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/125697
ROBERT SWEEPS TRANS-AMA FRANKLIN, GA., .Nov. I, 1970 Three thousand motocross fans showed up here looking for some good racing. They got more than they bargained for as world champion Joel Robert, seemingly slightly down on power to the factory BSA's put on the finest exhibition of motocross racing ever seen in Dixie, to take the overall win. This fifth race of the national championship series gave the South its first exposure to the AMA version of lnternational Motocross. The AMA does an efficient job but, at times they were a little too efficient as during the scheduled intermission. While the promoters were giving out door prizes to the spectators the AMA proceeded to start the next race. This led to a little confusion but, the announcer recovered nicely. The activities got under way with two short qualifying heats for the 250 riders. There were only twelve or fifteen bikes in eilch heat and although the competition was good, the riders were so strung out that the fans didn't show much interest.. As the first of the two international heats got under. way, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that this was going to be the best they had ever seen. Forty-one bikes piled into the first turn and out of the first turn onto the straight, the BSA's of Nicoll, Banks, Smith and Hickman led the way around the course. Robert and Pettersson, getting their Suzukis .off to a slow start, worked their way through the traffic and about half way through the heat, Robert was in third and Pettersson had worked up to fifth. Nicoll was riding like there was no tomorrow, with Banks. right behind. There seemed to be no chance of Robert catching the flying beezers but, when the 5 minute sign came out, Robert went around Banks and then passed Nicoll. Nicoll bobbled when he was passed and Banks also went around him. Robert took the checkers about seventy five yards in the lead. ... California shone in the Support"nce which as mentioned earlier got off to a hurried start. Tom Rapp, 18 years old CMC point leader and number 1 plate holder, showed his form to the local spectators. Tom and his Bultaco ran off with the Support final, winning by a country mile. Rapp was turning lap times faster than most of the Open bikes and the other riders in the class re:iJ.ly had their work cut out trying to catch him. Positions swapped through aut the field all during the race as riders fought their way into higher positions but, no one could catch the flying Bultaco in the lead. Rapp never let up and took a fine victory over Ron Stockman, Russ Powell and John Bettencourt. The final race was Roberts way of holding motocross school as he took an early lead and proceeded to do his thing. The BSA's of Banks and Nicoll were never out of sight but, there was 1 o ,... g) Joel Robert took both heats for the overall victory. never any doubt who was going to win. Overall winn'er of the day on the combined points of the two 30 minute motos were Jod Roberts with a perfect score, first on his Suzuki, followed by John Banks BSA, Olle Pettersson Suzuki, Dave Nicoll BSA and Jeff Smith BSA. Then came the Americans. James Weinert of Middle Town, N.Y. put on a brilliant performance ,by having both man and machine ready for such a test. Weinert on a CZ finished 6th overall ahead of Hickman, England BSA, Defero N.Y. CZ, Kenney Ohio Husky, Burlason Ohio Husky. The spectacular AMA star of HaIf·mile and Road Race fame, Dave Aldana, fmished 11th overall on his team BSA. Aldana is improving rapidly as a motocross rider. But his main problem seems to be using Flat Track style handling and etc. is rapidly changing over to a motocross style, but the team Mexican rider is definitely holding his own. Brad Lackey, star of previous Trans AMA races finished 14th. He appeared to be going very fast but was trying too hard, actually missing the berm and going out into the tules. Chuck Minert, team BSA rider, finished 16th overall. The touring motocross professor Gary Bailey made his first appearance at the Trans AMA today. Gary, looking good at the drop of the flag, was running in the top ten until he had an engine seizure which eliminated him from the first moto. Determined to ride he entered his sick Greeves in the second moto and scored enough points to .finish 18 th overall. Gary's brother Bob, National Number 33 in the AMA, flew into Atlan ta minus a bike but managed to pick up a ride on a Maico. In the first moto Bob jamed his ankle in early laps and this apparently hindered him somewhat. Bob just finished out of the overall money by about a point or two. Texan Mike Johnson managed excellent starts in both motos and was doing very well. In the first moto, young Johnson was leading quite a few big name riders when a throttle cable broke. In the s.econd mota, Mike decided to tuck in behind Joel Robert (while being lapped!) and see how long and how far he could hang on. Robert led the young Montesa rider through a pretty exciting lap until the pace got to Johnson and he went down rather spectacularly. This sort of incident is probably the reason for a lot of falls. Trying to stay with Joel Robert, even a lap behind is a helluva task. Think what is like for those running on the same lap. Pre race excitement carne during practice when Barry Higgins came off on the double jump. He landed on his Herbert Sims shows the way. Barry has broken his right side ~ he has just recovered from a left side broken should which he has broken six times. Higgins figures to be out of action for about three weeks. This surface for the spectacular Georgia event had to be in the best shape of any motocross track as it had rained the entire week prior to race day. The soft surface was ideally moist on race day. The course quickly built up berms in just about every corner. The course was visabIe from almost everywhere, good PA system, clean rest rooms, no dust, sun coming out for the finals of the day made this a very .::t::=~~'=""~L;l=.-::'.=====_=L:dick~:.lia.nlldllu.rllin.gmth.el'n'el1alllrt~y/Jstag~'ft"es"oIolo",f,,,t:.lh;z,elol.l.ral.lc-=e''-l. ~~~gh.::r.b~t::tshUl\o~ul::od",,er.!:,y_;i,b&::~kin~·1g!bhisE~~~S.c.t:ir~0~~!~!:lb~?!Sn:l:ei.uUolilosl.luOIOclolc __ .. e~Ssl,lf.&.ulWlevfie1.tnllta·~~W!~iiI:W ~