On 29 November 1981, Australian Motocross Champion Stephen Gall won the Ratshirts Yamaha International Motocross against world-class riders. 

Held at Amaroo Park in New South Wales, the field was packed with international stars, including US legend Broc Glover.

Yamaha rider Glover was joined by fellow-countrymen Jim Gibson (Honda), Suzuki riders Marty Moates and Gary Semics, along with Warren Reid (Kawasaki). The European competitors included Dutch champion Gerard Rond (KTM), Scottish Champion Ron Black and Husqvarna riders Leif Niklasson (Sweden) and Timo Jarvinen (Finland).

Australia’s Top riders included Gall, Anthony Gunter (NSW, Kawasaki), Jeff Leisk (WA, Yamaha), Trevor Williams (VIC, Kawasaki), Vaughan Style (NSW, Honda), Darryl Willoughby (SA, Yamaha) and Peter Carney (VIC, Suzuki).

Three qualifying heats were held with the top rostrum placegetters progressing through to the big 15-lap International final, which was billed as “Supercross”. But it was an outdoor circuit and not like indoor supercross circuits as we know the sport today.

Three American riders won all heats. Semics convincingly beat Gall and Reid in Heat 1, Glover won the second over Niklasson and local Wollongong Suzuki rider M Harris, with Gibson beating home Moates and Robert Bailey (NSW, Suzuki) in the third.

Two semi-finals were also held for others to qualify, with Carney winning the first ahead of Willoughby and Leisk, with Rond beating Style and B. Fleming (Suzuki) in the second.

When the gate dropped in the final, it was Carney who won the holeshot ahead of Leisk. Gall was battling it out with Semics, while Broc Glover was forced to work his way up through the pack after a bad start.

Carney led the first quarter of the race until he was passed by Gall and Semics with the three riders placing 1-2-3 at the finish. 

Although Glover was closing in on the leaders, his day ended when the back wheel on his Yamaha YZ was demolished.

The following day, the top international riders competed in the Rat Shirts International Supercross at the Melbourne Showgrounds, with Glover winning ahead of fellow-countryman Jim Gibson. 

Local rider Trevor Williams put in one of his best supercross performances – finishing on the podium against the top international and national talent.