The absolute best, and then there was Jeff Ward and dogger… God I miss the generation I miss the times I miss the riders, I love everyone of them! God bless them
Rick was the reason I bought my first CR back in 86. My bedroom walls were plastered with all his "Motorcross Action" shots. Super awesome inspiration and what a great guy all these years later. Hope to meet him someday.
Such an awesome time for motorcycles and the sport! I don't think I could have fit any more posters or pix from motorcycle magazines on my walls either growing up haha!
Rick Johnson In the BAJA 500 in 2006 you were driving a truck , I jumped in front of you waiving a lawn chair , you swerved off the rutted road , that was filled with deep silt , and missed the down motorcycle rider that was hidden in the dust . Thank you for your quick reactions ! We saved that rider together . KJ
0:29 seeing you on that Honda its like NO time has passed. You're still a badass and you know it RJ!! You were my idol in the 80's when I was racing CR 80's!
Brutally honest! This guy was and always will be such a badass. Sucks that the sport he loved so much left him bitter at the end. This guy was my hero back in the day.
I met RJ 2 weeks ago at the 50th anniversary of Unadilla... until then i had only ever seen him in magazines, on tv and posters on my wall... Ricky was AWESOME! He was WAY approachable!! He made my son and i feel just as cool as he is! He gave us all the time we wanted .. he’s a legend for many reasons! He is also correct in saying the current riders are boring.. (not you Stank Dog or Ryan Dowd lol) we caught glimpses of the top guys but they had no interest in meeting fans.. meanwhile we were meeting and greeting others like Rick, the real guys that made mx what it is. Henry, Dowd, Keller, Glover, DeCoster, Emig etc... it was a weekend i won’t soon forget.. thanks again to all the founding fathers of our sport that came out
I am absolutely stunned and amazed that motorcycle parts companies don’t see the immense value of Rick Johnson. He is a man with immense experience that can offer a company a unique story, one that transcends generations. To be associated with his story is money well spent. Fools they are !
I remember being ten years old and so proud and excited because the honda dealer gave me a Rick Johnson HONDA HRC poster. They had this thing at the dealership, if your the first kid to sign the poster on the window, it's yours. I scored the Rick Johnson, David Bailey, and Johnny O'mara posters. Man I wish I still had them today.
Ricky Johnson is still the best! GOAT! He is the reason I got into the sport. He is the a true class act! I love his honesty. "Tomac is a boring, rice cake eating Robot!" 🤣
He mentioned “ it’s crazy to see these old bikes in such good shape “ at 45 myself I just chuckled and said “what about the guys riding them” personally I’m gassed after 4 laps but still get out there.
1985 rj on his white yz red bud national i have video i taped at the race and at the 1986 pontiac sx i jumped out of the stands onto the deck while rj was walking the track i got his autograph yeah that was me
Johnson is my all time favorite motorcross rider; past, present and future! As a kid, I had all the motorcross magazines and loved all the battles, Glover, Ward, Bailey, Hannah, etc…Good times!! I’m 51yo, btw..
Ricky Johnson. I sat across from you at the Washington Supercross afterwards with Dean Matson and Ricky Ryan. I was a 11 year old kid back then, it was at the Blue Oyster. I was a little kid, sponsored by Yamaha and Pj1 oil and racing against Jeremy McCgrath at th the time in the mini's. I ate oysters with the MAN, Roger Decoster as a kid. Saw Roger a few years ago here in SF as I am 46 now and shared some times. Was a privilege to sit right across from you as a little kid back then.
