I was 14 in 82 & Fully Engulfed in Moto ! These were My Favorite years in Moto….Nowadays it’s Corporate Garbage 🤦♂️…I used to have a Poster of Holeshot Hanson,then I Met Him at a race back in 2018,Brad Lacky was at the Same Race & went to that Race Every Year for 5-6 years,Rocket Rex too !…I Met Jim Gibson a Few years ago & he lives 4 hrs North of me🤘
Barnett smoked the 125 class in the early 80's One of the toughest riders ever. eventually ward and omara caught up to barnett around '84 and were the dominant riders in the 125 class. I think ward and omara's works 125's were better than barnett's suzuki ('83 - '85) and that's why barnett slumped after 2 or 3 years of total domination.
before "one piece", the nitrogen piston assembly was mounted on the frame with a high pressure hose connecting it to the shock. this slows the gas pressure's control over the oil compared to the piggy back design, which is standard today. in short, there was less chance of the oil aerating and Johnny getting shock fade that day. i'd say he needed it. he was flying!
I think he lost his dominance in 83, even though he was still winning races I think into 84. It was "The changing of the fast" with the guys you mentioned and Bailey and Johnson. Mark switched to Kawasaki in 85, and that was the first time I saw him (my first time at a pro race), at Red Bud. He was not a threat for the win there. You could tell a newer style of riding was taking over. He retired at the end of 85. I guess he won't do an interview today. I wish he would, and not leave any dirt un-swept. :)
Motobot: The word is "works", and O'Mara was not riding one in 1986. Nobody in the USA was riding a works bikes starting in 1986. The FIM with a production rule for the USA only stopped MX bike development in the USA. Talk about greedy huh. Have brain dead bots taken over every industries history today?
I so wanted to BE Ron LeChien in 1983! I had two YZ125’s that year and was 16 years old; to me Ron LeChein was the greatest new rider ever to race a MX bike. Smooth, stylish, fast! The epitome of moto-cool!
late 70s and 80s great era of motocross. I rode CR elsinores red low pipe YZs H, F G, first radiators. RMs. Cagiva, 125. my favorite CR ELsinore and YZ G the last before raditor. I did great on the first YZ 81 radiator, but crack like soda cracker. RM was goos but no made for me , i never trust that bike.
We've since found out motocross is much more physically demanding then soccer. Hockey is more physically demanding then soccer. That's why they rotate every three minutes.
The late Bruce Bunch practiced with Mark at Sattleback before the AMA National. Bruce said he didn't want to pass Mark, he would want to make him feel bad....Bruce was on a mini bike.
One of the greatest. He was so dominant and was one of those guys who had something really special on a 125. One of my hero’s when I was a kid. I rode RM 125’s from 1979-1982 and wore Fox gear, greatly influenced by Mark Barnett!
100% agree on Mark Barnett , l raced a 77 - 79 - 82 RM125 & still have some of my gear from that era , moto-x fox winter thick jersey , goldbelt , JTRacing Suzuki leathers with my lst name on the back , Hallman Brad Lackey boots , still have a 1977 Moto-X Fox catalog with alot of Mark Barnett pic's #322 , l followed Barnett's career also like alot of guy's did back then , great memories .
Not to many people know this but Mark is one heck of a ice hockey player I played against Mark at the ice rink next to his house in bridgeview, IL. I remember Mark as a quiet hard nose player. He even took power skating class at the ice chalet in Willow springs IL. My name is John Winkler. When I was in the army from 76-82 in the army my sister would send me magazines with Mark's picture on it. Mark's mom was always nice to us when we would take a break from playing we would warm up at Mark's mom and dad's house and Mrs Barnett would fix us hot chocolate. Take care.
You have some really awesome motocross memorabilia it gets in your blood and never leaves.....when I was a kid my dream for my life was to build my own super cross bike that was equal to what the pros ride that’s it that was my whole life plan......build an awesome dirt bike.........I had my priorities straight since way back.....lol
