The 1978 Superbowl of Motocross by the MX Files

In 1978 Bob "Hurricane" Hannah was on track to win his 2nd Supercross Championship for Yamaha. He would enter the famed LA Coliseum poised to wrap up the title, but there would be some obstacles in his path. Mainly, his young Yamaha teammate, Mike Bell. This is the story of one of the greatest races in Supercross history. Produced by the producers of "The Motocross Files" and written and directed by Todd Huffman. SUBSCRIBE to "Yamaha Motor USA" on KZbin: yamaha.us/SubYMUSA
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[@gladegoodrich2297]

Was there in 72 with 60,000 other fans. Still watching Supercross after 50 years!

[@Maverick2]

I was one of the fastest at motocross in the state of Arizona in the mid 70's - Carlos Serrano was one of the guys I raced with - If I had not joined the Navy, I would have raced against him in this race - My former shipmates Bob Wing, Jeff Siegler and I watched this race

[@vetb882]

I'm still in shock. I can't believe Mike Bell is gone. That's 2 motocross legends gone in 2 weeks. RIPower Mike Bell, legends never die. 💪🏻😎🌎😔🙏🏾

[@canarc1]

That year I started racing on a new YZ 80. Hannah was a freaking god to me as a 11 year old. That god dam POS frame broke almost every race. Hannah and Magoo, the fastest dirt bike riders that ever lived.

[@dennisperin2989]

I saw Magoo Chandler ride the 125 class Washougal Wa, it was the 500/125 Outdoor Nationals, Danny rode to 2nd place on a back flat tire ( 2nd lap) he rode entire 45 min main on a back flat? Crazy bastard! When he hit the bottom of the“ Washougal downhill” his tire was trying to come off the rim, Wheel locks kept it together, one of the best pieces of riding i ever witnessed, RIP Danny & Mike Bell

[@Scandle68]

The year I started racing too. On a YZ80, but it was a 77' model and I was 9 or 10.. Getting a dirt bike magazine was a big deal. Hannah was a god to me also lol. It was all so simple back then and fun.

[@slowdriver2]

That's Awesome Brother !! Thanks for sharing !!!

[@trblemkr1d106]

I was racing motocross as an amateur back in the late 70's and early 80's when Hannah was blitzing everything that moved . I saw him race at Lake Whitney Texas and once in Florida and blown away at how fast he was . Those were the golden years of motocross...until Ricky came along...saw him race too . Lucky me....

[@bikenband]

Mike Bell, thanks for all the exciting races like this one. You will be missed 🙏🙏🙏

[@jimforbes9119]

I remember Mike as a little kid. I worked for his father at Long Beach Honda and raced a 250 XL as Ascot Park on Wed evenings.

[@mtyhntr49]

Mike was a family member of ours. Yes, definitely missed. He hardly ever missed our opening day fishing trips to June lake loop. We miss those days for sure. Died while riding his pedal mtn bike. R.i.p. buddy

[@steepfriends]

Good times. We were all so fortunate to have these memories.

[@scottmorgan6099]

RIP #39,.. Mike "Too Tall" Bell

[@mtyhntr49]

Thank you for your support. We still miss him and still grieving.

[@patrickd6450]

I still have the Bob Hannah Jersey from when I was a kid. LOL I treated that shirt like it was GOLD!!!!

[@RED-RYDA]

When hannah hits that turn on the last lap where he hits that bail. Thats just insane. His reaction time and body control to even make that turn let alone hit it that fast was crazy. The man in his prime

[@2stroke1971]

He had that double edged sword...he was such a good rider he didn't have to hang it out over the edge, but when he had to, he could, and so far over that edge you'd think it was never gonna work. Hannah pushing himself was insane!

[@stumped463]

I was a freshman in high school and my folks took me to that race . It was one of the best races I've seen after all these years later .

[@kentfarmer3149]

The good old days !!!

[@DSC800]

Here I am watching and rooting for Mike Bell even though I knew he won. Glad to have worked with him a couple of times over the years. RIP Mike.

[@danmuffley6418]

I was fortunate enough to see one Supercross back then and not to make your head swell Mr Hanna you are phenomenal

[@jonjackson6245]

This was the first Supercross race I attended. I was 8 yrs. old and I have been a fan ever since.

