The following is a press release from Carlsbad USGP: 1980…The world premiere of The Motocross Files Todd Huffman’s seminal documentary covering the first American win of the United States Grand Prix of Motocross is fast approaching! Set for June 22nd debut in San Diego and Houston will be the premiere of an epic film documentary Carlsbad USGP: 1980 – One Day Of Magic ( www.carlsbadusgpmovie.com) exactly 30 years to the day that a relatively unknown local San Diego racer Marty Moates beat the world’s best motocross racers. Coinciding with the AMA National MX series returning to the Thunder Valley Motocross facility in Lakewood, Colorado, a third movie premiere will be held at the Landmark Mayan Theatre Thursday, June 24th hosted by Chuck Sun… the second American to ever win the USGP in 1981.
Speaking of former USGP winners, the movie premiere promises to be a star-studded gala at the historic 1912 Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego. Look for local racing legends like Broc Glover (the 1984 USGP winner) and Ricky Johnson (the last American to win a USGP in 1986) to grace the red carpet. In fact, San Diego county residents may have heard RJ’s radio spots on 102.1 FM KPRi announcing his support and participation in the Tuesday night extravaganza. Just a heads up for the paparazzi: The VIPs, heroes and legends will also be headed to the Side Bar for a post-premiere party.
Look for a retrospective of the late Marty Moates in an upcoming issue of Motorcyclist magazine. Executive editor Tim Carrithers has been tracking down all the details of Marty’s epic ride that day in Carlsbad, as well as Moates’ career highlights. “Everyone loves a good story, especially when it involves an underdog like Marty whose ‘One Day of Magic’ at Carlsbad before a huge ABC Wide World Of Sports audience shed a positive light worldwide,” notes Scott Cox, who is co-promoting the premiere.
Late word is that noted motorcycle fine artist Rob Kinsey is flying in from his studio in the U.K. to present a couple of unique art pieces at the San Diego premiere. “I will have 15 limited edition giclee prints of the ‘Marty Moates LOP Yamaha 1980 USGP Winner, Carlsbad Raceway’ action painting on heavyweight Hanemuhle acid-free art paper, plus the last three copies of Marty’s portrait and two artist’s proofs of that portrait,” says Kinsey. The prints are $75 each, supplied in a sturdy cardboard tube and signed by Kinsey, each with its own certificate of authenticity. For Kinsey’s complete bio and a look at his other MX-inspired artwork, click on www.robkinsey.com.
To view the trailer and get information on the premiere, visit www.carlsbadusgpmovie.com.Carlsbad USGP Historical Profile:
Until that fateful day in June 1980, the FIM 500cc United States Grand Prix at Carlsbad had been dominated by European racers. “The princes of the sport,” as ABC Wide World of Sports announcer Jim Lampley called them at the time had reigned supreme in the nine years that the race had been promoted by Gavin Trippe and his partner Bruce Cox.In fact, Dutchman Gerrit Wolsink won the USGP at Carlsbad an astounding five times himself. The dried clay of Carlsbad’s “blue groove” track became known as “The Rock” as it continued to crush America’s best riders. In 1977, American Jim Pomeroy made history in Carlsbad by becoming the first American to win a moto at Carlsbad. However a crash in the first turn of the second moto prevented an American from winning the overall and again handing a victory to “The Dentist”. It would be another three years before an American would be in contention for the Carlsbad crown.
In the summer of 1980, two men were battling it out for the 500cc World Championship: American “Bad Brad” Lackey and Belgium’s Andre Malherbe. As the series headed from Europe to California, most fans were betting on Northern Californian Lackey who had been flying the U.S. flag solo on the GP circuit for eight long years. However on that hot Sunday in June, it was not Lackey or even one of the regulars on the GP circuit that leaped to the front of the first moto. It was not even one of the established Factory American riders ready to make a name for themselves by leading the world’s best for a couple laps at least.Instead of one of the heroes or legends, it was local privateer Marty Moates who grabbed the holeshot. Marty not only led the first moto, he overcame crashes and passed the Euros to win the second moto as well! A virtual unknown he had finally accomplished what no other American rider before him could over the previous decade… win the Carlsbad USGP! And ABC’s Wide World of Sports’ cameras were rolling all the while.
