Greatest Comeback in Supercross History: Rick Johnson and the 1987 Super Bowl of Motocross

Eight year old me wore out the VHS copy of this John Bradley production. Ricky Johnson overcomes a frustrating day of practice and qualifying, a one-lined track and a first turn pileup to win the final round of the 1987 AMA Supercross Championship, held in the LA Memorial Coliseum.
This show has been edited down from the original version but I left the main event whole, as originally presented.
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[@robertrishel3685]

A fine example of why Ricky Johnson is on a very short list, among the greatest athletes in the history of motocross.

[@WeWentFast]

Agreed!

[@underthegun5799]

Wardy in the open face is wild!!!

[@bruce2keys270]

Love Guy Cooper, he is a great rider during this era of supercross.

[@jonrowe9355]

I was at that race it was awesome.

[@BoPunk]

I can't believe I never knew Guy Cooper put in a 2nd place finish as a Privateer to RJ back in '87. Guy Cooper was one of my childhood heroes because of his big sends over insane jumps... and this was back in the '95 - '96 era with Suzuki! What an insane race! 🤙

[@WeWentFast]

What a treat! So glad we could give a Guy Cooper fan this fun gift. There's a whole story about this race on the We Went Fast website.

[@GG72ThatBossPTCiKeepitGangsta]

yup insane jumps by a lot of them Danny Chandler Ricky Ryan Fantastic Riders

[@keithrozeski8463]

Fred Andrew's. Hell yeah. I bought a bike off him at his dealership in Salem Oh ! Thats so awesome

[@WeWentFast]

Small world! ha ha

[@justAmotoDude]

Man, these 80’s booths and coverage had so much more energy. What happened?!? Haha

[@gdv4612]

2 strokes disappeared that's what happened

[@dc_5sauce]

Imagine if they built a track like this today? Try to ride a 450 fast on that...they need to drop the displacement and slow down racing again in stadiums. Just 350 and 200cc 4 strokes anyone?

[@WeWentFast]

Yeah, that track would be unrideable on a 450

[@franciscolopez3229]

I couldn't agree more.

[@greghunter5966]

I was at that race. There was about 3 laps to go and we started to leave to beat the traffic. As we got down the steps, the crowd started going nuts, we turned and RJ was doing his thing. One of the great come from behind rides

[@joedillon1806]

I watched this race on Rick Johnson: profile of a champion in 1990. Watching this takes me back to that exact moment. Such an iconic race, and Larry Huffman brought an excitement through his announcing that is extinct in todays racing. Thank you for this!! 🤙🏻

[@WeWentFast]

You turned around and went back to your seats, right!?

[@WeWentFast]

@@joedillon1806 Yes! I have that VHS tape!

[@jpesicka999]

Why do ppl go To events just to leave before the conclusion? Lmfao just stay your butt home if u dont want to be there

[@franciscolopez3229]

Wow, thanks for sharing this video. This men are one of the best batch of great riders. Guy Cooper is one awesone guy and rider but he was kinda under rated.

[@WeWentFast]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmays9292]

This would of been the year for Bailey. So sad that happened to him. Didnt stop the guy he done things after his accident that most people wouldn't think of doing.

[@WeWentFast]

Agreed. Sucks

[@davide5431]

I think than Jeff ward in 1987 is very fast like johnson and bailey

[@davideverett2848]

Would have been a huge year team Honda vs Team Kawi. Johnson had the speed over them but Bailey was Mr smooth.

[@kungfu2toe]

This is why rj was my favorite rider.

[@GG72ThatBossPTCiKeepitGangsta]

My mother My father and me my parents took me to this race it is awesome the memory of it a little history { about 2 rows up in the stands fight almost happened intoxicated people }

[@JusticeSather]

The quality of these are incredible. I could watch this all day

[@user-md2bl5qz9e]

They used to race like somebody was trying to take food outta there mouths. Pride or anger or whatever. They fought like no tomorrow and I love it

[@zackk695]

Exactly! Thats what’s going on but they need to have more incentive to ride for blood. Maybe a large bonus for 1,2 and 3 place. Football players have no reason to destroy themselves because they get the money up front and want to enjoy it. Also generation Z is now racing and has been for a while and they are just soft and fragile men. They come from the give me a hug generation instead of the I’ll kick your ass generation

[@fmradio42]

Applause sound effect. Larry Huffman can make paint drying sound exciting. lol

[@travistatman]

22:50 "Incredible floating sensation over the bumps" is the equivalent of the announcers trying to explain the first alley-oop slam dunk in Semi-Pro. lol

[@WeWentFast]

🤪

[@wtfftw24]

Great footage 😎👍

[@zackk695]

No biography I can find on RICK and he was such an influence to so many and won so many races and broke records during that time. What a shame

[@omardaniel1]

You’ve never seen Rick Johnson Motovation?

[@zackk695]

@@omardaniel1 I think I’ve seen them all. I would have to look but there’s one that’s kind of silly but it actually did show some of Rick’s best racing. He was the man who took Honda to the top and I just think he deserves a professional biography done on him

[@dohman76]

I can't believe those poor 30 second board girls had to run to not get hit. lmao. good stuff

[@Dontdelete420]

It makes for good excitement and exercise for her! !

[@WeWentFast]

Sprint! But they weren't women like they are now. It was a race official and they literally had to sprint off the track. They didn't move until the gate was down

[@williammorgan9865]

6:58 without some sort of grown-up

[@israelmoreno1808]

Does anyone know the vhs this came on? This race was the last scene of the movie. I watched this over and over until the vhs didn’t work anymore. Love it

[@omardaniel1]

Rick Johnson Motovation

[@fleece192]

Holy Toledo

[@petshopox]

Cooper is riding like Charles Manson !

[@davideverett2848]

Anyone know the soundtrack at the start??

[@azff]

I was there.

[@WeWentFast]

Tell us a story about that day!

[@Dontdelete420]

I was there, it was the worse track design ever. That was the year they wouldn't let them build the track over the grass on the FB field like they did in the past. RJ was running around bitching to anyone who would listen . Great come back by Ricky.

[@WeWentFast]

That's what makes this comeback so awesome. That earlier story of struggling with the track all day and then he goes and does that!?

[@2strokin70]

Man these old tracks are bad ..there was no rhythm to them really and made racing seem so slow..these tracks would not work today for sure

[@airbats801]

they are fantastic.

[@Dontdelete420]

That track was bad... That was the year they wouldn't let them build the track over the grass on the FB field like they did in the past.

[@WeWentFast]

so bad they're good, ha ha

[@webheadwilks]

That track was 1-line crap

[@WeWentFast]

Which is the great mystery of the main event. RJ couldn't pass all day and then he comes from almost last to win it!?