30/07/2025
BELL BLAZES TO VICTORY AT MOUNTAIN MAN MOTOCROSS!
On this day, 36 years ago, Glen Bell won the Mountain Man Motocross at the spectacular Echo Valley circuit in Toowoomba, Queensland.
On 30 July 1989, the Honda Australia rider from Sydney in New South Wales won the event on a 500cc CR Honda with three wins and a third place, fighting off late challenges from visiting America rider Eddy Warren, who was aboard a 500cc Kawasaki. Marlboro Yamaha rider, the late Peter Melton from Queensland was third.
Warren pushed Bell to the end finishing 2-2-1-2, with “Belly” crashing in Moto 3, but recovering to third place.
Local hero and two-time Mountain Man winner David Armstrong, who that year was Melton’s team mate in the Marlboro Yamaha Team, crashed out of contention on his 490cc Yamaha. Fellow Queenslander James Deakin was the highest 250cc rider, finishing fourth on his Honda CR250.
Since 1975, when Australian Motocross legend Victorian Gary Flood won the inaugural event at the newly built Echo Valley Raceway, the Mountain Man Motocross has become one of Australia’s iconic annual open meetings.
Winning the event is a “career goal” for many leading Australian riders with only six riders able to win the event twice – Stephen Gall (NSW, 1977 and 1982), Pelle Granquist (Sweden, 1978 and 1979), David Armstrong (QLD, 1983 and 1985), Jeff Leisk (WA, 1984 and 1988), Craig Dack (NSW, 1986 and 1987) and Todd Waters (2019 and 2020).
The earlier events were held over three 30-minute moto’s, but when Bell won in 1989, it was over 4 races – with a format adopted similar to the Mister Motocross series - Australia’s most prestigious series from 1974 to 1990.
The Echo Valley circuit is famous for its dramatic, undulating hills and red clay track, making it both a test of skill and endurance for riders.
Run by the Toowoomba Motocross Club, they aptly named the “Mountain Man Motocross” after the course which is on a unique mountain location featuring challenging terrain and incorporating massive hill climbs.
For spectators, there are spectacular viewing spots all around the circuit.
Cont…
View Bell’s story - https://amxhistory.com.au/motocross-legend-bell
AMX HISTORY in assoc. with HOLDEN ON TIGHT, preserving Australian motocross history - www.amxhistory.com.au
Rider album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1422400494988603&type=3
Photos: Honda Australia’s Glen Bell – 1989 Mountain Man winner on his CR500 Honda
