Moore’s Come From Behind Daytona 250 Grand Prix Podium

• Larry Lawrence

Richard Moore enters a turn on the Lassak Racing Yamaha in the 1989 Daytona 250 Grand Prix final. Moore raced to an excellent podium finish that day at Daytona International Speedway, finishing behind only future world champion John Kocinski and Rich Oliver, who would go on to break every record known to man in AMA 250 Grand Prix racing. Moore got off to a poor start after his bike bogged at the drop of the green flag, but once the motor cleared the racer from Whittier, Calif., started slicing through the field. In 18 laps Moore passed better than 40 riders in one of the all-time great charges through the field in Daytona history.

Richard Moore enters a turn on the Lassak Racing Yamaha in the 1989 Daytona 250 Grand Prix final. Moore raced to an excellent podium finish that day at Daytona International Speedway in spite of being mired at the back of the pack after his bike booged on the start. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Richard Moore enters a turn on the Lassak Racing Yamaha in the 1989 Daytona 250 Grand Prix final. Moore raced to an excellent podium finish that day at Daytona International Speedway in spite of being mired at the back of the pack after his bike booged on the start. (Larry Lawrence photo)

2 thoughts on “Moore’s Come From Behind Daytona 250 Grand Prix Podium”

  1. Thanks for the write up. That race was very special for me in many ways. A few weeks earlier I was at a test ride for the Bimota WSBK team and they gave me the run-around so I was extremely motivated to prove them wrong. Then, after bogging at the start and almost being last, I had nothing to loose. Drafting skills acquired while racing in high winds at Willow Springs really helped me move up and slice through a group dicing for 3rd, consisting of Alan Carter, Thomas Stevens and Danny Coe. They were so busy dicing with each other that they had no idea where I came from. In 2 laps I was through them and taking the checkered flag. I believe Carter tangled with Stevens trying to catch me. My pit signals couldn’t keep up since I came from so far back, so I had no idea what position I was in, except anyone I saw in front of me had to be passed. After the race I was about to enter the garage area when the AMA guys signaled me to the podium. A great team of friends made it possible by helping me so that I could focus on the race. The bike was self sponsored with Lassak heads from the year before and PPS suspension. What a blast…

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  2. Richard,

    I remember the race well. I never noticed your charge until you got up to the Carter/Stevens/Coe group. That’s when the announcers started telling the fans about your drive to the front of the pack. Awesome race. Really one of the best drives through the field ever. Thanks for sharing your memories of it.

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