Legendary: the Carls-bad 500cc USGP 1980
Even in their own home GP, the American riders had to lose out for years. The 500cc GP in Carlsbad (California) was dominated by European riders. The Flying Dentist, Gerrit Wolsink, seemed almost unbeatable on American soil! Wolsink would eventually win the American GP five times. There were also Willy Bauer (winner in 1973), Joël Robert, Roger Decoster and Heikki Mikola (winner in 1977 and 1978). Time and again the Americans had to give up. That all changed on June 22, 1980. Against all odds, a Yank won for the first time. The noble unknown Marty Moates surprised friend and foe with the race of his life!
The producers of 'The Motocross Files' made a film about that historic GP this year. We dug up an interesting conversation in which filmmaker Todd Huffman talks to David Bailey and promoter Gavin Tripp about that memorable Carlsbad USGP. Great fun for those who love MX history!
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