The battles and victories I had during my endless racing career. Here's the story behind my racing career and what it took to accomplish the things I call my most remarkable achievements.
I remember despising Jeff Ward, because he didn't ride a Honda, and most of all, he was Rick Johnson's nemesis...I look back now at great videos like this, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. What a great competitor...if RJ says there were times when he couldn't touch you on a motocross track, you're pretty damn fast...glad to have lived during an era where you could despise a person for no other reason than he raced against your hero, but still have the utmost respect for him...Jeff Ward, one of the GOAT's...
I got mini cycle magazine as a young kid born in 65 watching Jeff thinking I could do that 😂never made it to his level. He was definitely a winner to set your goals on. Thanks for the look back.
This man was my childhood hero! Watched him ride at Saddleback in the 80's. My father would take me out of school early on Wednesdays to ride cause Jeff would be out there practicing. I even rember the time the whole front end of his bike broke off and he went down real hard, Jeff went and got the kawi badged Izuzu truck threw both halves in the back and left. This man is a legend!
I'm the same age as Jeff got into the sport at age sixteen learned about Jeff early on and with a huge fan I bought K x's because of him Met him at a few races he was definitely pleasant to meet
Southwick 88 I was there went to the pits in between Moto's and got a rear tire right off his bike, while he was getting plaster of Paris poured into his boot. The guy is a LEGEND. Bonus got to sit on the kx500 man did I want to take that bike for a rip. Great weekend and better times.
No better all around MX racer IMO. Not even RC. Nope. Jeff would have taken championships away from RC. Jeff: Was there any major difference between your '84 works 125 and O' Shows 125 Honda? Power? Handling? I heard rumors that the '85 125 HRC Ronnie rode had 250 (two stroke) type power.
@@Jasong9573 EC was not going to be denied, and I think he proved it in his 15 championship career. But he had a different motivation than anybody on the planet, and I figured it out when he did the whiskey brain throttle show. "I was terrified to lose". He was terrified to lose, like we were terrified to crash. Why was he so terrified to lose? Because he was a short, ginger, fat kid in school, and we all know they got picked on,-------------------until he started winning amateur championships and gained respect. That is right, School bullies,---inspired RC to be the GOAT. Now I pick on him because he is a moron off the track,---and follows, no longer leads.
Was racing and watching you Jeff during the mid and late 80s Jeff. You were The quintessential professional during those years. Ron was fast as was Ricky but you defined what a true professional was.
I met Jeff when he attended the Bondurant Driving school at Sears point. He was the nicest guy. He always welcomed me at the races during his reign at the top of the MX hierarchy. He was also one of the best drivers to ever attend the driving school. Of course, we all saw that with his indycar career. Class act, good person, incredible talent.
In the early 70s I went to a new MX track. My 250 buddy was there with his kid who was riding his new XR75. The kid said Ted follow me, I’ll show you the track. It took me two laps to get around the little guy! Minis were faster than most people realized!
I went to school with Jeff at Mission Viejo High School. I remember having a P.E class with him. Greg Louganis was also in that class (no jokes please). I raced motocross as well at Saddleback Park. I wanted to go pro, but I had no support of any kind from my parents like so many other kids at Saddleback park did. I would show up at Saddleback with my broke down 1968 C20 Suburban, and an off the showroom lightly modified Suzuki RM, bologna sandwich, and a jug of water. While all the other kids like Jeff had a motorhome with an awning for shade, and BBQ steaks for lunch. I remember when Jeff got that factory ride from Kawasaki, and he went blowing by me at Saddleback Park with his factory works Kawasaki one day while I was on my stock Suzuki RM 125 like I was standing still, and I had that Suzuki RM going as fast as it could go without breaking the frame.
Considering box vans were what the factory teams used at the nationals and supercross back then, I highly doubt Jeff had a motorhome as an Amateur... Amateur racing wasn't anything like it is today, neither were the expenses or after market parts world. His Amateur bikes were more than likely stock, maybe a pipe and slip on. Support as a factories main Amateur meant so many bikes a season and a parts budget, which usually were OEM parts. It's not like he was riding a Suzuki RM WORKS bike as a kid... he grew up on Honda and then Suzuki, so it wasn't Ward out there as a kid... How could he pass you on a WORKS kawasaki when in the late 60's, when he didn't sign with kawasaki until 1981....?
@@yamahakid450f I do not think you read my post correctly. My Chevy Suburban I hauled my bike in was a 1968 C20. I was not saying anything took place in 1968. Jeff's dad had a motorhome that Jeff operated out of in about 1979 and 1980. Jeff was with the Yamaha R&D team back then in 1979 to 1980. When he blew me away on my slightly modified show room floor 1981 Suzuki RM 125 (purchased from Saddleback Suzuki dealership) was on his Kawasaki factory ride in 1981.
