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/125621
America's Ironman of motocross, Gary Balley, made a clean sweep of the California Molo-Sport Club's Golden State Series at the Motorcycle Circus. Bailey's perfect 36 point score earned him a trip to England and a chance to compete with Europe's top riders in their own back yard. Tall, tbln Balley went into the sixth and final event of the series with a one point lead over Junior rider Paul Harber from Las Vegas. A second for Gary and a first for Paul would have tied the series up again so for Gary it was do or die, Bailey was riding two classes, and when the flag dropped in the first leg of the 250cc senior event, he had to come from behind to take over the lead from Montesa mounted Tim Hart. Hart set a fast pace, but once in front, it appeared that it would be Balley all the way. Then Gary pulled one of those supeJ: booboos, Ran out of gas on the last lap! Husky mounted Bill Silverthorn, who had worked his way up from the back of the pack zapped by and took the win. What a way to start the day for Balley! Bailey then brought his Nick NicholSOIl-sponsored Greeves Griffon in first in the first 500cc seDlor moto, but in the second chase, Jim Wilson slipped past him to take the lead on another Nlcholson-,sponsored Greeves. Gary just followed Jim around apparently content to be second, Balley's brain becomes a motocross point computer when he races 'and he knew very'well that Jim had only flnlshed fourth in the first moto. Th1s meant that he could f1n1sh second behind him in the last two legs and st1ll win By John Shedd .... .... ~ Q" BAILEY'S BRITAIN BOUND! the class. Bill Silverthorn went on to win the 250cc seDlor class with Balley second and Tim Hart finishing third. His second place f1n1sh would tie him with Harber If the Las Vegas teenager won his class, A second in the last moto of the big bike class would give him the win and the much needed six points to make him the Golden State Series chamP. When Stu Peters' green starting flag streaked tbrougb the cool Carlsbad breeze it was the Compton Comet, Gary Bailey, out in front and moving on, Wilson was closer than Balley's own shadow every lap, and when Gary wheelied past the checkered flag lie was still snapping a.t his heels. (Results on page 20) .: _-_- .. - •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ •••••• J' ••••••••••••••••••••••J'~ * -.-••• - _ ROAD RACE Orange Co. International Raceway June 1,1969 115cc Grand Prix Class 1st Stan smith - Bridgestone TT SCRAMBLES * * ,;~ Huntington Beacll TT - 5/25/69 lOOcc Main lst Gary Welis - Bridgestone 115cc Class 1st Gary Wells - Bridgestone fOR THE NAME Of YOUR NEAREST DEALER SO. CAL. McCULLOCH DIST. INC. (213) 772·210' NO. CAL. COAST McCULLOCH (415) UN 3·5520 ~ -..-. -.-.-. - -.............................•...- -.-.". -. " " " .. '\, ", '\. '\ '\,