Andre Malherbe
Later paralyzed in a Paris-Dakar rally crash. Three 500cc Motocross World Championships.
Legends Trivia
Play free Legends trivia and quiz games — 35 questions and 30 riders profiles. Jump into the game, or read on.
Legends Riders
Bob Hannah
Racked up 70 AMA wins and seven championships as 'Hurricane'. Seven AMA titles across Motocross and Supercross.
Brad Lackey
Persistence personified, nicknamed for being 'Bad'. First American to win the 500cc Motocross World Championship (1982).
Broc Glover
Yamaha's 'Golden Boy' of the 125 and 500 divisions. Six AMA national championships.
Chuck Sun
Eight national victories across the 500 and Supercross ranks. 1980 AMA 500 National Champion.
Danny LaPorte
Later a three-time Baja 1000 winner and Dakar contender. First American to win the FIM 250cc World Championship (1982).
Dave Thorpe
Later a respected team manager and TV pundit. Three 500cc Motocross World Championships.
David Bailey
A 1987 practice crash left this four-time champion paralyzed. Won 250 MX, 500 MX and Supercross titles for Honda.
Donnie Hansen
One of the great what-if stories of 1980s Motocross. Swept the 1982 AMA Supercross and 250 National titles.
Eric Geboers
Nicknamed for adding up his 125, 250 and 500 numbers. First rider to win world titles in all three classes.
Gary Jones
The original AMA Motocross champion and a forever record-holder. Won the first-ever AMA 250 National Championship (1972).
Gennady Moiseev
The greatest Russian motocross champion of his era. Three 250cc Motocross World Championships.
Georges Jobe
One of Belgium's most versatile motocross legends. Five Motocross World Championships (two 250, three 500).
Hakan Carlqvist
A beloved figure nicknamed 'Carla'. 1979 250cc and 1983 500cc Motocross World Champion.
Heikki Mikkola
A Finnish 'Man of Steel' who later rode for Yamaha. First rider to win both 250cc and 500cc world titles.
Jeff Ward
Retired with seven AMA crowns, then went car racing. Only AMA rider to win a title in every class and both disciplines.
Jim Pomeroy
A trailblazer who opened the door for US riders abroad. First American to win an FIM motocross Grand Prix (1973).
Jimmy Weinert
Known to all by his 'Jammer' moniker. Back-to-back AMA 500 national titles (1974-75).
Joel Robert
His record 50 Grand Prix wins stood for some 30 years. Six 250cc Motocross World Championships.
Johnny O'Mara
Later a respected trainer, forever 'The O'Show'. 1983 AMA 125 National and 1984 AMA Supercross champion.
Kent Howerton
Forever the 'Rhinestone Cowboy' of AMA Motocross. Won the 1976 AMA 500 and 1980-81 AMA 250 titles.
Mark Barnett
Retired as 'The Bomber' with 43 national wins. Three straight AMA 125 titles from 1980 to 1982.
Marty Smith
Died in a 2020 dune-buggy crash, remembered as a 1970s icon. Won the first two AMA 125 national titles (1974-75).
Marty Tripes
A prodigy who never captured a full national championship. Youngest AMA Supercross winner ever (1972, age 16).
Micky Dymond
Won an AMA Supermoto title 18 years after his MX crowns. Back-to-back AMA 125 National titles (1986-87).
Rick Johnson
Tallied 61 AMA wins and seven championships in one decade. Seven AMA championships during the 1980s.
Roger De Coster
Later the legendary Team USA manager known simply as 'The Man'. Five 500cc Motocross World Championships.
Ron Lechien
Remembered as one of the era's most naturally gifted riders. 1985 AMA 125 National Champion.
Tony DiStefano
Later a renowned riding coach after his three 250 crowns. Three straight AMA 250 titles from 1975 to 1977.
Torsten Hallman
Nicknamed 'Mr. Motocross' for his flowing style. Four 250cc Motocross World Championships.
Legends Trivia Questions
What was the nickname of American motocross star Bob Hannah?
Answer: The Hurricane
Bob Hannah earned the nickname 'The Hurricane' for his aggressive, all-out riding style in the late 1970s.
How many 500cc world motocross championships did Roger De Coster win?
Answer: Five
Roger De Coster won five 500cc FIM world championships (1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976).
Which movie star helped finance and appeared in the 1971 motorcycle film 'On Any Sunday'?
Answer: Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen's production company helped finance 'On Any Sunday,' and he appeared riding in the 1971 documentary.
What was the 1972 stadium motocross race at the Los Angeles Coliseum called?
Answer: Superbowl of Motocross
The 1972 Los Angeles Coliseum event was billed as the 'Superbowl of Motocross,' the first stadium motocross race and forerunner of Supercross.
Who became the first American to win the 500cc motocross world championship, in 1982?
Answer: Brad Lackey
Brad Lackey became the first American 500cc motocross world champion in 1982 after roughly a decade of trying.
Which rider was known as the 'Flying Finn' of 1970s motocross?
Answer: Heikki Mikkola
Finland's Heikki Mikkola, nicknamed the 'Flying Finn,' won four world titles between 1974 and 1978.
Versatile champion Jeff Ward spent his AMA career racing for which factory team?
Answer: Kawasaki
Jeff Ward raced his entire factory AMA career for Kawasaki, winning titles across every class.
Which nation began a 13-year Motocross des Nations winning streak in 1981?
Answer: United States
Team USA won its first Motocross des Nations in 1981 and went on to win 13 straight through 1993.
David Bailey and Rick Johnson's famous 1986 Anaheim duel was between teammates on which brand?