[@frankrichards3089]

What a race...

[@TheJer1963]

I was racing a Bultaco Pursang 370 in 78 at the local tracks. It was the last year for Bultaco but she was one of the nicest things to ever come out of Spain. Got to meet Jim Pomeroy twice.

[@markroberts1301]

RIP Mike...

[@rockypupoxo]

RIP Mike .

[@allenknight555]

I was a corner flagger at this race at the bottom of the big jump . I was awe struck at how much faster the factory bikes were. I worked at MSRP an they asked for volunteers . Go to the super bowl free, hell ya Mike Bell won that night. he was MSRP sponsored it was a great time.

[@stuwest3653]

They could afford to raise the compression ratio making the bike much faster but the engine would need to be rebuilt.

[@jamespolucha6911]

This was real mx Racing , loved it

[@normannoriega9557]

Give me chills I attended this race seeing all these grate moto cross racer . Marty . Bob . Mike. These were the men I looked up to as a young man . grew up in southern California 60 and 70s believe me we created are Owen tracks to ride empty feels to ride. Long Beach right over the st. Thomas Bridge had a good motor cross track Dominguez Hills in Compton Saddleback Escape country . those were the good day. I'm 57 years old now. Looking at artist the Vintage Motocross on KZbin

[@lawrencefoster2120]

I'm from southern California and am 57 and never raced but had a 79 rm 250 and some a rm 81 rm 125 in when I was 16 in Houston.

[@JR113FTW]

I went to Gary Semics school twice when I was on 80's. He showed me stuff I still remember after almost 2 decades and credit him to a big step to my pro career.

[@bryanlettow4389]

As far as his material goes on his website would you recommend any of it in particular?

[@endurotruckererniedesjardins]

Thanks to these guys our modern bikes are so awesome.

[@peterjames9610]

Awesome story, brings back long forgotten memories

[@Adrenalineoffroadad]

I was at that race I was 12 years old. 105,000 people screaming for Bob Hannah to win the main event.what a exciting race .

[@c10wiremantawwallace13]

I went to the first race at the LA. Coliseum in 72 & never missed going to them from then on. To watch Bob Hanna attack that track in 78 was one to remember.

[@drog3305]

We need to see more of the classic races ..... I love it

[@user-nl2gz7wt2o]

Me and my late family were there, May God continue too watch over them in the afterlife 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@vinmanr2d2]

To me this is the ONLY superbowl that is worth my time to watch ! Every year for over twenty years every time the nfl superbowl is on i have a huge stupidbowl party. We always watch dirtbike racing instead!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love dirtbike racing no matter what year it is !

[@slowdriver2]

I was at this Race in L.A. in 1978 ,,, I was 12 years old and in Awe of what the night brought for me and my future riding dirt bikes ,,, It's really hard to Imagine doing a 20 Lap Main Event on those bikes , on that track with that High Level of competition around you ,,, I don't think Racing has evolved as much now as It did in those days ,, Thanks for Posting this Video, I enjoyed it Thoroughly

[@mcgoodle]

I've seen the whole race before here on youtube. After Bob Hannah got pushed off the track and he had had to turn around and re-enter the track where he left it, I don't think I have ever seen a human being ride a dirt bike any faster than he did that night. He basically had to pass everybody in a 20 minute race where there were hardly any places to pass. Amazing.But that doesn't take anything away from Mike Bell's victory. Imagine being a 21 year old kid and winning that race. Like he said at the end of this video, he still gets chills just thinking about it. Awesome.

[@jimijamAK47]

I remember that... one more lap and he would have passed Mike

[@happydays8171]

Thanks for posting. I was a huge fan, read everything I could in Indiana about Supercross, usually magazines were 2 mos behind then. Then get on my DT125 and ride, what a time!

[@mikeschoeffter7420]

I remember watching this like it was yesterday, great mx days !

[@richardjohnson4696]

I saw Bob Hannah come from last place at the Seattle Supercross final. In 79 I think? I was a little kid, but I remember how awesome It was to see him come from behind and win.