A person that I used to race against back in the days was Jeremy Albrecht who becalm the tech for James Stewart. Saw him pushing the bike at the SF Stadium and blurted out to him. Nice too see my old school motocross buddies are still win the game. Still have a couple of people involvelved with FOX Racing as well
That was really cool, and being just under Ricky Johnson's age, maybe 5 years under, I have to say it is VERY refreshing and inspirational to see that he has a clear air of humility now. To hear him say "I've put myself out there for a couple years now to the Big Four Motocross teams and all I get is "Eh"". you would never have heard those humble words come out of his mouth even 5 or 10 years ago I don't believe. Really great because I feel that means all of us have the chance to redeem ourselves and become real people so that we can Inspire real people 😁
I met Ricky for the first time at Jack Murphy stadium when Rick was 16 riding for Yamaha. I was so impressed at how he conducted himself business wise. I was only 19 and worked for Oakley and myself and owner Jim were interested in signing him. When he was available he signed with us. I think because we were a young and upcoming company. I was the 3rd employee and wore many hats. Race promotion, industrial designer, test rider and even helped in shipping. I met a lot of incredible riders and all of them treated me as their equal, but for some reason Ricky was my favorite. When he signed with Honda he had some money burning in his pocket. He asked if he could by my Dodge van. It wasn’t a plain old van. It was cleanly customized by myself. I removed all the insignias, painted it Porsche red, with Porsche rims. Lowered and also had Porsche styled mirrors. Clean and slick and red, that’s why he wanted it. I wouldn’t sell it. Pierre Karsmakers wanted to buy it at one time. The owner of Oakley wanted it too. Fun times in the 80’s
I met him in an airport in Indianapolis and he gave me great advice on mx. I was on crutches at the time from broken femur from jumping natural terrain jumps. He said quit doing that and stay on the tracks lol. Great guy
I remember the first time I raced him like it was yesterday. I had just turned pro and it was a CMC race at Carlsbad and I hated Carlsbad. I just never felt it and too be honest a top 10 was a good day for me. I knew this was Ricky's home track and knew he was fast on it. He lapped me mid way through and it was like I was pushing my bike around. He was nice and he always walked around Carlsbad like he owned the place. He did.
Had an entry for this fantastic event ..alas broken ankle forced retirement from said event ..made it in to the entry list though ! met RJ along with junkyard Dowd and most of the US team . Gutted I couldn't race ,may be next year
7:07. . . Travis Pastrana. . . Now there is one racer that nobody (past or present) that can beat in terms of sheer metal parts screwed into his skeleton!! ;-)
I believe you just as much value now Rick off the track as when you we're on the track you entertained us all and we all learn new things when you where on the track but there's a whole nother chapter that you can teach us off of it stay in the Motocross world please !
went to go see my very first Supercross New Jersey Giants stadium around 1987. RJ was leading given the audience a two handed finger pistol over the triple. can't even describe how high and amazing that looked to me. I remember seeing Wardy breaking his ankle in the heat race after coming up short I think.
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I had a massive poster of Rick Johnson in my bedroom as a kid and teen ,I used to do motocross in the UK and wanted to be Rick Johnson ,I fell short ,don't know why ,even my son is called Ryan James I call him RJ all the time Best wishes Mr Johnson.
It's not current riders don't have personality. They just are not allowed to show it. You see it in 250 guys but when they move up their mouthes start to close. Anderson keeps it real. Love RJ!!!! Can't believe industry peeps had no interest in him. They all seem to think MX fans are all under 30.
Agree 100% when you are getting paid 6 figures by a company to represent them you sure as hell aren't going to do or say something stupid or off script and risk the endorsement.
Excellent point. I loved the Cooper Webb - Tyler Bowers rivalry when they were in the 250s. You'd never see that in the Premiere class. And guess what? I happened to catch an old 250s interview with Ryan Dungey. The guy really did have a personality back then. Quite the shocker, right?
Anybody who knows Motocross in San Diego. Raceway 117. Rick Johnson was as is still my idol. I seen him as a teen ride the 125 expert class and blow everybody away,His mechanic would be warming up his 250 Yz on the line..Ricky would jump off his 125 onto the 250 and he'd blow away the 250 expert class. His mechanic again would be warming up his 500 Yz in the line ready too go..Same thing he'd blow them away.. Ricky Johnson wednesday night at 117. Superman!!
Are you kidding me; Rick Johnson getting shunned by Motorcycle Parts Companies in current MX. those respective companies that he met with are absolute fools not seeing a big value in Johnson. A guy that has experiences that transcend generations
Started following MX about '85, RJ was my first favorite rider. Today I appreciate other riders' skill and talent since (like Bayle, Bailey, or Carmichael), but Johnson in his prime would have given anyone a run for their money.
No name is more American than "Rick Johnson" lol. You gotta love this dude. A straight up badass and a cool guy.
What about Ronald raygun
@ Is it harder to find a good job?
Is it as easy to buy things in the store?
Are you better off then you were four years ago?
Ronald Reagen
The absolute best, and then there was Jeff Ward and dogger… God I miss the generation I miss the times I miss the riders, I love everyone of them! God bless them
RICK JOHNSON WILL ALWAYS BE MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOTOCROSS RACER!
Rick was the reason I bought my first CR back in 86. My bedroom walls were plastered with all his "Motorcross Action" shots. Super awesome inspiration and what a great guy all these years later. Hope to meet him someday.
Such an awesome time for motorcycles and the sport! I don't think I could have fit any more posters or pix from motorcycle magazines on my walls either growing up haha!
