On 26 June 1988, Jeff Leisk won the second moto of the World 500cc Motocross Championships at Hollister in the United States and finished third overall to secure a podium finish in his first Grand Prix.

Leisk from Perth in Western Australia, placed 6-1 in Round 7 of the World 500cc Motocross Championship to finish third overall behind reigning world champion Eric Geboers (Belgium, Honda) and Dave Thorpe (UK, Honda).

Leisk was competing in the US at the time and given the opportunity to compete against the world’s elite riders in the premier 500cc class aboard a factory Honda. And he grabbed the opportunity with both hands!

His performance, enabled him to secure a lucrative contract with the Honda Factory Team for the 1989 500cc World Championships.
Geboers overall victory at Hollister was the first time in five years that the Americans were beaten on home soil. The Belgium was the most consistent rider on the day with a 3-2 finish.

Great Britain’s Dave Thorpe won the first moto and placed 1-5 to finish second overall, just ahead of Leisk in third (6-1).

The highest placed Americans on the day were US legends and Yamaha riders Broc Glover and Jeff Stanton.

Glover won the holeshot in Moto 2 and, after dropping his bike about 20 minutes into the race, Leisk was able to bridge the gap and overtake him to win, with Geboers also passing Glover at the finish.

That year Geboers went onto secure-back-to-back world championships, with Thorpe and Leisk finishing 1-2 in 1989.