Throwback Thursday: Motocrossers vs Flat Trackers at Carlsbad (1983)

Larry Lawrence | April 11, 2024

Geboers faces Filice, Boody and Johnson at Superbikers V

In this week’s Throwback we dial the time machine back to November of 1983 and that year’s fifth edition of the ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers race at Carlsbad Raceway in Southern California. This photo shows the start of the Semi-Final and it shows two-time 125cc World Motocross Champion Eric Geboers (No. 4) getting a bit of a wheelie on his Suzuki as he launches off the line next to AMA Grand National flat trackers Jimmy Filice (No. 17) and Ted Boody (No. 12). On the far side of the picture is another motocross racer, Rick Johnson (No. 18). These riders were trying to qualify for the final of the Superbikers competition and the Semi was won by Johnson in a close one over flat tracker Bubba Shobert and Geboers in third. Superbikers was a made-for-TV race at the end of the year that brought together riders from all disciplines of motorcycle racing to face one another on a track that featured motocross, road racing and flat track sections. It was shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and was annually one of the highest rated episodes of the acclaimed sports show.

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