Tim (11) Hart leads Ji m (22) West and the rest of the 250cc Expert pack around the fi rst turn.
the 125cc and 250cc classes
notos but fai led to score in
An enthusiastic spectator signal I ing
his favorite rider.
John Maynard, third place finisher in the 500cc
TT jump.
lDoto vie1lVs
By Bob Hill
When the Inter-Am Series gets
underway in October, some of the best
American riders will attempt to defeat
the expert European motocross racers.
Several have tried in the recent Viking
Series, but could not quite get there.
Two did very well - John DeSoto and
Bob Grossi.
For the Inter-Am, add one more
name that also has one of these remote
chances of taking the E-urop"eans. That
name is Jim West.
However, he may not be able to
compete in all the races upcominl';
Expert c lass, launches his AJS on
/ because he is still in school. West is 17
and attends South Pasadena High during
the week. But the rest of the time he is
usually out pushing his AJS near the
front of any motocross race he is in.
Although West has been on Ibikes
since age 12, he has been riding in
serious competition for a mere two
years. His first motorcycle was a
Yamaha 80 which his father got him at
the age of 1-2. His second mount was a
DT·l Yamaha 250 .until Coopers in
Burbank gave him his first ride on a
Maico.
Then Jim really began to make
things click and later secured a Rickman
250 Yamaha from Steens in Alhambra.
It was about a year ago that the young
speedster was offered a factory
sponsored AJS. He' accepted and had
been riding with the British firm ever
since.
West is perfect for motorcross racing.
He is tall, exceptionally tall, for his age
- 6'4". His large frame gives him
complete control of the bike. But, he
also excels in other forms of racing as
well.
He has a bright future in the sport,
and he' plans to "stay with it." The
determination in his voice when he says
'it is clear. Staying with it means to win
and improve.
Thursday night at the CMC
motocross, West did just that. He took a
third in the 250cc and moved up to first
in the 500cc while racing against other
noted MX riders as Tim Hart and John
Maynard.
The name of Jim West is becoming
well known at several of the Southern
California tracks and his. potential
increases with every race he enters. This
is truly a young man on his way up.
And, during the up-coming Inter-Am
Series, h,e may just get there.
