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/125670
- ~ ... !II 8:. ~ r.l :i!:: r.l -J to) G We· arrived In Barcelona on Sat. the 11th and set up camp. The weather was hot and sunny. We dld practice and had time trlals for start positions. The track was something like California. On Sunday, the day of the race, they had a huge gala presentation consisting of a band, girls carrying the flag, flreworks and the whole thing. I received good applause when they announced me as the American competitor. At the start of the race I got caught in a start crash at the first h1ll, and had to go back down for another try. I was 31st on the first Iap, I was on good form and I worked my way up toward the potnts, I got to 14th before the half way mark. I started dlclng with Karl Konecny of Czechoslovakia (#5 In the world last year) and made a bid to pass on the main straight. I took a different line than everyone else and hit a bump which I couldn't see In the dust. I was full out In 4th gear trying to pass and I did a REAL endol Completely over. The flrst part of the bike to touch ground was the tip of the rear fender I The handlebars caught me In the stomach and then ' we parted company and went tumbling In different directions. I rolled to one side and the Husky was In the track. About 12 medics Alter my crash one 'Spani ard gave me a wine skin to drink lrom and a little boy was the hardest I've ever come off by a long way." steak dinner In Avignon near an ancient came to my aid but nothing was damaged castle. . badly except my bike. I took all the skin On Thursday the 16th we moved our off my ass and back and bruised my two caravans to the race track site at stomach but that Is all. My Daytona helPernes-les-Fontaines, just 25 KM away. met saved me from real damaged. While I practiced In the evening for 11 laps. I was resting one Spaniard gave me a The next day I practiced off and on all wine skin to drink from and one llttle day. Changed gearing from 11 counter boy ran and got my autograph, Hal It was shaft to 12 because the track was very the hardest I've ever come off by a fast. long way. The track Is fast, narrow in many I dld not attempt the second race beplaces, dusty, rocky, and not very fun. cause of: fear, hurt, and bent frame on The start gate Is metal and permanently . the Husky. I feel I may have been able to set In concrete. In fact the whole course score had I not fallen. I am in good form is permanent, ' bleachers, toilets and on the 25OCc. We left after the ill-fated Spanish everythlng. On Saturday the 18th was offlc1a1 round and camped In Avignon, France practice and time tr1a1s. We qua11fied for three days while I recovered from for start posltlon. On Sunday they had a my fall. My father and I repaired the bike huge presentation with mounted guards during the week. Cheri and 1 celebrated . carrying the flags. In the..first race of our third weddlng anniversary with a ran out and got my autograph. Hal It 45 minutes, plus 2 laps, I suffered a terrible start. in the dust I came uP to a final position of 21st at the flnlsh. I dld not feel good on the course, probably because of fear from the Spanish crash, hurt from my injuries and like that, but I was satisfied with that as flrst performance. In the second race I got a better start, The dust was a major hazard and the narrow course made It difficult to pass. I worked my way uP to 18th before the f1nlsh. . For the day I netted 15thl I think that is the best for an American uP to date. I was very pleased with 15th. I was hot charglng on that course because I just had too much going against me both mentally and physically, but I am all charged up now, and hot-to-trot for the next G.P.! SUZUKI BOUNCES BACK AT .BELGIUM GRAND PRIX BELGIUM, AprU 26, 1970- Suzuki factory riders, Sylvain Geboers and Joel RObert, grabbed the number one and two spots at the 250CcBeIg1an motocross Grand Prix , today, following by only seven days their drubbing last weekend at the French lnstallment of lightweight World Championship competition, England's Motor Cycle News reported. Suzukl teammate, Olle Pettersson, f1n1shed a creditable fifth. Much of the motocross world had considered the Japanese factory team's 1n1tla1 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix ' a fluke. But Sunday'S 1-2-5 showing should be proof positive that this is the team to beat. Roger DeCoster, drafted from the 500cc class to help defend CZ's 250 world title, chased the leaders for nearly 95 mlnutes, but had to be satisfied with third place overall (In an Interesting side-note, Columnist Mike Nicks, of the Engllsh paper, reports that, "panic broke out In the pits during practice for the 250Cc Belgian Grand Prix•••when Husqvarna's 500Cc works riders, Bengt Aberg and Arne Kring, SUddenly drove UP. Everyone thought they had been drafted in as a spectal •stop the Suzukls' move. (Everyone was relleved) when the two Swedish superstars remained in their ordinary clothing. They had simply dropped by on their way to another event.....). Geboers and Robert each won one of the two legs, but Geboers was awarded the victory on the basis of a faster (26 second) overall time. Torllef Hansen (Husky), winner of last week's French Grand Prix took fifth, whtle second place French G.P . f1n1sher Miroslav Halm (CZ), f1nlshed fourth. Hansen fln1shed fourth on the firstleg, but, due to a poor start, could manage only ninth on the second go. Accordlng to the British newspaper, Hansen was waiting on the starting line with his machine In neutral wh1le the last of the riders med uP to the gate, when the organizers decided to start the second lelr. . Trapped at the rear of the field, he became lnvolved In a first lap multiPle spill, damaging a rear suspension unit and his gear shift lever. ,. Bloody Beigium," Hansen reportedly fumed, "Robert, Geboers and DeCoster - those were the only men they were worried 'about at the start." After three rounds of 25OCc, World Championship competition, the Polnt Standlngs are as follows: 33 1. S. Georbers, Belgium (Suz) 27 2. J. Robert, Belgium (Suz) 3. R. DeCoster, Be1g1um(CZ) 20 . 20 4. M. Halm,Czech.(CZ) 18 5. O. Pettersson, Sweden (Suz) 6. T. Hanse, Sweden (Hus) 17 The next round of competition will be In Yugoslavia on May 10. - ~ P5' - . timichrome ~A-/Sblnes Suddenly :J~rc a CI• ans quick ;jP' Slmlchro... Is as hon.y a bUMy 1/ . C OMPEnnON CHEMICALS !ub. Sl Can S3.50 704 W.ar.''lIn&lon Ave •. Iowa Falls. Iowa 50126 HUSQVARNA Aller sufflfllll d.feat at the hands of Torll.f Hanssen at the French G.P; Sylvain Geboers came back wIth a big win at the Belgian roood. (Photo e..... sy Mota Cycle News). , ~sales Service parts_ ~- SUzuki Fun Wheels 27601 Forb.. Rd. Lacuna Nlg.. r, Ca. . (114) 831-1621 Op.n 10·97 Oays a Wllk ._- Mike Patrick's ••• . A. ~ 'Y WHA of COIOIA 1101 E. 6th St. - Corona ,-- (114) 135-1121 ' .. Dlstrlbulld by Mell-International 4790 Palm Ave., LaMesa, Calif. 92103 HEAT-TREATED, STEEL, MOTOCROSS, SELF- CLEANING, FOLDING PEGS. 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