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By Andy Whipple
Photos by John Waaser
DELTA, OHIO, Oct. 25, 1970
Today's Trans-AMA meet was the third
in the series and the first with a
heavyweight feature. It was also the first
appearance of Joel Robert, current
world motocross champion, and his
370cc Suzuki prntotype. Much
speculation and excitement preceeded
the featu're heat as Robert squared off
against the to-date dominant BSA team.
In the first feature moto, Dave Nicoll
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held off the world champ with a
controlled ride. The 499cc "Victor"
(actually a Works prototype) has a lot of
low end torque and Nicoll held his lead
on the bumpy course by capitalizing on
this aspect of his four stroke machine.
In the second heat, though, Robert
passed Nicoll after a few laps and
showed no mercy, lengthening his lead
for the entire 30 minutes.
Nicoll commented afterwards that
after realizing Robert could not be
caugh t, he eased off his motor a bit to
ensure that he would finish. Robert and
Nicoll each received 595 points in the
series standings, but Robert received
IlfSt place money because he won the
final moto. This same tie-breaking
system was used in tpe case of Keith
Hickman and Gunnar Lindstrom. who
tied for fifth; each 1'eceived 5,,5" points,
but Hickman got the top slot due to his
better place in the second moto.
The course at Delta could be
described as "honest". There are
virtually no natural terrain ingredients
to make a spectacular course" and as a
result the riding lacked the high flying
antics so often described in posters and
advertising... But most of the contestants
said they found the course challenging.
Several off-camber washboard straights
cl....ly separated the skilled from the
tlinoro!1", and Nicon and" Robert
regularly passed four or five riders per
lap in these sections.
The start opened onto a broad fast
section of IT track, with a full left
hander that provided exciting and safe
