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/125688
= NORTH AT WHITE ROCK~ ~ north's 64. The rest of the Junior team motos were more or less repeats of the flfSt go, with Grant taking first place and the south gradually increasing its lead. The Expert team race, however, was anything but predictable and was up for grabs until the fmal rider crossed the finish line in the last moto. Sacramento's Carl Cranke, aboard a super swift big CZ, jumped out in the lead, followed by surprising Mark Blackwell, Grossi and WEst. By the second lap, Grossi had pulled in the lead ("I just couldn't keep him back," Blackwell commented after the race), with Cranke second, Blackwell third and West fourth. The northern fans were Mike Runyard, a recent addition to the South Team, provided good balance. North riders hold a strategy meeting. w Z w ~ (,J >(,J cheering, as it looked for all the world like a heavy victory for their boys. But they hadn't heard about 16 year old, com e-from-beh"ind-artist, Billy Clements. Coming out of the hole in 10th place, Clements began to work his way forward: Eight on the second lap, seventh on the third, sixth on the fourth, until finally he worked his way ahead of a tiring Carl Cranke, for a fourth place finish behind Grossi, West, and Blackwell. With a second, third and fourth place finish, things looked pretty good for the south team, but John Rice had been disqualified for course cutting (engine difficulties with his borrowed Maico forced him into the pits) and the North emerged on top of the first moto he,ap, 55t047. Then things really looked bleak for the south team on the first lap of the second moto, with northern riders, Ron Stockman and Phil Jacobson holding down the first rwo positions. But Jim West wasn't having any of that action and jumped into a lead, quickly followed by Grossi, who had moved. way up after a very poor (for him) start. And then ensued some of the best racing of the day, with West and Grossi wheel to wheel around the mile long course. Grossi, though, just couldn't f"md a way around, with West getting the checkered some 10 yards ahead of the Santa Cruz ace. Clements had done the thing he does so well, moving up from another 10th place start to finish third. This time, it was 52 points for the north, and 52 points for the south, leaving the north still six pomts ahead. The stage was set for the all important final moto. John Rice's bike had gone to the big cycle park in the sky, and Coach Grove was forced to bring in Mitco Bultaco ace, Tom Rapp, who had already captured the regular 250cc Senior event. As it turned out, this was a blessing in disguise. Grossi immediately jumped into a (Please tum to pg. 20) Married life must agree with Bob Grossi, as evident by this content look and his spectacular performance Sunday. Larry Lee, Southern California artist, was on hand with his fast CZ and fancy van.