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/125687
Ex-World ChaDlp .Jeff SDlith Analyzes Britains Lethargy British motocross has not suddenly slumped - we have certainly declined but the process has been graduaL There has been a slow but sure slip since the halcyon days of the early 60s. " Britain has rarely thrown up really great mternational stars. To s~~e ext~t we have always been a second class p~wer ,in wor!d ,:,,?tocross, not It,S true m team racing, where we excel, but certainly m the mdiVlduai class. Let s look at the statistics. , Take the 250 class, a Briton has only held the ~op honor on two OCCasIOns out of 13. This was when the redoubtable Dave BIckers held the European crown in 1960 and 61: Other nat~ons stand thus: Russia'I, Czechoslovakia I, West Germany I, Belgium 3, Sweden 6. In the 500 class our record is almost equally dismal with four top spots out of 18. John Draper and Les Archer held the European title in the 50's and I held the.' World crown in the early 60's. The others read: East Germany 3, Belgium 4, and Sweden 7. One look al these figures proves the point. Obviously Sweden is far and away the front runner. Where do we go wrong? What have the Swedes, and to some extent the Belgians, which we have not? Is the problem our training methods, machines or men? The answer is found in a combination of all three. Training is inadequate almost to the point of non-existence. Our young heroes are brought up on a diet of scrambling every Sunay, it's true. But neither duration of events, nor the fierceness of the competition, comes anywhere near to what would be encountered in the most miniscule event anywhere on the Continent. The highest aspiration of most Powerful engines are important but position of team leader. The mantle British riders is the attainment of a only so long as men can use them. When which so nearly fell on Vic's shoulders fleeting moment on the little silva the man becomes tired then the race is was snatched up by Banks. screen. For them to appear in a televised virtually over. Prevent your men from From these brief accounts you will sprint scramble is to have reached a high tiring and you have a weapon which will see that if you turn my further attempts point in ambitions, which are from the overcome.,~,problems and will win at star-grazing upside down you may outset parochial. most rac~~ ~ ',:ll-.' well come nearer the truth. We are in the international sense, a The J ~<.' ave solved the weight There are two basic points to discuss. riddle n '.' ·,,,·,.···xotic materials but backwater in motocross. The real Briq.sh riders on British machines and opposition brushes our shores but two very l#f' design and the British riders on foreign machines. or three times in a year. ' extensiv' Greeves have a reliability problem, How can our scramblers, thus Th' after that comes the crecbbility cocooned by our conservative why problem. That these things can be administration, hope to know to what co overcome in Britain has been heights aspiration and ambition may th.a.t demonstrated by the AJS concern. AJS lead? But this is not enough in itself. _ _..... ..ve been through it all and have come ha The real desire for achievementm -.ith a machine which is now light a torch within the bUddllll&,',c nd reliable. But AJS motoCrosser that will help him .~().:fi through all the ups and do ~., nOI - easily chosen sport. c.. . nships. od of SEMI-5TARS a very ~ different experience from upgraded Dedication such as is necessary is not national! For many people a traumatic seen in these days of featherbeded experience. S uddenl y they are semi..tars. The real necessities for surrounded by many riders of abil.ity success are a sound, well disciplined equal or superior to their own. Malcolm body, an acute calculating brain and Davis has for some time been serving his .exposure for at least three years to the apprenticeship. Next year we can expect fires of international competition. 'that he will fight harder and on a more Real talent can in these conditions equal basis than heretofore. blossom. Add the ingredient of luck and we could find ourselves with a world champion. TOPMAN The Swedes have the benefit of a I winter which precludes any ra Assuming Greeves solve their There are t,wo real advantages . problems as indeed they must, then Vic • Firstly, the appetite for rliil:. Allan is a young man on whom much competition is sharpened by the responsibility will fall. He is obviously Secondly, those winter nigh the top man in that particular set up. filled with minute pr ' , evastating He has already shown flashes of machines. form, take St. Anthonis for instance, oke. He The mind can dw.ell the wet, which show he has very little respect for uninterrupted by having a future established stars. He should continue to the next race, on th lI11p .ence and show improvement and requires faithful aircleaning, carburetion, an support trom the factory. lci.: rked his This is 'not so in Eng BSA have . in John Banks the . re to lead season goes on ad infmi. Englishman most likely to succeed for een him and chance for reRenera lion. them. That is if the operation on his esilved only by Turning to the machin knee proves a success. The BSA and Greeves are the . and in view of machines for next year will be lighter. contenders for internatio and appreciably faster. Indications are . is sub accident, Britain there are faults this is whO. that the four strokes may come' back probably lost a world champion. Thus Can British machin' strongly, and several continental stars do events and fate make fools of us all! these days of the yell Another time I was asked to define are finding that the two-stroke is losing have a tradition of b John Banks. I said "John is a playboy its attraction. which can travel qUi and will never amount to much in Pi' British riders on foreign machines ground but, Ijke motocross." Yet within a year of that only Bryan Wade could be of any our traditional are . pronouncement Banks had come within consequence. The Wade-Husky pressure is on. "(one point of a world championship. combination just' could succeed, but Can we face the ? The Recognizing the chance of a lifetime Bryan has the problem in the immediate he grasped it with both hands. On the Japanese have settle mediately on future of climbing on to the grading list. face of it the BSA team were destined There is just one other young man at the answer. They have, it is true, produced powerful engines but they to walk in Eastwood's shadow for a year the moment who appears to be made of or so. Once that shadow was removed, a the right stuff. Andy Roberton is a have seized upon the real crux by free-for-all developed amongst the persistent character. I like penistence, building machines lighter than anything remaining BSA riders for the coveted it's the one trait you can't crush. produced before. . e" .' Special to Cycle News To keep on going though you're at the back of the field with an ailing motor proves two vital things. You enjoy racing a motorcycleand you can take failure and keep coming up for more. With that sort of spirit you must win in the "ntl. • H E R C U L E S BOOTS Incomparable old world craftsmanship providing the ultimate in fit, finish, comfort, safety, appearance and unsurpassed durability for the motorcycling enthusiast. Presented by Hercules Distributing and available through SACHS dealers throughout the West. Consult your telephone directory for listing of your nearest SACHS dealer or write direct to: Hercules Distributing Ltd. 1812 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, Calif. 90404 Distributor of SACHS and PUCH Motorcycles West of the Mississippi