Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125532
~ Q., 10 the second moto, Bickers again took an early lead. Hallman again passed him and took over, but Bickers stayed close behind and manaced to regain the lead as be shot passed Hallman in a The IntematioD&1 3)0 ao Sweden's Ake JObnSSOD grabbed the lead as the flag drOPped, and the ftrst beat of the international moto cross was ~ UDderway. Hallman trailed his team- _ a;" ~ "" ~ > :lE ~ r.:l ~ r.:l .,J ~ Co) mate for a whlle, but powered past to take the win. Jobnsson beld down second place and pushed very bard on the last laPs, but be was unable to overcome the star of the Husky team. Gary Conrad on a Greeves was really flying to bold down tbird spot bebind Jobnsson. Joel Robert took a nasty spill at the start of the second beat. He wasn't injured seriously, but it was announced that be would be unable to ride the remainder of Saturday and Sunday. Preston Petty moved out in tront, and be and the new Suzuki literaily new aroUDd the course. Petty beld the lead for three laPs, but Hopelown's 360cc cbampion Roger DeCoster zipped passed bim and took over front spot. Soon atter this, Petty experienced fork trouble and bad to drop out. Bickers, who bad stopped to check on Robert, came all the way trom the back of the pack to finisb second. Tbe first of the two motos went to Dave Bickers. Bickers displayed tremendous style as be led all the way with Hallman and Jobnsson dicing it out bebind bim. World champion Hallman captured the final moto with team mate Jobnsson taking second and Bickers third. Since Hallman was second to Bickers in the first moto, and Bickers only managed third in the second race, the 250Cc win went to Hallman. Bickers was second] Johnsson third and Montesa-moWlted Dusty Coppage was the first American in for fourth spot. mudbole. From here on, it was Bickers' moto all the way. TIle third and final mote belonged to England's Lave Bickers trom the very start. Hallman followed a close second but was never able to get by. Russ Robinson and Ron Nelson both fougbt bard all the way and did fine jobs of finisbing third and fourth in the series. Bickers took the 500cc win with Hallman placing second. Robinson, riding a BSA Victor out of lrv Seavers' Santa Ana store, won the Cycle News trophy for highest placing American• There were only two sportsman events on Sunday, and the first to plow through the mud was the combined 350-500cc class. They ran atter the first of the three international motos while the rain was still coming down. Gary Bailey and bis Greeves shot into the lead, and as they topped the first bill, biRes skidded in every direction and downed riders were everywhere. Bailey laPped severa! at this point before they could g;et tbeir mud covered bikes going again. He widened bis lead througbout the race and was never challenged. Husky mounted Allen Gibbs was second past the cbeckered nag, and third overall Lon Peterson was the 350Cc winner on a Malco. 1 o Back (or More•••in tile Mud SWlday'S 500cc moto cross consisted of three motos with no qualitYlng beats. It was the first event of the day, and as the race started, so did the rain. Robert, who bad been burt in the crasbsaturday, decided be would ride atter all because be didn't want to dissappoint the spectators. He was still in no shape to ride, and bad trouble keeping up the pace. Bickers grabbed an early lead in the ftrst moto, and Hallman was bot on bis heels. They set an UDbelievable fast pace in the beavy rain. Hallman pushed bard and finally found bis chance to zip past Bickers and take the win. Abo...: lOOcc Amateur-Experts worlline lIIe turDS at the Melolne of tile race. Below: Torsten Hallman displays his Jump s\JI., willie Left Joel Robert shows lIIe way up.