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1990 Mister Motocross series - Dack wins four in a row
1990 MISTER MOTCROSS SERIES - Appin (NSW), Broadford (VIC), TIVOLI (QLD) and Gillman (SA)
Photos: [Left ] The Team Marlboro Yamaha lineup for 1990 – T Williamson, Peter Melton, J Collins, Craig Dack and Ross McWatters; [Top right] Dack wins four Mister Motocross titles in a row , including the final series that year to end the golden era; and [Right] 1989 Mr. MX promotional poster.
Dack joins Gall on four Mr. MX titles in the series' final year
After winning three Mr. MX titles in a row between 1986 and 1988, reigning Champion Craig Dack announced that in 1989 he would move to Europe to compete in the World 250cc Motocross Championship.
This meant that he had no plans to defend his Mr. MX title or go for a record fourth title to join Mr. MX legend Stephen Gall. But as it turned out, as the new season approached it was announced that the series would be abandoned until 1990.
Long-time series sponsor Castrol had a change of heart and cut their sponsorship input substantially. As this decision was late, there wasn’t time left to find a replacement sponsor. Also, Mr. MX promoter Vince Tesoriero was busy with other commitments and didn’t want to slap something together too hasty and damage the series’ reputation.
It’s also worth remembering that with Supercross events popping up everywhere, the focus was firmly towards the 250cc capacity bikes and Mr. MX started losing its appeal when the switch was made from the 500cc class in 1985.
The entirely new generation of spectators to the sport had got used to travelling short distances across town to watch all the razzle-dazzle of a Supercross event under lights, rather than drive many more kilometres to an outdoor motocross. The writing was on the wall for Mr. MX, so Vince Tesoriero called it time. But in 1990, however, Motocross Promotions Queensland, which was run by Jim Shone and John Fenton, purchased the rights to run the series from Vince. This promotion team had been running excellent supercross events over the past four to five years so there was confidence that the Mr. MX series would continue to be a success.
And with Dack finding the cold, wet and muddy European conditions difficult and deciding to return home to vie for his fourth Mr. MX title in 1990, again there was strong interest in the series by spectators across the country.
Castrol came back on board as the major sponsor, with the series to be run over four rounds – Appin (NSW), Broadford (VIC), Tivoli (QLD) and Gillman (SA). A new format was also introduced with each round to be run over 3 x 25 minute + 1 lap races.
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Dack dominates opening round in Appin (NSW)
Yamaha Marlboro rider Craig completely dominated the opening round of the 1990 Mr. MX series at Appin on 13 May 1990, despite bad starts and having to work his way up through the field in each of the three motos.
Dack finished the day with two wins in motos 1 and 2, cruising home to third in the final to comfortably win overall. Lee Hogan (VIC, Kawasaki) was second overall after winning the final moto ahead of Glen Bell (NSW, Honda) and Dack. Bell tied with Hogan for second overall on 47 points, 8 points behind Dack.
American expatriate Eddie Warren was one of the favorites to win the 1990 Mr. MX title having won the 1989 Australian 250 and 500cc Motocross Championships at Acusa Park in South Australia. The reigning Australian 250 and 500cc Champion and National 125cc Supercross Champion was awarded the No.1 plate for the series, but was only able to finish 8th overall on his Kawasaki in the season opener in Appin and score 25 points.
Photo: American Eddie Warren, here Advertising Rat Stars motocross gear, was one of the favourites for the 1990 Mr Motocross series.
The "Dack Attack" opens up handy lead after second round win in Broadford, Victoria
Round 2 in Broadford, Victoria was a dark dismal, cold, wet and foggy day, but the weather had no adverse impact on the “Dack Attack”.
In identical fashion to the opening round, Dack was the overall winner on 55 points, again winning the first two motos and cruising home in third in the final, which was won by New Zealand Champion Shayne King.
American Eddie Warren improved his performance on the day to win all three holeshots and place in the first two motos. He was at the front of the field in each moto, but gradually drifted back outside of the podium positions. Victorian Yamaha rider Andy Hayden rode brilliantly on the day in his home State to finish second overall on 44 points, two points ahead of Glen Bell on 42 points.