Answer: Honda
David Bailey and Rick Johnson were both Honda riders when they traded the lead in their legendary 1986 Anaheim Supercross.
Marty Smith won the very first AMA national championship in which class in 1974?
Answer: 125cc
Marty Smith won the inaugural AMA 125cc National Motocross Championship in 1974 at age 17.
Roger De Coster won his five 500cc world titles aboard which manufacturer's bikes?
Answer: Suzuki
Roger De Coster earned his greatest success and all five 500cc world titles on the Suzuki factory team.
How many AMA national championships did Bob Hannah win in his career?
Answer: Seven
Bob Hannah won seven AMA national championships across motocross and supercross between 1976 and 1979.
Who won the inaugural AMA 250cc national motocross championship in 1972?
Answer: Gary Jones
Gary Jones won the first AMA 250cc National Motocross Championship in 1972, then repeated in 1973 and 1974.
Jim Pomeroy became the first American to win a motocross Grand Prix in 1973 riding which brand?
Answer: Bultaco
Jim Pomeroy rode a privateer Bultaco to victory in the 1973 Spanish 250cc GP, the first GP overall win by an American.
How many 250cc world championships did Belgium's Joel Robert win?
Answer: Six
Joel Robert, the 'enfant terrible' of motocross, won six 250cc world titles (1964 and 1968-1972).
Who was the 16-year-old surprise winner of the first Superbowl of Motocross in 1972?
Answer: Marty Tripes
A recently-turned-16 Marty Tripes beat a field of American and European stars to win the 1972 Superbowl of Motocross.
Who directed the acclaimed 1971 motorcycle documentary 'On Any Sunday'?
Answer: Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown directed 'On Any Sunday,' which was nominated for the 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Heikki Mikkola was the first rider to win world titles in which two classes?
Answer: 250cc and 500cc
Riding for Husqvarna, Heikki Mikkola became the first rider to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships.
Who won the lead-swapping 1986 Anaheim Supercross duel with Rick Johnson?
Answer: David Bailey
David Bailey narrowly beat Rick Johnson in the classic 1986 Anaheim Supercross, though Johnson took that year's title.
Jeff Ward became the first rider to win AMA motocross titles in which three classes?
Answer: 125, 250 and 500cc
By 1989 Jeff Ward became the first rider to win AMA national motocross championships in the 125, 250 and 500cc classes.
Which importer is credited with bringing motocross to America, staging Torsten Hallman demo races in 1966?
Answer: Edison Dye
Importer Edison Dye brought Swedish champion Torsten Hallman to tour the U.S. in 1966, introducing Americans to motocross.
An injury to which body part ended Rick Johnson's dominant career?
Answer: Wrist
A wrist broken at the 1989 Gainesville national never fully healed and effectively ended Rick Johnson's career.
The 1981 Team USA squad that won America's first Motocross des Nations included Chuck Sun, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and who?
Answer: Donnie Hansen
The 1981 Team USA of Chuck Sun, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and Donnie Hansen shocked Europe to win the first American des Nations.
What was three-time 125 national champion Broc Glover's press nickname?
Answer: The Golden Boy
Broc Glover, dubbed 'The Golden Boy,' became the first three-time winner of the AMA 125 series (1977-1979).
Bob Hannah retired holding the record for most career AMA national wins, with how many?
Answer: 70
Bob Hannah amassed 70 AMA national wins, a record at the time he retired in the late 1980s.
Which American famously won all four motos at the 1982 Trophee and Motocross des Nations?
Answer: Danny Chandler
Danny 'Magoo' Chandler swept all four motos across the 1982 Trophee and Motocross des Nations, a unique feat.
Roger De Coster set a career record of how many 500cc Grand Prix victories?
Answer: 36
Roger De Coster scored a record 36 500cc Grand Prix victories during his career.
Brad Lackey clinched his 1982 500cc world title in a final-round battle with which fellow Suzuki rider?
Answer: Andre Vromans
Brad Lackey passed Suzuki teammate Andre Vromans late in the final round in Luxembourg to secure the 1982 500cc crown.
Gary Jones won three straight AMA 250 titles (1972-74) aboard how many different brands?
Answer: Three
Gary Jones won his three consecutive 250cc national titles on three different brands, a feat never repeated in AMA motocross.
Which Czech marque dominated 500cc motocross in the 1960s, taking the world title from 1966-68 with Paul Friedrichs?
Answer: CZ
CZ dominated 1960s motocross, with Paul Friedrichs winning three straight 500cc world titles (1966-1968) on the two-stroke CZ.
Joel Robert's record of 50 Grand Prix wins stood for nearly how long?
Answer: 30 years
Joel Robert won 50 Grand Prix races, a record that stood for nearly 30 years.
Before the events merged, the Trophee des Nations was contested by which engine class, as opposed to the 500cc Motocross des Nations?
Answer: 250cc
Pre-merger, the Trophee des Nations was the 250cc team event while the Motocross des Nations was for 500cc machines.
At which Florida national did Rick Johnson suffer the wrist injury that derailed his career in 1989?
Answer: Gainesville (Gatorback)
At the 1989 Gatorback national in Gainesville, another rider landed on Rick Johnson's right wrist, an injury that ended his prime.
Which German brand's decals adorned over half the expert-class bikes at many 1970s American motocross races?
Answer: Maico
In the 1970s Maico was so popular that over half the machines in an American expert-class race often carried Maico decals.
How old was Marty Smith when he won the 1974 125 title, making him the youngest AMA motocross champ to that point?
Answer: 17
Marty Smith was just 17 when he won the inaugural 1974 125cc title, the youngest AMA motocross champion up to that time.