@@yoboo6167 agreed 👍
Amen brother. I had a1989 CR500, Red Alpine Stars boots, Red JT pants and chest protector.
Motoworld clips were all we had back in the day!! I loved how he rode!
This guy is such a badass!! My favorite rider growing up.
Me too . Too hip !!! Bad boy
mine too dude was fun to watch and still is not taking you know what
Rick was one of the greats of that era and the competition was fierce !
Him and that Honda were a marriage in heaven, timeless.
He took a stock Yamaha yz250 and won the supercross race on it.He could have won on anything.
concur
Rick Johnson
In the BAJA 500 in 2006 you were driving a truck , I jumped in front of you waiving a lawn chair , you swerved off the rutted road , that was filled with deep silt , and missed the down motorcycle rider that was hidden in the dust .
Thank you for your quick reactions !
We saved that rider together . KJ
0:29 seeing you on that Honda its like NO time has passed. You're still a badass and you know it RJ!! You were my idol in the 80's when I was racing CR 80's!
Brutally honest! This guy was and always will be such a badass. Sucks that the sport he loved so much left him bitter at the end. This guy was my hero back in the day.
I met RJ 2 weeks ago at the 50th anniversary of Unadilla... until then i had only ever seen him in magazines, on tv and posters on my wall... Ricky was AWESOME! He was WAY approachable!! He made my son and i feel just as cool as he is! He gave us all the time we wanted .. he’s a legend for many reasons! He is also correct in saying the current riders are boring.. (not you Stank Dog or Ryan Dowd lol) we caught glimpses of the top guys but they had no interest in meeting fans.. meanwhile we were meeting and greeting others like Rick, the real guys that made mx what it is. Henry, Dowd, Keller, Glover, DeCoster, Emig etc... it was a weekend i won’t soon forget.. thanks again to all the founding fathers of our sport that came out
I freaking love Ricky Johnson...
I am absolutely stunned and amazed that motorcycle parts companies don’t see the immense value of Rick Johnson. He is a man with immense experience that can offer a company a unique story, one that transcends generations. To be associated with his story is money well spent. Fools they are !
Rj is a legend.
I remember being ten years old and so proud and excited because the honda dealer gave me a Rick Johnson HONDA HRC poster.
They had this thing at the dealership, if your the first kid to sign the poster on the window, it's yours. I scored the Rick Johnson, David Bailey, and Johnny O'mara posters. Man I wish I still had them today.
Ricky Johnson is still the best! GOAT! He is the reason I got into the sport. He is the a true class act! I love his honesty. "Tomac is a boring, rice cake eating Robot!" 🤣
Ricky Johnson was my idol in the 80’s
You have been and always be my favorite Rider🏁🏋️🏁😎👍🏽👍🏽🏆
Rick #1
thanks from Italy
A great interview with Rick Johnson. We need to see more like it!
A true legend of motocross.
He mentioned “ it’s crazy to see these old bikes in such good shape “ at 45 myself I just chuckled and said “what about the guys riding them” personally I’m gassed after 4 laps but still get out there.
Best Ever. Sad career cut short. Lucky I got to speak to him in 89.
this is my childhood hero. thanks rick
this guy is a legend, he's the reason i got into honda's, much love and respect from england.
I’ve got to make some of these vintage events. My hero’s and bikes from my riding days, couldn’t get better. 👍🇺🇸
My first time seeing RJ at a outdoor national was amazing. Great memories. Thanks RJ
1985 rj on his white yz red bud national i have video i taped at the race and at the 1986 pontiac sx i jumped out of the stands onto the deck while rj was walking the track i got his autograph yeah that was me
Johnson is my all time favorite motorcross rider; past, present and future! As a kid, I had all the motorcross magazines and loved all the battles, Glover, Ward, Bailey, Hannah, etc…Good times!! I’m 51yo, btw..
Class guy, nice to see him involved with MX again.
Ricky Johnson. I sat across from you at the Washington Supercross afterwards with Dean Matson and Ricky Ryan. I was a 11 year old kid back then, it was at the Blue Oyster. I was a little kid, sponsored by Yamaha and Pj1 oil and racing against Jeremy McCgrath at th the time in the mini's. I ate oysters with the MAN, Roger Decoster as a kid. Saw Roger a few years ago here in SF as I am 46 now and shared some times. Was a privilege to sit right across from you as a little kid back then.
