Description
By: Tom Madigan .
Motocross racing began in 1924just outside London, England. It remained a European sport populated with Euro stars and didn't emigrate to the United States until 1957. By 1970, the U.S. had its own national race series, complete with homegrown stars. In the 500cc class, riders like Jimmy Weinert and Brad Lackey captured attention with their youth and speed. In the 125cc class, Marty Smith was the rider to beat.
While Weinert, Lackey, and Smith were making names for themselves on America's motocross tracks, a teenager named Bob Hannah was out in the desert, riding dirt bikes with his dad. When he turned 18, he entered his first race, an amateur event in Southern California. He thrashed everyone so soundly that he was immediately given his Expert license.
In 1976, the as-yet-unknown Hannah was hired by Yamaha as a factory rider. In his first pro event of the year, a 125cc race, he stormed past 21 riders and found himself behind the reigning champion, Marty Smith. One lap later he was ahead of Smith and pulling away. Smith crashed trying to catch Hannah and finished the race a distant second. According to legend, motojournalists recounting the race spoke of the kid who came from nowhere and, like a hurricane, blew past the rider everyone thought invincible. The name stuck, and "Hurricane" Bob Hannah was introduced to motocross fans across the U.S. and, later, around the world.
By the time the Hurricane retired in 1987, he had collected 70 AMA National wins, six AMA National titles, a Motocross des Nations title, and a worldwide legion of devoted fans. Even today, 20 years after his retirement, people line up to get his autograph at motorsports events. Why? Because his unmatched determination and riding skill made him off-road motorcycle racing's first American superstar. He was the bridge between the first U.S. motocross champions and Supercross' first superstars. He is the subject of reverent interviews in motocross magazines. He's still a spokesman for Yamaha, even though he hasn't swung a leg over one of their race bikes for two decades. When he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, he was second to none in total wins and consecutive wins.
Today, Bob Hannah is a pilot and owns an aviation business. Still addicted to flying, though now with wings.
