Los Angeles (SX)

For the first decade of racing in LA, the event was known as the “Super Bowl of Motocross.” July 8th, 1972 is a date that will live forever in our sport, as the first ever “indoor motocross” (now known as Supercross) took place. A crowd of over 29,000 watched 16-year-old Marty Tripes etch his name into the history books as the first winner of the new style of racing. Tripes, Gary Jones and Jimmy Weinart comprised the first ever podium of a sport that would go on to complete over a half century of seasons.

The 1985 Supercross finale in Pasadena was a historic night. Heading into the race, four men had a shot at winning the title in the closest championship fight in the history of Supercross. Jeff Ward and Broc Glover entered the race tied for the points lead, with Ron Lechien just two points down. Add in fourth place Rick Johnson, who was still mathematically in the hunt, and you had four all-time greats duking it out for the same prize. Both championship leaders also entered the race at less than 100%, with Ward suffering a shoulder injury at the USGP and Glover riding with a broken wrist.

The first of a two main event format saw David Bailey take the win as the points leaders clashed. Glover made several lunges at Ward, eventually passing him to take fifth. During the second moto, Johnny O’Mara took the holeshot and ran away with the lead, as Ward held second. Glover battled with Johnson for third until RJ crashed in the whoops. Glover found a second wind late in the main event to catch Ward, but made a mistake on the final lap while trying to make a move. O’Mara won the overall with a 3-1, as Ward’s 6-2 was enough to top Glover’s 5-3 by one point for the championship. The title was Kawasaki’s first since 1976, when Jimmy Weinart put the brand on top.

Entering the 1992 Supercross finale, Yamaha’s Damon Bradshaw had the winningest SX season to date. The Beast From The East won nine times that year, and headed to Los Angeles with the championship trophy in sight. All Bradshaw needed to do was finish on the podium, and he would top Honda’s Jeff Stanton to win the biggest prize in the sport. However, things unraveled in the main event. Stanton took the holeshot and set sail out front. Bradshaw started in fourth behind Guy Cooper, but couldn’t gain any ground. Jean-Michel Bayle’s pass for fourth on Bradshaw was the final nail in the coffin, as Stanton claimed his third 250SX title.

“I’m the happiest man in the world right now,” said Stanton after his incredible victory. The champ soaked in the moment after winning the race, holding both fists high in the air as the crowd cheered him on.

With renovations at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, Los Angeles hosted the 1998 opener. Rain soaked the stadium during the weekend, creating a muddy race track for opening weekend. After a disastrous season with Suzuki in 1997, Jeremy McGrath joined the Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha team. McGrath’s fresh start began with a decent result, but a surprising winner stole the headlines. Aboard a Yamaha 4-stroke, Doug Henry quickly took the lead, grabbing the holeshot and riding away from his competition. Henry looked to have everything sewn up, but a new challenger approached. In the first race of a part-time season, French MXGP racer Sebastien Tortelli flew through the pack and caught Henry by the final lap. The #103 put his Kawasaki in the top spot as Henry would crash and stall, dropping him down the order. Tortelli took the first (and only) victory of his Supercross career, with defending champion Jeff Emig completing a Kawasaki 1-2. McGrath rounded out the podium in his first ride for the blue brand.