00"' $.-4 ~ ,.0 0 ~u 0 David Bailey negotiates a turn on the rough Italian track while 30,000 spect ators crowd the hills around him . Ricky Johnson, Johnny O' M ara and David Bailey listen to the national Bailey leads Johnson into the f inal corner in the day's last moto; moments anthem after totally dominating the Motocross des Nations. later the two made cont act and Johnson crashed. mounted Johnson rode admirably, autographs. It was easy to see why­ but everyone in the American camp all three riders used their Supercross USA rules the world in admitted that it was johnny o· who skills to thrill the crowd. In Satur­ put on a real show. O'Mara rode his day's practice session, O'Mara grabbed production 125 to the limits, and in some air at the top of a huge uphill, moto two diced up through the pack and then threw a thumbs-up at his Motocross des Nations and then passed 500cc World Cham­ fans. The crowd roared as the an­ By Tom Mueller pion David Thorpe, who rode a works nouncer exclaimed, " American 500cc Honda to third. Johnny O 'Show - magnificol"' MAGGIORA, ITALY, SEPT. 21 This win marks the sixth consecu­ "Sure, I can't climb those hills like tive year that the USA team has won the bigger bikes, but I can come down Team USA left no doubt that it is the super­ the event, but never before has the the other side at three times the team as a whole performed so flaw­ speed," O'Mara said after finishing ior force in world class mo tocross competi­ lessly. Great Britain, Italy, Finland practice. "I can whip it into the and Holland claimed second through comers really hard using all that tion by claiming the top spots in every moto fifth, respectively, in the final momentum and intimidate the other standings. guys.'" at this year's Motocross des Nations, held A crowd estimated at 30,000 jammed " If I get good starts I can win," near scenic Lake Maggiora in run on the mountainous 1.2-mile onto the Maggiora course to watch Johnson said after posting a two­ northern Italy. cours.e. Two riders Crom eac~ country the prestigious World Championship minute, 26-second lap for the day's h A · · rode m each moto and the final Lally event. Though partial to their own fastest time. "The hills aren't just T e. mencan conungent, read Johnson, O'Mara l-2 in moLo Italian riders, it was the Americans horsepower, you have to use tech­ comprised of Honda teammates one; Bailey. O'Mara 1-2 in moto two; who most came to see. Thousands nique. This is really different from Rick Johnson, David Bailey and and Bailey, Johnson 1-2 in moto of fans thronged around the USA the states; it's tougher than Unadilla. johnny O'Mara, was untouchable in three. camp, and Johnson, Bailey and They could never run intermediates 16 each of the three 30-minute motos Bailey on a 500cc bike and 250cc- O 'Mara spent hours each day signing here - they'd get killed." .