How a Desert Kid Nobody Knew Dethroned Motocross's Golden Boy | 1976 Yamaha YZ125

Classic Motorcycle

In the summer of 1975, you could buy a 1976 Yamaha YZ125 — a flawed little air-cooled 125cc motocross bike with wimpy forks and a motor the magazines said needed work. Nobody called it a giant-killer. Then a desert kid named Bob Hannah threw a leg over one at Hangtown, passed 21 riders in a single c