A person that I used to race against back in the days was Jeremy Albrecht who becalm the tech for James Stewart. Saw him pushing the bike at the SF Stadium and blurted out to him. Nice too see my old school motocross buddies are still win the game. Still have a couple of people involvelved with FOX Racing as well
Yeah Ricky Johnson is at the top of my list I’m a huge fan always love this guy
That was really cool, and being just under Ricky Johnson's age, maybe 5 years under, I have to say it is VERY refreshing and inspirational to see that he has a clear air of humility now. To hear him say "I've put myself out there for a couple years now to the Big Four Motocross teams and all I get is "Eh"". you would never have heard those humble words come out of his mouth even 5 or 10 years ago I don't believe. Really great because I feel that means all of us have the chance to redeem ourselves and become real people so that we can Inspire real people 😁
As an Aussie I remember watching this guys video tape , profile of a champion ! I watched that so many times I chewed it up 😤. RJ was and is awesome .
Hannah was the original bad-boy, but RJ was definitely in there..
Always a good interview when RJ is telling the story!
I love it. Thanks you did it & BIG THX to RJ!!!!
Gave him his watch back, too cool.
Rick was my first motocross hero. No wonder ha was such a great champ, still has his head screwed on straight after all these years!
Great and best rider met him and got his autograph at southwick mass true legend! God bless Rick Johnson!
Rice cakes!! No shit man!! Love this guy and his straight forward honesty.
Rick Johnson, Bad Boy Club...lol
...most dominant champion of the 1980s...😎👍
What a great guy
Awesome.
Great interview! Good luck with Team Puerto Rico
Bad boy Ricky Johnson!! Legend 😎👍
I met Ricky for the first time at Jack Murphy stadium when Rick was 16 riding for Yamaha. I was so impressed at how he conducted himself business wise. I was only 19 and worked for Oakley and myself and owner Jim were interested in signing him. When he was available he signed with us. I think because we were a young and upcoming company. I was the 3rd employee and wore many hats. Race promotion, industrial designer, test rider and even helped in shipping. I met a lot of incredible riders and all of them treated me as their equal, but for some reason Ricky was my favorite. When he signed with Honda he had some money burning in his pocket. He asked if he could by my Dodge van. It wasn’t a plain old van. It was cleanly customized by myself. I removed all the insignias, painted it Porsche red, with Porsche rims. Lowered and also had Porsche styled mirrors. Clean and slick and red, that’s why he wanted it. I wouldn’t sell it. Pierre Karsmakers wanted to buy it at one time. The owner of Oakley wanted it too. Fun times in the 80’s
It seems I’ve been clickbaited. With the words “Johnson uncut” I was expecting something else entirely
Childhood hero he was my Superman he's a real badass and still is could listen to him tell stories over and over a real American icon
I met him in an airport in Indianapolis and he gave me great advice on mx. I was on crutches at the time from broken femur from jumping natural terrain jumps. He said quit doing that and stay on the tracks lol. Great guy
RJ's holeshot of the USGP is(IMO) the greatest photo ever taken.
I remember the first time I raced him like it was yesterday. I had just turned pro and it was a CMC race at Carlsbad and I hated Carlsbad. I just never felt it and too be honest a top 10 was a good day for me. I knew this was Ricky's home track and knew he was fast on it. He lapped me mid way through and it was like I was pushing my bike around. He was nice and he always walked around Carlsbad like he owned the place. He did.
my idol since I was a child motivated me
Last race ever at Carlsbad Johnson was a maniac talkin 75 mph + on the Carlsbad freeway downhill
i was in Villars sous ecot in 1988, Ricky!! you blew my 10 years old mind that day
How the hell are the brands now ignoring this mans legacy and contribution to the sport.
Theres only one brand now and it involves 3 green puke marks ..
Love RJ! The magic man of motocross!
Apart from being the greatest. Rider ever, Rick is one decent bloke.
My favorite rider of all time. Dude was so good he would lap second place some times
I remember he is The Champion, He's legend.
Had an entry for this fantastic event ..alas broken ankle forced retirement from said event ..made it in to the entry list though ! met RJ along with junkyard Dowd and most of the US team .
Gutted I couldn't race ,may be next year
7:07. . . Travis Pastrana. . . Now there is one racer that nobody (past or present) that can beat in terms of sheer metal parts screwed into his skeleton!! ;-)
The race where he comes back to catch Guy Cooper epic!
Everyday Joe 1987 LA Coliseum if memory serves me right! Fell at the first corner but come back to win it, awesome!
@@kartman2267 I was at that race, Fell on the first turn, last to get up and get racing, passed Guy Cooper with 100 yards to go for the win.
Theres a race on his white YZ250 where he did a no foot scrub over a finish line jump.
