club was rj n his boys. rj was the fastest ever hands down no question about it

[GREGMCKEE]

I remember seeing the coverage of this race in MXA and RJ wearing the Lifes a Beach MX Missile Shorts over his Yamaha Pants because he was between his old Yamaha contract and his new Honda ride...those were the days...dayglow riding gear, the last days of the works bikes and some fast riders...great memories!!!

[backbac1]

I just realized right

Now that this is my friends dad

[Oddwun]

I don't remember this but judging from what Johnson said the main event was going to have a two row start and the winners of the qualifiers were going to start in the back row. So guys were slowing down and getting passed to be able to start the main event in the first row.

[shack6713]

I remember this! Man Im old. Check out the "Life's a beach" gear.

[steweywillrocku]

what were they doing? i wasnt alive during this race haha