Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

~ ~ :;; '" ~ w Z w -' U >- U As the first moto gets underway, 250 riders battle it out in an effort to get the best lines. 'It Was the Most Exciting Winter-AMA to Date' Tallahassee .Fla., Feb. 28 - It was the most exciting racing yet in the Winter-AMA series. Cloudy, overcast skies turning into rain, usually mean only a .slim crowd of hard core aficionados out to watch the various riding styles. For once, this was not true. The progressive promoters, perhaps having a look into a crystal ball, advertised that the race would be run rain or shine, the wetter the better. All local publicity was geared to educate novice moto-cross watchers how much fun it was to watch the racing while it was raining. Fans were told to be sure and bring an umbrella with them. As the first 250 moto got underway, series leader Barry Higgins, after winning almost every heat to date, found himself running second to factory Husqvarna rider Gannar Lindstrom, making \is first appearance of the series. Not wanting to be shut down by a EiJropean rider, Barry proceeded to put the pressure on Gunnar. Lindstrom kept pulling away as Barry was fmding his task rather difficult. In third place was Gary Bailey, finding it hard to keep the two leaders even in sight. The field of riders were left far behind these ftrst three. Johnny Lee, Zane Kent and Jim Shotton were swapping it around for the fourth, fifth and sixth spots. Higgins just seemed to be trying to hard. He made several mistakes from trying to overtake the flying Swede and lost valuable distance. On the fast down hill sections of the track, Lindstrom was widening the gap as he went off the hills without touching the ground until the bottom. He took an easy victory ahead of Higgins and Bailey. The open motos have usually seen one man open a big lead on the fteld all during the series. This first open moto was the most exciting heat to date in the series, with Jim Weinert, Peter Lamppu, Ron Stockman and Gordon Bowden swapping the lead lap after lap. If the sound of the high revving engines had been hushed, you could have heard a pin drop aJI through the course as all the spectators had their hearts in their throats watching the fast foursome. Late in the heat Weinert fmally pulled ahead a little and it looked like he would have an uncomplicated win, but on the last lap, Lamppu, who has replaced injured Mike Runyan for Montesa, made his dirve from third position. He sacked everyone and opened about a 10 yard lead which was a long one in this race. Down the hill and into one of the final turns before the finish line came Lamppu. Weinert not giving up, came around some slower riders, Lamppu and almost came around his own rear tire as he found some little extra something to take the win. Way back about 4 feet came Ron Stockman in third. At a distant 10 feet was Bowden getting fourth. Starting a minute behind the fteld, series points leader Brian Kenny did not see all of this hard fought action among the leaders. He pu t on a drive through the field that was unbelieveable. He took fifth position just a few seconds behind them. Lindstrom looked like he was going to do it again as the second 250 moto started. Getting a quick lead, he opened about a 30 yard lead over Gary Bailey. Higgins was in fourth behind an inspired Johnny Lee who was aJI over the track as he picked up his speed to stay with the leaders. Lindstrom had a shock as Bailey went around him like he was standing still. Bailey, obviously down on horsepower to the faster machines in the class, was pulling out all kinds of beau tiful manuevers to stay ahead of Gunnar. Lap after lap, Gunnar would pull up beside Gary to pass him only to find another corner being entered with him in the wrong position. Bailey was taking lines through turns that aren't in the book and would be impossible for and ordinary man. Meanwhile, back in third, Johnny Lee was doing a fantastic job of holding off Higgins. They were just a few yards behind the two leaders but couldn't seem to close on them. Lindstrom came off a turn onto a straight late in the he.at and used his power to get around Bailey. He immediately pulled about 25 yards in front of the' hard-charging motocross professor. It looked to be aJI over. Higgins fmaJIy got around Lee and close up on Bailey. It looked like Bailey would be relegated to his usual brides maid position. But Gary wasn't done yet. He found still more ways to pick uptime in the corners and again passed Lindstom. NEW & USED SALES Parts-Accessories-Service Financing·1 nsurance MASTER CHARGE·BANKAMERICARD Discount to Ascot Racers GENE H. MYERS 4151 Redondo Beach Blvd., Lawndale, Ca. (213) 542-4047 the action again, his throttle came off in his hand. By the time he was going again, he was way back in the pack and had to settle for a third overaJI. Lindstom was alone in ftrst and really taking things easy and being careful. Bailey started closing and almost pulled up on Gunnar, but time ran out and Linstrom saw him soon enough to speed up and keep a healthy distance for the win. This gave Lindstrom the overaJI win with Bailey getting second. The last open moto showed where the mud riders were. Although the 250's had appeared as fast as the open bikes earlier in the day, in the mud the faster riders were really turning it on. Kenny took the win again, followed by Weinert. Third was Stockman. The TaJlahassee course was liked by aJI of the riders. If offered more variety than any of the tracks used in the series to date. It was exciting for the spectators too, with its long down hill drop offs, a fifty foot high straight up hill and lots of jumps aJI around, the course. Willi the spectator area packed to capacity, exciting races, and happy riders, Tallal1assee was the high point of the Winter-AMA series to date. (Results on page 26) a New, ",...eI. Wewh •• 1 performe, - $219.50. Oth.r TACO TRAIL 100 - rnocMk •• low n $119.95. Kits ... enItM, dutch, chain at $49.95. Sencl2Sc for brochu.... f.... deul. l3O-p. utaJog- S1 ~\l'e:. &~8~l.~ 18 88 NOW AVAILABLE at your dealer or write Chain, Box 2264, Cypress, Ca. 90630. Dealer inquiries invited. SAN DIEGO SUZUKI YAMAHA SPOITCYCLES Higgins, remembering his defeat in the first moto, decided he was going to win and drove around both men to take the checkers for the win. All three riders had to be way over their heads as they crossed the line within yards on one another. The second open heat was reaJIy no surprise to anyone who had watched Kenny's fantastic drive from behind in the first moto. On the second lap he had a 15 second lead on second place rider Gordon Bowden. On the fourth lap, he had opened it up to 30 seconds. Thirty seconds is a long way on a motocross track. It was far enough ahead that Stockman, who finished third right behind Bowden thought that he was second. He had never seen Kenny as Kenny got such a quick lead at the start. Lindstrom again jumped into the lead at the start of the ftnal 250 moto. He is not known for his ability in tlle mud and Higgins, who can reaJIy gas it when it gets wet just fell in behind him and stayed there. All Higgins had to do was to fmish second in this heat and he would have another overall win. Higgins slipped early in the heat and fell down. It was not a hard faJI. Just one of those where you go down and are right back up and back into things. As he got into FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALE & SERVICE 714-286-1001 4825 EI Cajon Blvd., S.D. 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