I was at the Dayton Motorcycle Club Ward was there on the KX500 it was 1987 Ward turned 2 of our doubles into a QUAD I still cant believe they did that Jeff do you remember what you said to me?
Thank you, Jeff, I look forward to more videos on your channel, I remember being 17 thinking I was in shape and I would be out off highway 15 and central at that practice spot behind the gas station. I'm sure you know the one and I would be puking trying to ride as long as you. I could never dream of riding as fast, but i would think maybe i can ride as long, never happened, and you would look like you had not ridden a lap. You were simply amazing!
Jeff was an inspiration for me when I was a kid racing MX. I was a small yet strong kid as well and would worry that I might not ever be big enough to throw the big bikes around.
That was a Perfect Cover all real Quick Documentary to watch a Racing Legend I know , and was Lucky enough to say I Raced with in AMA Super Moto premier class , also along with his Son Brandon once at Jack Murphy Stadium , just to be in the Guys presence you could just tell He is an elite human sort of speak !! The Man is A phenomenal individual , and athlete I can’t say enough about the greatness of Wardy as a TRUE RACER TO THE CORE !!!
Jeff Ward is a great racer. And speaking of versatile i was at Mammoth mountain for a mountain bike race years ago probably around 1998 and there's Jeff Ward in the pits sponsored by Yetti racing DH . I thought that was pretty cool
Jeff Ward is 6 yrs older than me and always been someone I admired. Remember that first clip of him in “on any Sunday” doing a wheelie on that xr50 at 7 yrs old? F’n awesome!
XR 75 was my first bike . Man I loved riding it. Had no idea that was Jeff at the beginning of On Any Sunday. Still my all time favorite movie !! This brought back some great memories, growing up in Southern California. in the 70,s and 80's. Watching Ward race , or heading to Indian Dunes. Great times.
The flying freckle, jeff was my hero when i was teen. Small like me but he defined fast and professional. The fact he rode kawasaki did not hurt as i lived my kx 125 and ninja 600
TX mx'ers had to beat the California guys to win Nationals & supercross races. 70's and 80's were a great time to be alive and an be a motorcross racer. Ward was a top shelf racer. K. Howerton and S. Stackable were OUR heroes back in Tx back then.
Saw him race many times in the 80s . One of the best memories was the MXDN in 87 at Unadilla in the 2 foot MUD race. KX500 starting in back row. No goggles by the end but gets 3rd in both motos and USA won again.
Its strait comedy another rider on a kx500 they were sayn was fast on a kx5 brought me here...Ive been on the track with Jeff..MotoX and Electric Karts the Man Boogies...My Close friend Rich Eierstedt R.I.P said "Jeff was the fastest guy he had ever seen on a 500 motox bike...Those who knew Rich would also know he did not give out compliments he usually got em..BIg Ups to the Flying Freckle you kept my reading skills sharp wanting to here about you in the 1980s..Cycle News dirt bike.. MXA..Dirt Rider...thanks Jeff..P.S this Man if on a track will still smoke most riders last I seen..so stay outta his way,,,hahahah
There was no better racing than going up against an equally fast rider, coming back to the pits with the ends of your grips ripped off from bar-to-bar contact.
Hello, Jeff, i am Stan Hayes i raced with you during the 1978 Talladega nationals in Talladega Alabama wondering if you could help me find the mini cycle book had our pictures in it lost my in a tornado would appreciate your help with this. thank you, Stan, Hayes
My best friend used to race for FMF And raced Ward all the time at Carlsbad and saddleback in the 1980s ....Jeff was a spoiled little FKr. My friend would beat him all the time...Suzuki #72 Tommy Higgins
Fan from the 80's. I did not give you the credit you deserved back then. But I was as dumb as Rick Johnson too. 1985, another failed world SX series, Rodeo whatever cup, (Jim Holley won). My goodness,---I agreed with him back then, not thinking that starting in the 2nd row as a champ for a series would probably mean the loss of his factory ride. So what did the FIM do? They made the tracks so everybody is as close to the same speed as possible. I can say with absolute certainty that Jeff Ward, Rick Johnson, Broc Glover, Jeff Stanton, and even RC would not have won as many championships as they did---with today's tracks. Your fantastic talent would not be needed for the redundant tracks for the last 15 years that everybody has wired. It is the protection of mediocrity and the destruction of greatness, and I know where those ides come from.