The race is here on YT from some SX 1985??
Rick magic man johnson
The bad boy of supercross/ motocross
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
80s/90s bad boy..white boots ward.the machine brits at that time loved the supercrossers.still do 👌
I believe you just as much value now Rick off the track as when you we're on the track you entertained us all and we all learn new things when you where on the track but there's a whole nother chapter that you can teach us off of it stay in the Motocross world please !
Only this: Legend, from Italy
Loved RJ in moto! Funny, he was nicer to me as a kid than the guy I grew up knowing that was friends with my family in a small town in Michigan.
went to go see my very first Supercross New Jersey Giants stadium around 1987. RJ was leading given the audience a two handed finger pistol over the triple. can't even describe how high and amazing that looked to me. I remember seeing Wardy breaking his ankle in the heat race after coming up short I think.
I had a massive poster of Rick Johnson in my bedroom as a kid and teen ,I used to do motocross in the UK and wanted to be Rick Johnson ,I fell short ,don't know why ,even my son is called Ryan James I call him RJ all the time
Best wishes Mr Johnson.
Legend
So true all interviews "it was great but i wanna thank (insert sponsors)" no emotion after any races it feels
Johnson uncut? The european version?
Rick is an awesome guy
It's not current riders don't have personality. They just are not allowed to show it. You see it in 250 guys but when they move up their mouthes start to close. Anderson keeps it real. Love RJ!!!! Can't believe industry peeps had no interest in him. They all seem to think MX fans are all under 30.
Agree 100% when you are getting paid 6 figures by a company to represent them you sure as hell aren't going to do or say something stupid or off script and risk the endorsement.
Excellent point. I loved the Cooper Webb - Tyler Bowers rivalry when they were in the 250s. You'd never see that in the Premiere class. And guess what? I happened to catch an old 250s interview with Ryan Dungey. The guy really did have a personality back then. Quite the shocker, right?
Ricky opened his empire to me in 2008 and gave me a second chance ,I'll never let history forget the size of Ricky heart, deadwood out....
Anybody who knows Motocross in San Diego.
Raceway 117.
Rick Johnson was as is still my idol.
I seen him as a teen ride the 125 expert class and blow everybody away,His mechanic would be warming up his 250 Yz on the line..Ricky would jump off his 125 onto the 250 and he'd blow away the 250 expert class.
His mechanic again would be warming up his 500 Yz in the line ready too go..Same thing he'd blow them away..
Ricky Johnson wednesday night at 117.
Superman!!
The Legend The Goat 🐐
I still have a mud stain from rj at millville on my igloo cooler. Travis will fight anyone anytime on any track. Awesome.
I'll pay you 1000 dollars for that mud stain.
He was chasing down jeff ward on a rainy day. Standing on the pegs he wheeled through some standing water and showered me with mud.
My hero growing up
The term "Bad Boy" was started about him I think?
I believe you are right.
Too Hip, although his protesting of the staggered start in Anaheim put him on the map as a rebel..
I snatched RJ's Oakley goggles at the last Carlsbad 500 Gran Prix which he won 1st place an still have them
The man's a gent ! King of the roost :) long stroke BRAAP..
Oakley and fox would not be household names if not for this man.
Showtime ❤️
Him and David bailey were the shit..... let's not 4get magoo- he was my favorite
86 Anaheim is still the best main ever.
Still got a true zest. For life . . genuine Merican icon.
8:32 this is very true in modern motocross.
Thanks Rick i grew up on Motocross , did you ever race Zoar Vally in Springville New York ? ok thanks for the Vid !
Are you kidding me; Rick Johnson getting shunned by Motorcycle Parts Companies in current MX. those respective companies that he met with are absolute fools not seeing a big value in Johnson. A guy that has experiences that transcend generations
That has to be the least annoying interview I've ever seen with Rick. He grew up! It was always fun to watch him race though.
Doesn't it seem like rick could show up at your campsite grab a beer and sit down and be family in 1 minute
Some reason Rick looks just like McGrath with clean shave. Lol two of the best looking like twins
Forever Fan of RJ. 👍👍
Watch story is great.
Can I get this to puit on my youtubr channel?
I still have a picture of his holeshot from 86.
RJ is synonymous with motocross. Honda needs him as an ambassador..Hope the two can heal old wounds.
Bad boy
Great hearing from " the bad boy".
PERSONALITY!!!
Started following MX about '85, RJ was my first favorite rider. Today I appreciate other riders' skill and talent since (like Bayle, Bailey, or Carmichael), but Johnson in his prime would have given anyone a run for their money.