** Here's a good read on the first bike that tried to be claimed. It was at the 1976 125 Pro National.
Mickey Boone files a claim on Bob Hannah’s OW27 at Red Bud
** Fifteen minutes after Bob Hannah had won the second moto, AMA ref Chuck McCall walked over to the Yamaha pit area and impounded Bob’s winning number 39 works Yamaha. What had been feared in motocross and has happened in other types of motorcycle racing, was finally taking place. According to the AMA rules, any rider in the race can claim any other rider’s bike that was in the same race. The going price for a 125cc motocrosser is $2500.00. The rider who made the claim was Mickey Boone. Boone was of the opinion that he, as well as many other independent riders, could compete with the factory riders if they had equal equipment.
** Two minutes before the 30-minute claiming period ended. Bob Hannah ran up and put in his own claim on the works Yamaha. “That’s my bike!” exclaimed Bob. “It’s set up just right for me. No one else could ride it and I don’t want to see it destroyed!” The apprehension clouded his face which was still dirty from the race.
** Chuck McCall placed the numbers used for drawing starting positions in a coffee can and then held it in his hand over his head. Both Mickey and Bob would draw numbers. The rider who drew the highest number would win the bike. Mickey drew first, number 42. Next was Bob’s turn. Bob drew number 47. Bob Hannah had just avoided a major disaster in his so far perfect season.
** Dave Arnold:
** It has been many years but it would be reasonable to think that from Honda's side, as bad as our start to this season had been up to this point, there was hopes that Bob's bike getting claimed could possibly play into our favor.* It could have disrupted Yamaha's momentum in some way but the reality soon set in that by the next race, all factories were going to compromise their efforts to win races or even championships rather than risk losing one of their treasured works bikes and related technology.* Marty and I were instructed by Honda that we were to race on production equipment starting at the very next race in Midland Michigan until Honda came to a better understanding of how best to deal with this situation.
* In retrospect, the filing of that claim for Bob's works Yamaha dealt Honda and Marty another blow that would make winning this 125 National Championship much more difficult not easier. Hannah's works bike almost getting claimed at Buchannan Michigan was a huge wake up call for all the factories.
** Bill Buchka:
** When Mickey Boone filed a claim on our bike, we were caught completely off guard. Nobody ever anticipated that rule to ever be exercised. The thought was that every privateer wanted to get a spot on a works team. If anybody filed a claim on a works bike, they would forever alienate themselves from getting a spot on a works team. When we got notice we really had to scramble to come up with the $2500.00 to enter a counter claim on the bike. So all of us at Yamaha, the riders, mechanics, the team manager and the engineer, pooled in our travelers checks, pocket change, anything to come up with the money. Then there was a drawing where the one that picked the highest number out of a hat got to keep the motorcycle. Bob won.