Victorian rider Trevor Flood created history on 29 September 1974, becoming the first rider to win the inaugural Mister Motocross (Mr. MX) series.

Marketing guru Vincent Tesoriero was the driving force for Mr. MX, which would go onto be the Nation’s most prestigious motocross series, even overshadowing the Australian motocross championships at the time.

The first series in 1974 – sponsored by clothing manufacturer Golden Breed – was run over three rounds, with all at Amaroo Park in New South Wales and $5,000 prize money on offer. 

The opening round was held on 9 June, round 2 on 28 July and the final on 29 September.

Each round featured three five-lap heats, run consecutively, and was open to all riders with no capacity limits.  After each heat, riders would return immediately to the start line, quickly have a drink, sponge their racing number plates, then start off again.

Supporting races were also run for riders on 125cc machines, with many of the top riders competing in both classes.

The top unlimited class riders at the time on the east coast who entered the series included Victorians Trevor Flood (Yamaha), his older brother Gary (Bultaco), and Jack Pengelly (Maico).
Three internationals also contested the inaugural series – Malcolm Dearn (England, Husqvarna) and international expatriates Per Klitland (Denmark, Maico) and Hans Applegren (Sweden, Husqvarna).

Heading into the series, Klitland – the 1973 Australian 250c Motocross Champion – was the favourite to win, along with the Flood brothers. 

Trevor Flood was a four-time Australian Motocross Champion in the 250cc and 500cc (twice), winning the Unlimited class at Manjimup (WA) on 2 June – a week before the Mr. MX series got under way.

Brother Gary, who also raced speedway in England, returned to Australia focusing on motocross that year and won both the 250cc and 500cc Australian titles at Manjimup. This took his Australian Championship tally to eight.

Trevor Flood was the overall winner at the very first Mr. MX round at Amaroo Park on 9 June finishing on 28 points, ahead of Englishman Malcom Dearn (22) and Jack Pengelly (17). 

These positions remained unchanged for the rest of the Mr. MX series with Trevor, riding a Yamaha 360, becoming the first to win the Mr. MX crown on 69 points.

British rider Malcom Dearn (Husqvarna) finished second (57 pts), with Jack Pengelly filling the final podium spot (37 pts). 

Per Klitland (Denmark, Husqvarna) finished in fourth (25 points ) – one point ahead of Gary Flood (Bultaco.)

The new Mr. MX series was a hit with everyone and in coming years would continue to grow and become Australia’s most prestigious motocross event.