Kent Howerton started the freestyle craze

The more things change...the more they stay the same.  Maybe Kent Howerton was 25 years early, but there's no doubt in my mind that in this shot, he's attempting to set up for a 360 degree flip! Just check out the body English and front end correction and I'm sure you can agree he's ready to blip the throttle and pull back hard...

OK, maybe I do live in a dream world, but in its day, the top factory riders were super heroes.  We loved it when they'd "get air" and it was just as exciting then, as  what is produced now. Bottom line, these guys generated great racing (better racing than today?) and packed in crowds all over the USA. I am proud to have been part of that wonderful era in the sport.