Bell moved up into second overall in the series on 84 points, now 12 points up on young Victorian rider Lee Hogan, but Dack edged further ahead in the series lead and was now 26 points behind him.
Photo: After Broadford, Glen Bell (Honda) moved up into second overall, 26 points behind Dack.
Dack scores maximum points in round 3, Tivoli to extend his serties lead further
Round 3 at Tivoli in Queensland was a shootout between the two Yamaha Marlboro Team riders – series leader Craig Dack and hometown hero Peter Melton.
Melton and fellow Queensland riders David Armstong (Honda) and James Deakin (Yamaha) were keen to do well in their home State with Deakin winning the holeshot in Moto 1. But after Deakin crashed Melton assumed the lead with his team mate Dack catching him after 3 laps.
The Yamaha Marlboro riders had a great tussle for several laps before Dack showed his experience and stamina to take the lead, then pull away to win Moto 1 ahead of Melton, with Victorian Steven Andrew in third.
After falling in Moto 1 and finishing outside of the Top 5, Glen Bell won he holeshot in Moto 2 and led the opening laps, until Dack stormed past his archrival.
Well out in front, Dack was cruising until Steven Andrew caught him, then surprisingly took the lead. Andrew then lead for the rest of the race with Dack right behind him and looked likely to cause an upset victory. But right on the finish Line Dack managed to charge past Andrew to win Moto 2, with Bell in third.
For the third time in three rounds, Dack had now won the opening two motos having to charge through the field due to mediocre starts. But at Tivoli, he finally won the holeshot in Moto 3 and would go one to win this race from start to finish, scoring maximum points on the day.
Peter Melton capped off a great day to finish second in Moto 3, and second overall. Glen Bell was third in Moto 3, but just missed out on a podium finish behind Steven Andrew who was the more consistent rider on the day.
Photo: Team Marlboro Yamaha teammates Craig Dack (2) and Peter Melton (3) went 1-2 respectively at Tivoli in Queensland, with Steven Andrew in third.
Andrew wins final Gillman round, as Dack cruises to overall win and historic four Mr. MX titles in a row
Photo: Both Stephen Gall and Craig Dack won four Mr. Motocross titles, with Dack creating history in 1990 to be the first rider to win four in a row – 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 (not held) and 1990.
Andrew wins final Gillman round, as Dack cruises home to historical fourth consecutive Mr. MX title
After Convincingly winning the first three rounds, Craig Dack virtually had the series wrapped up before the final at Gillman in South Australia, leaving it to Glen Bell, Lee Hogan and Steven Andrew to battle it out for the minor placings.
Steven Andrew won the final round in South Australia with two wins and a second, with Dack cruising home in 10th place to win the series and equal Stephen Gall’s four titles. But Dack created some history of his own, being the first and only rider to be crowned Mr. MX four times in a row (1986, ’87, ’88 and ’90, with no series in 1989).
New Zealand rider Daryl King won the final moto to finish second overall at Gillman ahead of Lee Hogan in third.
Glen Bell sixth overall on the day was enough to secure second in the 1990 Mr. MX series, 41 points behind Dack on 187 points. Steven Andrew finished on the podium in third ahead of Hogan and Eddie Warren.
Although the racing was exciting, sadly the same spark for the Mr. MX series was just not there, with the series no longer being financially viable. So as it turned out, 1990 was its swansong with the iconic National motocross series being retired a second time, but this time permanently.
1990 Mister Motocross Final Overall Points
Photo: Four-times Mr. MX winner Craig Dack with Team Marlboro mechanic Ross McWatters.
1. Craig Dack (NSW, Yamaha, 187 points),
2. Glen Bell (NSW, Honda, 146 points),
3. Steven Andrew (VIC, Yamaha, 137 points),
4. Lee Hogan (VIC, Kawasaki, 127 points) and
5. Eddie Warren (USA, Kawasaki, 90 points).
