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/125704
IAr'ONALS-----------rContinuedfrom page 12) Indoor Shan Track. Next on tap was the presbgtous 200-mile Daytona Road Race in March and this time, Dick Mann riding a Honda took his turn at accepting the victory laurels while grabbing first place. in the point standings, a position he was to hold for much of the season. Several weeks later, the tour took a trek to the Northwest for the Kent National and Ron Grant picked up 53 points with his checkered-taking performance. For Grant, 1970 could also be termed a frustration. These 53 points were, as it turned out, the only points he accumulated. It gave Suzuki a boost but left Grant .vith only a temporary satisfaction as he was involved in a start-line crash during the National at Talledega a shon time later and suffered a broken leg. Rice became the first racer to win more than one with his triumph at Palmetto, Georgia, April 19 and Mann, still controlling the points lead, finished second. now riding a BSA. On May 3, the pattern kept true to form as LawwilJ took the Cumberl"and checkered while Dave Aldana, pre-season billed as the "Super Rookie" garnered second place points and prepared him for his next race and his first National victory, Talledega. Here the BSA of Aldana averaged 104.589 mph in the bid for first and edged out J ody Nicholas and Jim Rice. The win rocketed the youthful Santa Ana, Calif. racer into second place with 205, less than 30 behind Mann. Second place was short-lived however, as Rice powered his way to his third National, this one coming at Reading, Pennsylvania's half-mile track two weeks later. Mann finished third but still retained the lead with Rice moving back into second. Canadian Dave Sehl became the first non-Californian to take a win by capturing the Half-Mile Championship at Louisville Downs in early June and the next week, Maryland's Gary Nixon continued the shutout by dominating the West Coast riders with a win at the Loudon, N.H. 100 mile Road Race. The victory was a sweet one for Nixon who had been recovering from a broken leg sustained in late 1969. Dave Smith was a surprise second place finisher, picking up points for Kawasaki. Snuffed out two 'weeks in a row, Californians again took over as IT specialists Eddie Mulder and Skip Van Leeuwen hauled in first and second at the Santa Fe Outdoor IT. Despite the "shutout" the big three were still Mann, Rice and Aldana in the'standings. • June turned out to be anti-California when Sehl ended the month as he had begun it: winning. This time the famous Charity Newsies National Championship. But, returning home to the Western seaboard was a breath of fresh air despite the smog. Rice bagged San Jose and took over the points lead in the process but lost it again a week later at Castle Rock, Wash., when Mann powered to a IT victory and Romero finally reached third overall. Lawwill rode to his third National win as the circuit arrived at Ascot Park, and, despite reoccurring engine trouble, Mert's machine looked strong and healthy. Now, it appeared he was on the right track in defending his top ranking. Such was not the case, however, as the Harley-Davidson rider was unable to perform up to par in the remainder of the circuit and remained in the second-half of the point standing's top 10. Rice continued to be the most outstanding rider and snuck across the line [or his fifth National at Santa Rosa, which he did a year earlier, too, Tulare was cancelled due to poor track conditions and the circuit headed East again to Terre Haute, Indiana, where Aldana picked up the win. But Rice was still enjoying his most productive period of the season and he picked up second. On Friday, Aug. 21. a touch of the past was felt as Bart Markel, tnrec times Grand National Champion. pulled up first the only time this season, tying him with the all-time career record of 27 wins set by Joe Leonard. Not to be ou t-done, Rice again took second, and put him into the lead, eight points ahead of Mann's 389 total. At Peoria's IT tne following Sunday, it was again Jim Rice doing the honors with Aldana second and Romero third. Next race on tap: Sedalia, and the new Romero. JAN. 8th, Ih11. MBallAlll8J...-m£~., . . m -._fEETl..-mD. -..sl~ SHII .......",.1IiHibs-.......- .III-IHIII-. -II _PIlI. PlUS: EvIl·..... SkI_ ... PUIS: lJ.NWs 5IID IfH 1IIWftlI_1II. PUIS: CII.....-s"Wl1n FIIW'~ SIPIIIIiIP. LONG BEACH SPORTS ARENA ,.--c.lJIIllltCil FRI.7-11pm SAT.1-12pm SUN.I-I0pm • General Admission: S2.50 - (With Discount Coupon: $2.) - Children Under 12, Accompanied By Parenu, Free Other Shows In The Series: HOUSTON - JAN. 29th to 31st I CINCINNATI - FEB. 12th to 14th I DAYTONA. (PIaD Haul) MAR. 9t1i to 13th .... -.)0.. -- .... --- ~_4 -- .... _. ..