[@michaeltatangelo3649]

Oh hell yes! Bob Hannah the king we are not worthy 🙌.grew up by the Pontiac Silverdome didn't miss a race. Got my first yz80 the monoshock!I thought I was Bob whoopen the pants off the old 100AND125S I WAS KING FOR THAT SUMMER! UNTIL THEY GOT UP TO DATE. GOOD TIMES

[@BlkHDMF]

Thats awesome...Still have my 1981 YZ80, gifted to me by my factory team at the end of the season. I restored it to stock and now she's a conversation piece while putting down some brewskis with my buds. Glad you got to enjoy yours too!!

[@tommccallan8802]

I love bench racing..all these racers remember this race like it was yesterday..."R.I.P. Mike Bell.

[@bobthomas2812]

I was their, it was that exciting, Hannah was a winner take approach. I also saw Hannah at Saddelback park banging handle bars with John Desoto in the Trans am MX. Hard to believe they both didn't crash. Cool to remember the beginnings of super-cross. Considering the bad suspension of the day the 120' drop away from the top of the colosseum was breathtaking.

[@bneide]

Great piece of work. Mike Bell was always underrated. Got to see him a few times and he was very fast and smooth.

[@mjrydsfast]

Mike's nickname was "Too Tall". How tall was he? I'm 6'7" and that is tall on any bike.

[@mtyhntr49]

@@mjrydsfast Answer to your question. Mike was 6'4 .

[@hiker2742]

I was at this race! bought the t shirt and wore it for years.

[@devodar2579]

I'm so glad Bell won. Nice race, set the tone for today's motocross

[@RichM0410]

Raced a YZ125. Loved Hannah and Broc Glover. Kept an eye on heiki mikola. Dirt bikes are beyond euphoric 👍

[@visonary8942]

Bell Helmets Rule the Sport✔🆒🏋💯🏁👏

[@greglenoir8363]

Wonderfully presented, thank you Pipeline.

[@dondevries8010]

I watch bob Hanna at hangtown ,,, blown away how fast he was!!!!

[@kennethwatson9919]

i was at this race 14 years old an so excited to see the superstars of motocross

[@7pines77]

Man that’s Awesome!, I wish it was still like that today

[@johnmutcu6123]

Kenneth Watson nice that had 2 be something 2 see

[@RJDCR]

Yessir , I was 13...it was the koolest thing

[@scarletbegonias2359]

I was 14 as well, I was there. Jimmy Ellis would rock his bike from side to side as he came off the peristyle

[@MotorcyclingwithBaz]

So was I. Bruce Flanders, who announced the races in Irwindale and Bakersfield, lived across the street from mend I was in the announcers' booth that night. Pretty heady experience for a 17-year-old.

[@shannonwatson5473]

Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed getting to see it!

[@RJDCR]

I was there...It was AWESOME

[@shanehopson8644]

Man,,,,how badass was this race

[@kepler240]

goes to show you that speed is speed. doesn't matter the bike or year. these guys are flying but you would NEVER see a rider today have 3 mishaps and still come back to almost win. just shows you how bad ass Hannah was. awesome.

[@kevinstearns4198]

i always say hence the word rider.

[@puppy3318]

kepler240 )

[@crispincurtis8251]

kepler240. Ya got that right

[@crispincurtis8251]

Tim Allen. Cool

[@thrasher2094]

@Tim Allen You cant win a pro race on a stock bike nowadays

[@holysmoker10]

This was true racing so much today because promoters want jumps it’s follow the leader. Would be great to have a time machine to see what each rider could do on the others bike. BH one of the Greatest of all Time.

[@chrisdoumouras2482]

The best motocross 70’s and 80’s

[@s.thompson867]

In those days the gods of motocross rode the earth....

[@jonhaynes5505]

In 1978 went to Hang Town and saw Bob Hannah lap everybody but the 2nd place rider Kent Howerton .I will never forget that . He was in a class all by himself l

[@df9834]

Absolute legends, And proper racers 👊👊👊👊

[@mikecamody5276]

Yes I was there my mom & dad family it was da Bomb. Thank you so much

[@jamespolucha6911]

These guys knew how to ride, the bikes just went fast but you had to really know how to ride to win

[@tatatatatata3954]

Evryone who love motocross should watch this.

