The first American to win an FIM Motocross World Championship, “Bad” Brad Lackey. A legend on both sides of the Atlantic, and one of the coolest riders to grace our sport. It’s been more than 30 years since he won USA their first world title, and more than 40 years since he made his GP debut as a 17 year old kid. He knows a little about travelling Europe with the hope of a nation on his shoulders, the strange food, language barrier and the tough GP culture.

We gave Lackey a call back in 2015, and he was kind enough to give us his thoughts on the whole Ryan Villopoto to Europe thing. It was just a few weeks before the first GP or the 2015 season, and the whole world was awaiting to see could defending world champ Antonio Cairoli keep the American at bay? Here is what Brad Lackey thought back in 2015.

Brad, thanks for your time. First question, what did you think when you first heard last year that Villopoto was going to the MXGP series?

I didn’t expect it, you never expect one of the top guys to give up the money and glory in America to go to Europe. As an end of career thing, and from what I read he was either going to retire or do the GPs, I think that is a good thing, makes more sense. Why wouldn’t you want to be AMA Supercross champ, AMA Motocross champ and FIM World Champ, put the icing on the cake I would think. That is what I would do it I had a shot with it.

Is it a smart move?

I think it’s a smart move, and he only has opposition from one guy and if Cairoli wants to win 9, 10 or 11 championships then he has competition, but if Cairoli is happy with eight, then he doesn’t have any competition. 

You came to Europe as a 17 year old, in a very different era to what Europe is now. How do you think he will do, being an America travelling the world?

We are talking about decades of Europe evolving, I mean when I went there I was living in an Eastern-block country, nobody spoke English, there was food you have never seen in your life, the only consistency was beer, not even the water was the same, but those days are long over. It’s not going to be anything like that for Villopoto. There are McDonalds on every corner a petrol station on every corner, the only difference is Europe has a better culture and better food now. So it’s not the same as when I went there, it’s a different world and I went by myself, while he works for Monster Energy who sponsor the series over there, so he will be taken care of in every single situation. It won’t be tough for him at all, I wish I could say it is going to be terrible and difficult, but it won’t. 

We saw after your world championship in 1982 many young American riders followed you, names like Glover, Liles, Chandler, Healey, Schmit, Parker, Moore, Vohland and many others. That has died of a little of late, and we haven’t really had a lot of American riders racing GP. Do you think with a little success from Villopoto that we might see that change and more young Americans might give it a go again?

It depends on how it is portrayed in the media in America. The GPs have been on the television over here, unfortunately not a lot of people watched it because we didn’t really have a rider to follow, we didn’t really know the majority of riders, but now, if it’s on television again in 2015 a lot of people will be interested. It will bring a lot of interest to the sport and GPs and get a lot of stuff going, and there is a chance if a rider can’t get what he wants in America, he will go to Europe, now that has been happening anyway, but that might increase if Villopoto does well. 

I know you love Europe and have been coming back a lot in recent years. Will we see you in 2015?

Actually I am coming to the Belgian Grand Prix to watch Villopoto. You know when I raced we never got to do much sightseeing to see the great sights and the great countries. We would just get into the motorhome and drive to the races. Europe has so many beautiful cities and countryside. We will take a river cruise and go through Belgium, and maybe do some reporting for some US magazines. A first-hand view of what is happening. We go to Italy every year for a race and I am the team manager for that and we did that the last three years and we have a lot of friends to see. 

I know as I get older reminiscing about the past is something I really enjoy. I imagine it’s the same for everyone who is getting older. Do you enjoy visiting places you once visited as a 17 year old? What is the rest of your plan for the trip to Europe?

Like I said, we will do the river cruise, see a lot of friends in Belgium and also go to Prague and we have a lot of friends there. I was last in Prague in 2000 and I have a lot of old friends from the CZ factory, my old mechanic from CZ and his son, who is now the head of chain division of CZ now and last I saw him he was baby. You get to see old racers like Falta and Stodulka, some of the Czech guys. Team managers from the old team and it’s nice to have a drink with these guys and talk about being there as a 17 year old kid, its good fun. 

I know he probably doesn’t need advice, but what advice would you as an American who raced in Europe be to Villopoto?

That’s a good question, he is plenty fast enough, very experienced, determined, and he is in great shape. The GPs are longer now, the season I mean, more races than when we did it. The only real advice I would give is that a point is a point and you never give up a point, even if it’s for first place or 20th place. If you fall down or your bike does something then don’t give up. I’ve seen a lot of championships won by a single point. 

If you were a betting man and you had to make a bet on who wins the championship, how is your money on?

You know I have only seen Cairoli race live once, and I have seen him race on television. There are guys coming through now making it tougher for him, but for a long time he was clearly the head of the pack and still he is the guy, you don’t win 8 world championships unless you are the best. If I could get into his head and see if he wants to win more championships than Stefan Everts, then I would maybe pick him, if he doesn’t care about that I won’t pick him. If he is motivated, and his goal is 11 world championship and he know the tracks, he is European and has been there his whole life, plus he knows this is his chance to beat Villopoto, then he is going to be hard to beat. In saying that Villopoto only has to do it once, so that makes it easier and if I had to bet the house, and I am a betting guy, then it’s a hard call. After Lommel I will tell you. 

Last question. How much are you looking forward to the 2015 MXGP season?

I am really happy to see him going over there and I think it’s great for the GP’s and I hope they both stay safe and we get the season we are all hoping for. Let’s see is a world motocross championship is better than an AMA Supercross champion