Johnson Is Seeking a First--His Third Coliseum Win

Rick Johnson of El Cajon will try to become the first three-time Coliseum motocross winner when he competes in the Coors Super Crown of Stadium Motocross at 7:30 tonight.

Johnson, 23, has already clinched the American Motorcyclist Assn.’s Supercross series for stadium racing with 9 victories in 11 starts and finished second in the two events that he didn’t win.

Johnson has won two Supercross titles since joining Honda in 1986. Jeff Ward, a Kawasaki factory rider, figures to be Johnson’s top competition on the man-made course that features a double jump off twin runs up the peristyle end of the Coliseum.

Ron Lechien, another Kawasaki rider, is the only other racer to have won a stadium race this season. Johnson and Ward have dominated motocross to the extent that many think their success is hurting the sport.

“It’s not a healthy situation with Rick and Jeff winning all the time,” said Ken Clark, Yamaha team manager. “People are getting bored with them winning all the time, and I don’t think that’s going to change for a while.

“The one thing that separates those two from all the other riders is self-confidence. Watch Rick Johnson. He doesn’t have the fastest bike out on the track, but both himself and his bike are running at the peak of performance at all times.”

Ward won the 1987 Supercross title and has a victory, seven runner-up finishes and two third-place efforts in the series this season. Ward won the Coliseum race in 1984.

Tonight’s event also features 125cc-class racing. Jeff Matiasevich of La Habra Heights has a big lead over Mike Kiedirowski of Canyon Country in the series, but Matiasevich will miss the race with a broken leg.