Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

LAWWILL TO DEFEND TITLE ~ By Betzel Smith ,.' W1nn1ng more national championship races than any other rider, plus steadY consistency placed the number one plate on Mert Lawwlll's Harley-Davidson for the current campatgn, but the San Francisco rider may find things a blt tougher 10 retaining the number one crown than he had obtaining It. With more races than ever (29 at the present time) a flock of young riders and a number of seasoned veterans, should again make the national championship a long and interest10g chase. . In winning the title last year, Mert f1n1shed in the top five places 1013 of the 25 races held, pi cking UP one second, four thirds and a pair of fourths and fUths to go along with his four visits to the victory circle. Merthas been a steady performer stnca breaking into the experts ranks In 1963. He has finished below ninth only once and that was 10 his rookle year. In the last five seasons he has come in fourth twice, fifth and sixth in the final point standings along with the big number one last year. He has gotten off to a good start for this campaign, having won the Astro-dome short track championship. In all he has won nine nationals and needs only a road race win to become the first rider 10AMAhistory to win a title 10 each category. His strongest weapon appears to be half mile racing where he has won five of his titles · Gene Romero who finished in the number two spot, but 93 po1ots behind Mert falled to win a national, but was 10 the runner-up spot five times and places 10 the top five in 15 of the races. He has a single title, winning the Ltncoln, Nebr. TT 10 1968. Hts efforts maybe hampered Desplte l1mited success 10oval racing, Cal Rayborn has managed to finish 10the number three spot the last twoyears and at various times in these campaigns has led the point race, He is currently the best road racer 10 the country and has won six of the last nine pavement races and is a strong favorite to continue second in a road race both years and also picked up a number two spot 10the Peorla TT race. His best f1n1sh last year 10oval racing was a sixth at the Ascot half mile and a sixth 10 the Nazareth, Pa, mile race. He failed to qual1fy for only one race last year and was not on the starting llne only four times 10 1968. He has improved considerably 10 the oval events and a little more improvement here along with the record seven road races on schedule, Cal could llkely merge as the new grand national champion. He did rank 12th 10 half mile racing 10 1965 in nonnational competition with 11 wins and 21 seconds and was also third that year at Ascot 10 the eight mile race. He appears to be gettin g stronger in all other types of events, so he could sUll push for number 1 without a half mile title • There is lltUe In toe record books that Bart Markel hasn't won. Three tim es the gr and national champion, 26 national wins, 17 half mile championships, s ix TT titles and more top finishes than any other rider in AMA history. Bart has several goals which could be achieved this year, equalllng and passtng Joe Leonard's record of 27 national wins, tieing Carroll Resweber's record of four grand national championships, topping Joe Leonard's record of seven TT wins and llke La wwlll, having a shot at being the first rider to ever win a national 10 each type of racing. He needs only a road race to complete the set. Bart has rmished below seventh only twice 10national points in the last 11 years, and both of these seasons were plagued by injuries. He has come in third once and has equal_ ed last year's fourth place flnish three other times. There is little doubt thathe sUll ranks as the top dirt track rider, but a young crop of riders are begtnning to make things a blt moredlfficultfor the Fllnt, Michigan racer who appeared to 'have a part ownership in half mUe races a few years ago. With nine half miles, six TT's and five miles, all events 10 which he is strong, he shouldn't have too much d1fficulty coming up wlth two more wins. He broke his collarbone 10 the Houston short track, but should be 10 good shape when the busy schedule comes up 10 late April. He has won at least one national every year since 1960 and It's doubtful If he intends to let that string be broken this year. Chuck Palmgren after sitting out a couple of years for Uncle Sam has made a strong bid for the number one spot and is llkely to keep Improving, He was flfth and needs only a TT win to be the first rider to go all the way 10AMAracing. He last year and ninth the previous season. missed that chance 10 1967 when Dick He won his first national last year at Mann passed on the final lap in the Peorla Santa Rosa, CalUornia and then came race. Gary's leg didn't appear too strong back to win the Sacramento, California at Houston, but by spring, should be fully race, both mile tracks. He had a second recovered and 10 good positlon to go after at Reading, behind his brother Larry and his third grand national champtonshlp, U he could convince his brother to qult Mark Brelsford f1n1shed the highestof racing, It might improve his standings. the two top 1968 amateurs by comlng 10 He finished third twice, at Sedalia and eighth place. Mark won the Ascot TT, Columbus, with his brother taking the was second in the 'As trodome TT race number two spot 10 both of these races. and had thirds at both Laconia and the He was in the top ten 16 times, but was . Santa Fe short track. He placed well 10 hurt by lack of road racing points, He was all types of racing and appears to be a fUth at Indianapolis and sevento at strong contender 10 future years. As an Heidelberg, but fal lure to get points 10 amateur he won seven amateur national these big point races 'hurt his chances of and was second in three others. f1n1shing higher. Larry Palmgren wontwo nationals last A former grand national champion, year and finished second twice for his Dick Mann came in sixth place and It best showing the national ctrcult, He appears the only way he will be forced l1mits most of his ractng' to the east from the top will be retirement. Dick has coast half miles and does not TT or do finished below sixth only twice since much road racing other than Daytona. . 1959 and one of those years, he sat out First year expert Jim Rice scored half the season in temporary reitrement. three impressive national wins, the best He has won 16 nationals and l1ke Lawwlll first year recording since Brad Andres and Markel has won nationals in all but won five in 1955 and then went on to win one category, his being a mile race. He the grand national championship 10 his has never won the Daytona race, but has rookie year. Rice is also off to a good f1n1shed second three times and is one of start this year, winning the Astro TT the best all around riders. In addition to ' race and then f1n1shing fourth 10the short his 16 national wins, he has finished track the following night to take over the second 16 t1mes, third 17 times and point lead for thts year. His '69 cham' four th 14 times. Last year he won the Santa Fe short ' pionships came 10 the San Jose half mile, the Sedalia mile race and the Oklahoma track and Peorla on the same weekend City half. His next best finish was a third for his two national wins, was runner-up , at Sacramento. As an amateur 10 ' 68, he at Loulsville and had three thirds and ranked right behind Brelsford with five three fourths. He was narrowly edged amateur national wlns. 'out by Lawwlll at this year'sAstroshort Several new rookies could make things track race and should be back 10 it for a , uncomfortable for some of the veterans bid for the tOp spot. this year, along with the comtng years. Seventh place was Gary Nixon's lowest Dave Aldana equaled Brelsford'S record of finish 10 the last seven years, but is still .seven amateur wins, and DonCastro was a pretty good showlng after sltting out the right behind with six wins. Several other last nine races with a broken leg. He was first year riders expected to make their grand national champion 10 ' 67 and '68 names known lnclude Ken Pressgrove, after f10ishing second and third ln the Keith Mashburn, both of whom won two two previous years. LlkeRayborn, Nixon amateur races• . broke into the expert ranks primarily as With 29. nationals tentatively scheda road racer. He won his fir st national uled, ' thousands of dollars and hundreds at Wlnber In the 50 mUe road race and of championship points available, the then took the Santa Fe short track later 10 the year. ' He has since won 12 more 1970 season should create an interesting , r aces , including the 1967 Daytona 200 race. HAS THE MOST COMfORTABLE SEAT IN THE WORLD - -~--- Because More 'W inners Sit Her. 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