MOTOCROSS: SUPERCROSS SERIES AT SAN DIEGO : Finish Doesn’t Spoil Johnson’s Farewell

Rick Johnson took a solitary ride on the Camel Supercross Series track in a pre-race ceremony Saturday night, looked into the stands and got a lump in his throat.

Making his final hometown appearance on a 17-city farewell tour, the San Diego native waved.

The 32,862 fans rose to their feet.

A letter from Gov. Pete Wilson--congratulating Johnson for his contribution to motocross--was read over the San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium public address system.

When Johnson got off his 250-cc Honda, he took the microphone and addressed the fans who have supported him during a 10-year career in which he has won seven National Motocross Championships.

“I kind of had a speech planned, but I’m kind of at a loss for words,” he said.

Johnson was eighth in the Coors Light Challenge, his best finish of the year. The winner of the 20-lap main event was series points leader Jean-Michel Bayle, who won his third race of the season and $10,000. It was Honda’s fifth victory in five races. Teammate Jeff Stanton was second and Kawasaki’s Jeff Matiasevich was third.

Bayle benefited from Stanton’s misfortune. Stanton led the first 13 laps, then couldn’t handle a hairpin turn coming out of the finish jump.

“One little mistake,” Stanton said. “You don’t win races by making mistakes.”

Johnson was equally disappointed.

“It was hard to be out there not putting up a fight,” he said. “I was out there in no-man’s land. No one was in front of me or behind me.

“I don’t know what I’m doing wrong in my preparation, but I’m not working with the bike. I’m fighting against it.”

An auto racing career awaits Johnson, whose career has been cut short by a wrist injury he suffered in 1989.