Rich Oliver came very close to not making the final of the 1991 Willow Springs WERA Formula USA race. As the riders were maneuvering their bikes into their grid positions a crew member from another team suddenly jumped backwards right into the path of Oliver. Oliver’s Marlboro/Roberts Yamaha hit the crew member sending him flying. Oliver himself was knocked off his bike. Both Oliver and the crew member were unhurt and quickly to their feet, and the Marlboro crew rushed to the Yamaha which was on its side, to assess the damage. Fortunately for Oliver the bike sustained only a slight bend on the right handlebar. He went on to win the race after a tough battle with Chuck Graves.

Rich Oliver looks on as crew members (including Kenny Roberts himself) run to his Marlboro/Roberts Yamaha after Oliver hit another team's crew member while gridding for the WERA F-USA final at Willow Springs Raceway in 1991. (Larry Lawrence photo)