South Australian rider Darryl Willoughby was one of Australia’s top Motocross riders in the late 1970s and early eighties.

Willoughby spent the early months of 1977 in America, racing with the FMF (Flying Machine Factory) team and honing his skills.  

The US trip was a big success and he returned home a much fitter and faster rider convincingly winning the Australian 125cc Championship in his home State. Riding a Honda, Willoughby won both legs of the 125 titles at the Acusa Park circuit in Adelaide, taking the crown ahead of Neville Cutts (WA, Suzuki) and kamikaze-style youngster Mark Pace (NSW, Honda).

Later in the year, the Hamilton Motor Cycle Club in New Zealand staged an Australia versus New Zealand teat match in NZ and Willoughby was a member of the Australian team on a Honda 125. The Australians were soundly beaten, but it was a great experience.

On his day Willoughby was capable of beating the Nation’s best and had his most successful season in 1982 riding a Yamaha. That year Willoughby finished second to Stephen Gall (NSW, Yamaha) in the prestigious Mr Motocross series and ahead of up and coming rider Jeff Leisk (WA, Yamaha) in third.

He was the 1982 Runner-up Australian 250cc Champion at Toowoomba in Queensland, narrowly missing out on a place in the 500cc class – winning the second leg ahead of overall winner Jeff Leisk.

But one of Willoughby’s greatest achievements came in 1983 when he won the 1983 Manjimup 15000 International motocross spectacular at Manjimup in Western Australia, ahead of a star-studded line-up of riders.

Willoughby was also a top Supercross rider. At the 1980 Sydney Supercross – one of the country’s first indoor stadium events – he finished fourth behind visiting US riders Rex Staten and Marty Smith and Stephen Gall in third.

Without doubt, Willoughby is one of the best motocross riders to come out of South Australia, winning multiple SA State Championships.