j.·~·t+~~~.t~~~
16,000 people watched the team's contlnenial Europe debut at Jonzac, France (down the road from Caenac). That's John DeSoto there.
The big thing was that the boys rode
exceptionally well despite awful conditions at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Three five-lap qualifying "time
trials" motos were run on Saturday,
contalning 16 riders each, to race for
starting positions in the big 250cc World
Championship points race Sunday. John
DeSoto was running second on his Montesa, passing Arthur Browning (works
Greeves) when he did a big endo. The
bike hit a spectator who took 108 stitches for the wound. DeSoto's back was one
big strawberry from neck to bottom and
it was predicted he wouldn't be able to
ride Sunday. But the predictors underestimated John DeSoto.
Ron Nelson rode fast and smooth to
flnlsh the heat 6th or 7th (the Spaniards
are not awfully precise).
Spirits UP, the team was over the
trauma of foreign travel. They knew the
ropes, thanks to the help of Team Manager Hoppy Hopkins, who had been all
through it before. They knew how to get
passed by suspicious border guards and
how to dicker with promoters and not
get shafted.
Racing over there is something else.
The boys are accustomed by now to the
kind and length at European Grand Prix
motocross races. They stul have much
Two Champions, apposite styles an 3rd gear Jump at Jannc. Nelson (left) Is the fa.t smooth
one, DeSoto (rlcht) Is f1ashy·fast.
-
Lined up at Janzac, no. I Is Chrlslaf Specht, German, an a worlts Malco. Ran Is number 2, John
3. Next to John Is Arthyr Harris of England.
to learn, but they are not letting their
inexperience affect their throttle hands.
"The Americans might learn more,"
said English ACU rep Harold Taylor,
"if they would use a little less throttle."
Sour grapes.
"By the end of the season," reckons
Hopkins, "!tSm and John will be a threat.
Photos by H. Hopkins and Carol Nelson ~
(Continued on page 14)
John leads Ran sllghUy In a mota at the Ringwood, England Hants Grand National. Though
styles are dramatically different, the bays are equally fas!.
