4. Brad Lackey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg3Vm_b8E2g Brad Lackey was the first really successful American motocross rider, and their first World Champion. One of the real pioneers of American motocross, it was Lackey that launched the first real assault on World Motocross. During the European invasion of the early 70s, Lackey competed in the Trans-AMA series against top World Championship riders. He often finished top American, but what he learned from the European stars was much more valuable. On his entry into the motorcycle hall of fame, Lackey is quoted saying: "The Europeans taught us that we needed to take our training much more seriously and I took that to heart. "From the beginning I knew I wanted to go to Europe and compete against the top riders in the world at that time." He dominated in America and won the AMA 500cc National title in 1972, setting his sights on the World Title. It would take 10 years, various changes of team, and a lot of time developing new machinery. In 1982, after a decade of trying, Lackey would win the 500cc World Championship. He and Danny LaPorte (who won the 250cc world title in 1982) became the first American motocross world champions. Lackey was also not afraid to express his views as a self-confessed hippie, and rode with a dove on his handlebars during the Vietnam conflict. He retired from racing at the end of the 1982 season, ending his career as a World Champion. Brad Lackey was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.