[@scoremxcom]

I was having lunch with 2 guy's from OCCRA, I said - You know Bob Hannah said "You ram me, I ram you"; they looked at me and said "who's Bob Hannah" - good-bye.

[@johnkilty1419]

Loved watching Moto Cross in the 70's. One of the things that made it great. The front of the pack guys were so out of control, passing them clean was almost impossible. Passing on the outside was very risky. Fun stuff!

[@raymondbowers7335]

I was there twice at two superbowls.i remember the mud and got hit by it.77.78.Jim w won the bowl as well.best riders of all time.roger d.gerrick w.team suzuki.

[@chriscardoza9785]

I wish they would make some of these bikes again And those where the days of motocross racing as we know it now and l miss those yellow bikes a lot but oh things are better now with Yamaha at front of there game and l hope they keep making two storkes forever to...

[@mikelandreth8773]

Doug "The Wheelie King" Domokos doing the Wheelie at he start of the video !

[@happydays8171]

mike landreth > Hahaha, I saw Doug Domokos at Chicago bike show, O'hare Exposition Center either 83 or 4, bought his book, don't remember if I talked to him, think he signed it. He put on quite a show for the little area he had to ride in. R.I.P. Doug, gone way too soon.

[@kaszer-jayd7339]

My grandad his name is John geary he was in the motocross championship he raced with all the championships dads and now there sons are all grown up doing motocross

[@mikesimms3380]

I used to love watching supercross at the coliseum. In addition to the racing, there were always at least a dozen fights breaking out in the stands. It was a rowdy crowd back then. Motocross riders prided themselves on their punching skills as much as their riding skills for some reason. Perhaps it was just an LA thing.

[@jamesstenner8335]

That were great more please

[@wayno23]

Glory days 💪🤘💨💨💨

[@jimijamAK47]

I was there also, the first pro motorcycle race i had ever seen. It was awesome! I was 13 my dad and his trucker buddies got wasted got in a fist fight ... even better

[@geoffbeyer1873]

Dam that made me laugh! Did you dad and his mates have mullets?

[@frankrichards3089]

Ha. Hell yeah

[@dissyduster]

Supper shoot out mx,love bobs hair style.

[@Brent-qu3yk]

I use to see mike Bell @ irwindale raceway cmc motocross on Friday nights1974 75- 76- he was so good 👍

[@tanosam5]

🇯🇵My respected mechanic BRIAN LUNNISS. It was BH that BRIAN called the best rider. It was a battle between MB and Hurricane in this Classic SX, but I was nervous that my teammate MB had a steep face. I wonder what kind of race it will be. BH had a nervous image and looked like Jekyll and Hyde, but he believed in BRIAN LUNNISS and was able to see this Colosseum SX with confidence. It's a history thing ✨ Thank you very much for posting 👍

[@jackj.l0084]

It's like one of the best motocross champions ever said it's 40% bike and 60 % the rider and skill set and the amount risk and will

[@Maverick2]

I was one of the fastest at motocross in the state of Arizona in the mid 70's - Carlos Serrano was one of the guys I raced with - If I had not joined the Navy, I would have raced against him in this race - My former shipmates Bob Wing, Jeff Siegler and I watched this race

[@stranahanhigh8910]

Mike Bell 👍 👍 👍 👍!!!!!

[@aximusroh6453]

Fantastic thank you.

[@bretmuldner]

Back when the trophy girls were not afraid to kiss the winners!

[@stellastarr69]

I've seen pictures in the moto magazines from this race and have seen a 10- 20 second clip on the old Yamaha "Grand Slam" video from '78, but this was the most footage I've ever seen of this before. Wish Hannah could have won this race, but at least he wrapped up the title that night and Yamaha still won the race with Bell. Keep these old school videos coming Yamaha, I love it!

[@01cissy]

Agree with stellastarr69, love the old school videos.

