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Ron Lechien interview - Motocross Illustrated Feature
Interview Wednesday 22th March 2011 By Geoff Meyer
At 44 years of age Ron Lechien is at peace with himself. The one time wild child of American Motocross has made the long road to adulthood and despite a misjudged youth the former Motocross des Nations victor and multiple AMA Supercross and Motocross main event winner can look back on a career of success and huge support from the Motocross community.
Throughout the 80's, Lechien's fluid effortless style set him apart from the rest of the riders. To this day, Lechien remains one of the most naturally gifted riders the sport has ever seen. With 25 combined SX and MX national wins, two USGPs and one MXDN win, Lechien has a permanent place in MX history as one of the top-20 most successful riders of all time. We caught up with Lechien last week and he gave us some information on his USGP racing career and his MXoN victories.
Motocross Illustrated: Ron thanks for your time. You were pretty much known as a wild guy back in your racing career. What happened there?
Lechien: My father was pretty strict and when I was young it was all racing, racing, racing. Once I was old enough to leave home I was gone, bought my own place and pretty much started having fun. I lost track, got caught up with the wrong people. First it was just smoking a bit of weed, once a week, then twice a week, then every day, then I would try something else. The people I got in contact with knew people who had other stuff. I mean I was trying to give it everything I had as a racer, but I know I wasn’t going to the races 100% ready to race.
Motocross Illustrated: What did you remember about your racing hero’s back in the day?
Lechien: When I was young I used to read about Roger De Coster and the Grand Prix riders. I mean he was obviously the man and to ride for him at Honda and also at the Motocross des Nations in 1988 was a big deal for me. He was a good team manager and really nice person. Obviously my big hero’s were American guys, like Marty Smith, Bob Hannah, Tony Distefano, Jimmy Weinert.
Motocross Illustrated: What was your first recollection of racing in the USGP?
Lechien: I remember my first ever Grand Prix, it was in 1984 and it was at Unadilla. Now Unadilla wasn’t like anything I had raced, as you probably know the circuit was covered in grass and once the grass wore away it was rocky and hard. I won the 250cc USGP in 1984 and also rode the support race for the 500cc USGP in 1984, which was at Carlsbad. The following year I went back to Carlsbad for the 500cc Grand Prix, and I did the Grand Prix there also in 1986 and 87, then the GP moved to Hollister in 1988 and I got to win that one at Hollister in 1989. I also rode the USGP at Glen Helen in 1992, but I was just a privateer then and not really on my game anymore, I think I got 13th or 14th or something.
Motocross Illustrated: Was there a GP rider you liked, somebody who you look up to in your racing career?
Lechien: I mean I always looked at Dave Thorpe, his gear always looked good and his style was clean. When I would get the Motocross Action and see his photos with his number one plate and his factory Honda with his AXO gear, I really enjoyed that.
Motocross Illustrated: Can you remember which GP riders you battled when you won in 84?
Lechien: I mean I can’t really remember which GP riders were at that first Grand Prix in 1984; I went 2-1 for the win (Lechien won with 2-1, second was Bob Hannah with 3-2, and third was Mark Barnett with 1-5, in fact American riders dominated the top five). I usually raced the 500 guys and I knew who they were, riders like Dave Thorpe and Eric Geboers.
Motocross Illustrated: The Motocross of Nations, that was always a big event for America. You got to ride for Team USA in 1985 and 1988. I remember that 88 event in Villars sous Ecot in France and it was a big performance from you.
Lechien: Yes, I rode well there. I remember the huge crowd and fighting with Jeff Leisk. I had ridden against Leisk before and I felt I had his number. Funny I was talking to J.M.Bayle about that race just last week at a JT launch. He did really well on the 125 machine and I remember hearing him behind me in that race, that buzzing sound of the 125. He told me that Honda put some extra parts on the bike for that race, parts they didn’t dare use during the season and it made a big difference. You know at this year’s MXdN I will probably be travelling over with J.M.B for a special JT launch. I am looking forward to that; I had a lot of fans in France.
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