Maggiora welcomes Johnny O'Mara

There can be no doubt, motocross royalty will be visiting the Maggiora circuit this coming weekend with one of which being Johnny O’Mara who led Team USA to victory at the historical 1986 Motocross of Nations. O’Mara did the nearly impossibly by beating World 500cc Champion Dave Thorpe. What made that so impressive was the fact O’Mara was on a 125cc Honda machine, compared to Thorpe’s 500cc Honda.

“It was a special race for me and for American Motocross,” O’Mara said once. “There was something really nice about the atmosphere at that race. The crowd were really into the American riders and we had a lot of support. It was really a beautiful day and we got the win. For sure one of the highlights of my career.”

Of course O’Mara will return to Maggiora this weekend for the Road 2 Recovery dinner on Friday night. A special group of riders have been selected to join O’Mara, one being Stefan Everts who as a young boy watched O’Mara and saw the American rider as his big hero.

“He just had a really nice style and for sure he was the rider I most liked to watch,”Everts said of his hero. “He looked cool on the bike and I was into that America riding style. He has become a friend in recent years and I really enjoy his company when I get the chance to see him. His dedication for anything he does makes him a special character and I have always had respect for him.”

James Dobb the 2001 MX2 World Champion, who was also a young racer when O’Mara was winning MXoN after MXoN, has a clear opinion of the American legend and what he meant to the sport in the 1980s.

“There are maybe a handful of guys who had styles that were just so smooth. Guy’s like Everts, J.M.Bayle and O’mara. He had such an effortless style and was really a rider a lot of kids my age wanted to be like. In that era of American domination at the Motocross of Nations O’mara was one of the leaders, he won maybe more times than just about any other America rider.”

And now O’mara will return to Maggiora, but this time just as a fan, watching the likes of Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli, but also being part of the legends dinner for charity on Friday night. A dinner that will include Stefan Everts, J.M.Bayle, and James Dobb, three riders who have all had World Championship success.

For more information on the dinner you can contact Jamie Dobb:

Phone: +44 (0)1332 864864

Mobile; 0789 448 3868

jamie@sixtyfoureurope.com