Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Cycle News 1971 02 23

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/125714

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 11 of 31

N '" '" Q. ;: - 0> M N i LL ~ W Z w -' (.) > (.) Pat deBenedetti won the 500 Expert contest' and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving soul. Pat is a familiar sight on the various circuits and seldom gets bertered on the field. Even when he's not racing his spirit tends to linger in the pts and the bleachers. Today, after his final race one rider approached him with an angry lecture, disapproving of Pat's passing technique. Pat listened to the disgruntled cyclist's remarks politely, then clamly offered a few suggestions of his own. They shook hands and departed company, no hassle. Later, while waiting for the 250 Expert finale, Pat leaped across the track to help a fallen Junior and to get the track cleared. All in a day's racing. Pat turned the last race into a party for some people: Billy Clements had two wins under his belt but this time Bill Urban wasn't letting him by. Urban has spent a lot of time out of action with a leg twice broken and now was getting back into things. Everytime the two shoes came around Fat would lead a cheering section for both riders. All the whooping and hollering soon had Bill and Billy going much faster and taking more chances than they had planned. At the beginning of the last lap Clements decided to pass Urban on the inside and fell flat on his face in the process. He finished the race with an overall win and a big grin that only Billy Clements can do. Urban was second for the day after a superb rdide. When it was over, deBenedetti chortled, "Isn't racing b itchin?" The crowd was certain agreeing with him_ Puch works riders Harry Everts and Christian Gouverneur once again finished OBe-two in the 125 Experts but may have made a grave error in the process. To date, the only rider to touch them bas been 15-year-old Jim Beauchamp on a Sachs. One would think that Jim migh t be upset being in the only class to race Europeans in the series. Not so; "I'm not really that interested in the series," explains Jim. "When they leave I'll be more skilled." Beauchamp probably surprised himself when he passed Everts on the long downhill during the second moto to take the lead. That's the spot where he fell hard before and was hospitalized. Everts passed him back but Jim still beat Gouverneur as he has in the past. C M c Bill (13) Urban outruns his competition. By Dave Swift CARLSBAD, C~L., Feb. 14, 1971 Today at Carlsbad Raceway, on the third installment of the Steen's Trophy Series, everyone was treated to lots of real racing. The stars of the day w~re Jim Beauchamp, Bill Urban, Billy Clements, Pat deBenedetti, and the two works riders from Belgium, Harry Everts and Christian Gouverneur. Clements and deBenedetti established the pace for the day in the first two races. While Mike Cram was always the first off the line, Billy and Pat were soon out front in a hot tangle. "He was with me all the way - J mean every inch! ", exclaimed Pat after the tint round. Clements: "Everytime J go to pass him he closes the gate!" When asked if he th ough t that was "fair", Billy laughed, "Yeah, Pat's a good rider". Pat won both times. Neither one of these riders are ones to pussyfoot a third race to conserve a lead. On the third go-'round Clements moved up ten spots in three laps before he had a final shot at Pat. While the spectators were howling for one more race, deB. waved him by. No, he wasn't doing it for sport; the rim on his Maico was a bit square. MOTOCROSS JERSEYS In the final moto Christian took the lead; it's the first time he's had the front spot since they came to America. Chris needs a win in order to preserve the team's domination and Harry, the better rider, is having no difficulty holding down second. It appears as if he is also holding down Beauchamp, who tailgates him the whole race. "They're team-riding. We all race as individuals and they should, too," Beauchamp complained afterward. Several people paid a less-than-friendly visit to the Puch's pits although no incidents were reported. There was a report that the two youngsters were instructed not team-ride by tlieir own manager beforehand. While the boys' . conduct was hardly immoral or illegal, they might have s1ected better timing. But from the Belgians' defense, what if you were hired to go to a foreign country to promote a motorcycle and, since you can't communicate verbahlly, the only language you are being paid to speak is win, win, win? At any rate, Jim Beauchamp learned more than he exrected. With one-hal of the Steen's Trophy Series spent, the top contender at this moment for the Micro-Metisse is Jeff Robertson. He has been a consistent winner for some time and is the only Junior to have a perfect score in the series to date. James McDonald, a 100 Junior is one point shy of a p.,,-fect score thanks to a clumsy rider who knocked him down with a half-dozen others in the start of one race. McDonald had his handlebars broken and had to finish While winning the next two motos, the best he could do was second, behind Danny Sanchez. Incidentally,. in' that aforementioned pile-up, Dale Buzza was run over by two bikes, right across his midsection. Not only did he walk away from it, he rode the rest of the race. The CMC had to tum away 179 entries from the mail and still it took a lot of cooperation to get the full program in before sundwon. They were determined to get in three motos that day and a sign was posted saying so, unlsss there was "a fire, flood, or earthquake." I'm willing to bet a disaster wouldn't have stopped a lot of those guys today. (Results on page 26) lfwedon't stoe.the parts~ need, ehanees are nolHHl~ else does elthee '0.' specific.,iou as used by Maico-Hodaka·Bultaco-Ram-Checkers· San Gabriel CUS'.II 1I."e ,. Any (olor Any Size 40% N,lon 60%(otfon full le.gf. sleen ·2"c,ff Minimum order 1 doz. - Prices are as low as $6.69 each. AC<;eO/Jroducts inc. Los Angeles (213} 849-5776 ex. 186 Phoenix (602) 264-3201 Seattle (206) 284·5561 , rod 1~~~~~!.~~bI. . Los Angeles, California 90064 - Telephone: (213) 475-4541 Sales - service - Accessories - Parts - Motocross Leathers HusaVARNA· JAWAlCZ· SUZUKI· PENTON· MZ. MONTESA· TRAIL-HOPPERS open monday through saturday

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's - Cycle News 1971 02 23