RON LECHEIN:

Who can forget 16 year-old Ron Lechein charging onto the racing scene in 1983 with Supercross wins at both Orlando and San Diego? Barely old enough to drive a car, Lechein went on to win the AMA?s Rookie of the Year in ?83, and in a professional career spanning nearly a decade, scored countless other victories including a Motocross des Nations in 1988. We caught up with Ron at Maxima Racing Lubricants in Santee, CA to find out where he?s been and where he?s going.

Ron “The Machine” Lechein moved over to Kawasaki in 1986, which paved the way for one of his crowning racing achievements two years later. “I would have to say my proudest moment in racing was winning the Motocross des Nations in 1988.”

Lechein?s final Supercross win as a professional came a year later at Pontiac, MI, but it wasn?t until a visit to Osaka, Japan, nearly five years later that another one of Ron?s great wins occurred. “I had been racing in Europe for a while when I went to Japan to race in a Supercross sponsored by two other bike manufacturers. I showed up on my privateer Kawasaki KX 250 and smoked all the factory riders.”

When asked about the state of MX today Lechein had this to say: “I think Motocross is headed in the right direction. It?s just getting bigger and bigger.”

As for the transition into his post-racing life, Lechein makes no bones about the fact that it hasn?t been easy. “I?ve made some mistakes in the past, but I feel like I finally have my life headed where I want to go.” Ron is a part owner of Maxima Racing Lubricants and when he?s not hard at work still tries to ride as often as possible. “I recently raced in the Vet class at Mammoth Lakes and like to get out on my Jet-Ski as well.” It looks like “The Machine” is still running strong.