Today in motorcycle history, February 6, 1977

 

 

  French stunt man Alain Prieur leaped over 16 buses in Monthery, France on February 6, 1977 riding a 1976 Yamaha YZ400 motocross bike.  It was declared a new distance record at 195 feet.

  At that time Bob Gill of St. Petersburg, Florida held the old record of 171 feet.  Gill established the record in 1973 in Seattle, Washington.  Gill's attempt at the 200 foot distance ended in tragedy in August of 1974 when he crashed attempting to jump the Appalachia Lake near Bruceton Mill, West Virginia.

 

  Before you get your panties in a bunch cryin', "What about Evel?!  I bet he did three times that, man!"  Evel Knievel's career best was 141 feet at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas in 1967.