Johnson Tries to Defend Motocross Title

The eighth consecutive sellout crowd is expected at Anaheim Stadium at 8 tonight for the Coors Supercross Kickoff to watch favorites Rick Johnson, Broc Glover, Jeff Ward and Johnny O’Mara open the stadium motocross season.

Johnson, a 22-year-old from El Cajon, is the defending Supercross champion. He finished second in the race last year behind David Bailey. He dueled with his Honda teammate for 15 laps as the lead switched eight times.

Johnson will compete, but Bailey is paralyzed in Santa Clara Valley Medical Center after failing to negotiate a double jump at a race in Fresno on Jan. 11.

Johnson is attempting to become the first rider to repeat as the stadium champion since Bob Hannah won three straight titles in 1977-79.

Glover, a six-time national champion for Yamaha, will return after missing most of last year with a broken wrist. He has won three 125cc and three 500cc national titles during his career, but the Supercross title has eluded him.

O’Mara, the 1984 Supercross champion, will make his debut on a Suzuki after previously riding a Honda. He finished last year by winning the prestigious Trophy de Nations in Belgium.

Ward, a Kawasaki factory rider, won the Supercross title in 1985 but slumped last season. He failed to advance to the main event in last year’s race at Anaheim after breaking a throttle cable in his heat race.

The man-made course features a pair of triple jumps that are 75 feet in length where the riders are expected to be catapulted 22 feet into the air.