Brad Lackey
1982 Suzuki RN500
After ten years on the world circuit, Brad Lackey made history when he became the first American to win a world motocross championship when he clinched the 500cc title in 1982 racing for Suzuki, a title that would mark the end of an era for both he and the Japanese manufacturer. And guess what? It’s Lackey’s 1982 Suzuki RN500 that we are featuring this in issue The 125cc in class the of European MXGP Magazine.
in what was an impressive debut; he finished the year in third behind CZ mounted Joel Robert and Sylvain Geboers. The following year, 1970, the two Belgians went 1-2 again, but this time they were riding yellow; Roger De Coster came home third on his CZ.
time, Suzuki had entered the 125cc class, and from 1975-1984 won ten consecutive titles. Things were looking good.
However, despite De Coster winning the 500cc title five times in six years, Suzuki started to make cutbacks but continued to fight for De Coster switched from the title, although it was CZ to Suzuki at the end of clear to see that it was 1970 and promptly wonputs the a spotlight not theon dominant force it Championship usually the next 500cc world championship once was. In 1976 when big name in motocross. In fact both of the 2015 Motocross World Champions at the very firstFIM attempt in De Coster won hisand last title, 1971, and between 1970Suzuki first entered the mohe and his teammate vice-world champions Romain Febvre, Gautier Paulin, Tim Gajser and Pauls Jonass Gerrit 1976 Suzuki won eight tocross world championship Wolsink ran riot, winning ten have all won the EMX125 championship on their paths to motocross supremacy. world titles in both 250cc in 1967 with a Japanese of the twelve GP’s between and 500cc with De Coster rider by the name of Matthem as they went 1-2 in winning five times in six suhisa Kojima, and by 1969 the final classification. years. He was beaten just Suzuki committed to a full once in that time by Heikki season of 250cc racing with In 1977, there were just two Mikkola in 1974. At the same Sweden’s Olle Petterson victories and in ’78 and ’79
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MXGP MAG 2018 MXGP.COM