[@barryorbik215]

Awesome video, really enjoyed that 👌

[@markgray6982]

Glad I grew up watching the BEST, Got my Hurricane autograph, my Too Tall Autograph and My Golden Boy Autograph, better racing back then, factory teams spent money for riders, Team Yamaha, Hannah, Bell, Glover in 1 year, now days, 1 or 2 factory riders

[@hondaxl250k0]

and you hear all these kids today talk about how 1980s suspension was useless..this was 1970s and i think these guys rode faster harder and on dual shock. except yamaha had gen 1 mono shock.. called the mono cross . the bikes were better than people think. and the riders man what skill

[@artmchugh5644]

Good one ! I raced a yz 360b monoshock and I thought it was great !!!😄😄😄

[@hondaxl250k0]

hell ya ive played around on the mx175's. great fun

[@lbaca1402]

I have a DT 175! Has a great top speed and runs the desert hills really well.

[@mr.rm250rodneylynn8]

Awesome stuff! 👍

[@boataxe4605]

Wow, from before the NFL cracked down on the use of Super Bowl!

[@deborahchesser7375]

$20,000, you couldn’t get a pro to sign autographs for that now

[@vetb882]

That's aboutt $200,000 in that's money.

[@michaellandreth1392]

At 31 the Late Great Doug "The Wheelie King" Domokos .

[@stevebird6632]

The days of air cooled motors, drum brakes & 9 inches of suspension at best, when men were men & orthopedic surgeons were never busier

[@shanehopson8644]

Hannah is a legend !

[@listenupfools731]

Excellent video.well done

[@lmtada]

Good video. Thank You. Like how the riders had to enter track, where they left the track. That rule does not exist today.

[@user-md2bl5qz9e]

The 80s were amazing. Motocross action magazine racing slow kx cr rm and yz Motercycles with mom and dad Driving around in pickup trucks and weird ass vans. Don’t tell me they messed up

[@motokev2727]

I know the older riders have no chance of winning today. But, it would be fun to see hannah and Carmichael race tomac. I bet Carmichael would be in the top 10.

[@jackj.l0084]

Them guys on them bikes would beat all of the guys who have to get a new bike every year nowadays,, different men..

[@juanjuarez3634]

Aaaaa que recuerdos de mi vida mi primera moto fue una Yamaha MX 100cc. Modelo 1979 motor 2 tiempos fui muy feliz en ella era una moto en color blanco y cuadro negro nunca me falló y siempre me llevo a dónde yo quería solo le daba su mtto. Preventivo afinación y listo

[@petedorta4449]

Those times were the best I race a Can Am ...the best

[@donrutter6765]

My dad/uncle raced a national enduro in South Jersey in the early 80's, there were a few motocross faces there like Mike Bell and Rick Johnson. I got a whole page of those racers autographs, but they couldnt beat the king, Dick Burleson.

[@shanehopson8644]

If Bob H didn’t have all them setbacks he’d lead most laps and won it !

[@sqd37l]

loosing Mike Bell hurts

[@oldeays5085]

In the days when it was about racing!

[@bourdon845]

Cool

[@Scandle68]

Supercross tracks have changed a wee bit lol. Can you imagine if dirt works put in a big water pit the riders had to splash through on one of today's sx tracks?Lol.

[@MissionaryForMexico]

I raced in the 70's steeple chase, flat rack, and some motocross. There is one aspect that many that are spectators do not know. Hannas bike and Bells bike, were not stock engines at all, even the expansion chambers are modified. So for example if the race is for a 250cc bike. That bike will be at least 275cc. The fuel management will be from a larger size bike, and rejetted for increase fuel into the combustion chamber, the intake and exhaust ports are ported and polished to match carburator and expansion chamber openings. The front shocks are not only spring loaded, but air filled also. The entire bike may look stock to the unknowing, but you are seeing the fasted bikes on the race track. So not to take away from the riders, but just about anybody with good ridding skills could accomplish the same end results! I have rode for dealerships and individual sponered bikes. Not one bike was ever stock. And guess what? I won races.

[@user-tv1le7sw2l]

It's so sad to have witnessed 2022 Anaheim 1 2 and 3 in a half-full stadium. They may have got 70 thousand combined which is a joke. Tomac is loved today like Hannah was back then.

[@HeyDude93gt]

Back when suspension wasn’t nowhere close to being equal to power. I remember my 1978 rm80 being more of a handful to control than my 96 kx125, 01CR250R and my 2004 CR250R

[@mxr618]

Same with my '78 RM80!

[@zharlou30Bacalso]

damn, hannahs face still badass.. look like an lil older brother version of hannah nowadays