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/125616
By Ed Youngblood Pbotos by Robert Wuchler and Bruce Foster We'ft seen the new motors perform several times th1s spring, but the AMA National at Cumberland, Maryland was the tlrst cbance to see them in keen c:ompetItlOD, pUoted by the national riders. It was a bumbltng experience for Pred1ctlOll makers. After _tch1ng the Palmgrens, Bob Sbolly, and Gene Romero race at Cumberland last season, I would haft predicted a three place Triumpb sweep at tbe National, with a Harley rider doing good to place fourth. You caD't say that tbe Triumph is that much better, but CumberlaDd seemed to have a quality that lent itself well to the 500cc Triumph's band11~ cbaracleristics. Some tracks are Uke that. Lou1sY1lle Downs, for example, 15 a Harley-Davidson track; and a Triumph rider really bas to be 011 the bubble to get around with anytb1ng l1ke the speed an H-D caD turn. Cumber- land looted Uke it was going to complement Louisville by providing a Triumph track for the National Circuit. 'Ibtngs didn't turn out that way. Mert Lawwtll and b1s KR both were in a f1ne state of tune. And Bart Markel also was turning the oval in fine form, as long as be bad motor. Fred Nix doesn' t Uke the bard clay groove of the Eastern tracks, so be chose to race out 111gb where be could do his best sliding. When you cons1der bow much' further be was forcing himself to travel, it is evident that be too was turning good speeds. . Mark Brelsford took a wb1le to get UDder way, but as the afternOClll progressed his performance improved. Any tlrst year Expert should be proud to place in tile mooey against National competitloo. The Triumph riders, as a whole, just didn't come up to what you would expect trom tbe1r extra 15Occs. Eith H-D Racing Engineer Dick 0' Brien bas done spectacular tbtngs with the KR th1s winter, or the old 500CC Triumpb was stI!Jpley bet- 1····································1 · . · . · ~ MOTOCROSS •~ :.~r~FUNan~SAFETY • let AeROS • • CYCLE · Sipup 8-10:30 . : : i MAY 25th i : : : : by Dirt Diggers No. on the Hang-: town course at Placerville, Cal.: Limed from Hwy.SOand Pleasant: Valley Rd. : S Swt 11:00 All AlA ClassesS . ~ V flEE an· For years now it bas been sad to see Mann flogging an old bike that the company wouldn't even provide parts for, much less sPllllSorship. Dick will probably continue to go 011 bts own, but b1s efforts sbould be seriously studied DOW that the factory bas a macb1ne that 15 excellently suited toprofeSsionalrac1ng. Neil Keen seems to have gone over to Triumph, but put him, DOlI Twigg and Dick Mann 011 factory sponsored BSAs, and something is bound to happen. At any rate, the H-D-Triumpb-BSA f1n1sb1ng order at the tlrst ball-mile National should be an ind1cationol~ to come. The summer of 196915 going to be a competitive season on the AMA circuit, and we sbould not be surprised i1 Harley's biggest threat comes trom BSA. Rigbt now it looks Uke the KR st1ll bas too much punch left to be put out to pasture, but the new overbead motor just might be necessary before October rolls around. (Complete results on page 20) ter suited to the Cumberland track. There still may be tuning troubles with the 650, but whatever the reasOll, it just didn't look as good as it should have. Romero is psycbed up tbts year, and going stroog. Chuck Palmgren also looks good. But Gary Nixon simple didn't have it for the NatIonal, and Larry Palmgren too bad an unhappy day wilen you compare it with b1s previous performances at CumberlaDd. BSA 15 going to win some Nationals th1s year. Of that we can be sure. Dick Mann, now that be is on a competltlft machine, 15 making the youngsters take second thoughts about btsageandabillty. He knows more about making a BSA go than even the men at Btrmtngbam, and be still can race with anyone. Put two or three additional competent riders on Mann tuned bikes and there would really be some hair pulltng in Baltimore and Milwaukee. We caD only bope that BSA will t1nal1y get 011 the ball and act like they would Uke to sell a few bikes through racing. _.... Dave Aldana Iuds Robin lIa:1ln II Ibl AlIa.... Fllal. Tblsl eUJs .1 probablY III bast II lba last and WI sL ~~; ~::. BILL ~ KRAUSE-S 11/1/111<1 I U f 1251 s. LA IREA at Cc"t\lf"J • BMW 1I1i1 HaDay : bl9cwood • "'1-0406 • • "".SOlS GREEVES ~~'l:- a of Lonita 40 lIew 1I0lllrC)'clu In stock NlW Sporlslarll .....datl dlllvllY 2212 Pac. Coast Hwy. (n3) 534-5530 • MOTO-BETA nis Space ONLY Wllco. .s You I HARLEY-DAVIDSDN I ~ LARGEST PARTS & ACCESSORIES DEPT. IN THE SOUTHLAND 11"1'1. 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