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/125721
.... '" 5. « ~ w Z W ..J (,) > (,) America's Fastest Motocross B.H. - In eleven and a half years of racing tbe only thing I've broken was an ankle, besides tbe collar bones that you mentioned. Last year was the fIrst year that I've ever missed any races because of injuries. For the last three years I've raced almost every week-end and never missed a race because of crashes. While at Cycle Dynamics, a new motorcycle shop in Smyrna, Ga., catering to the racer, we cornered Ba"y Higgins for an informal conversation for our readers. Barry has been competing with the fastest motocross racers in the Country for the past couple of years and has shown that week after week he is the fastest rider that our Nation has yet produced. Barry was the top A merican rider in the 1969 Inter-A m series, being first A merican in seven of these events. This season, he has won the New England Can-A m series and was first over-ali in tho! J.50cc ('lass of the Florida WinterAMA series by some 3400 points, almost as many points as the second place rider accumilated. He is one of the few professional motocross riders in this Country to have a full time contract with a 1Nlnufacturer. -Don Woods. D. W.- One thing I've noticed about your riding style, you don't screw around much, you don '1 grandstand or show off any, you are very seldom long in the air over a jump. B.H. - You can't screw around. Like, I've got too much to lose. I've got to make a living and the more time you're on the ground the faster you're going. You're not going anywhere while you're in the air. the**** GHMF~ * * * team THE BEST RIDERS ON THE FASTEST BIKES. HOME OF THE FASTEST DIRT BIKE IN THE USA WANTED 100cc Bultaco riders from Pumfrey Bultaco Racing "Other sizes also welcome" Team. WE HAVE THE WINNINGEST 12S's IN THE WEST, NEXT; THE 100cc CLASS'! Prizes - Money and special consideration for team members, our 100'5 are faster than most 125's! Trials seTA Family Trials - 3/14 "1 st 14 and Under - Randy Rader "I think the AMA is the best thing to happen to motocross in this country." D.W. - When you first came down South last year you were recovering from a broken collar bone, then you returned in November for the Trans-AMA and in practice you fell and broke your collar bone again, you kind of got the reputation around here as being a crasher. D.W. - What was the first bike you ever raced? RH. - I first started scrambling on a BSA Bantam. (BSA's discontinued little two-stroke-ed) If it was a 10 lap race the BSA would always go 9. But, actually the first bike event I ever rode was a trials. D.W. - When did you first start riding Motocross? B.H. - Well, the first real motocross that we had in New England was in 66 when Hallman came over for the first Inter-Am. D.W. - Was this all you rode after that? B.H. - Well, I rode some TT's and flat tracks and up until I got my license, I rode a few enduros. D.W. - Do you think that the enduros helped you to become a better mud rider? B.H. - Yes, it's good experience for anyone and good to keep you in good physical condition. D.W. - Do you think that with the state of motocross in this country to- TORQUE UP YOUR 370 HUSQVARNA Doug Douglas M/C Distributed by Med-International 4190 Palm Ave., La Mesa, Calif. 92103 Husqvarna 'enton My new kit improves the Ajay right through the ran9t. 565.00 Exhaust. Head, Carbo etc. (714) 888-4554 .D.lt'.... 611+1..0+61. WANTED leciers Sales & Senice 6624 At,..,ic,•• II,e•• (213 )5"-3983 By HRLubricants, Mfg. of MIC Clutch Lube, 2-cycle Colloida' Graphite Oil, Molly-Graphite chain lube, Gear Lube, Assembly Lube, and Break-in Concentrate. Contact R. Shefdrick. 7340 Florence Ave., Downey, Cal. (213) 92747B1. "The American motocross team is a joke. They don't send anybody worth a damn over there as far as I'm concerned." , 'Advertising that . Works" Road Racing Orange Co. International - 3/14 "1 st 175 GP - Greg Comstock "2nd Open Thumper - Greg Carlsbad - 3/21 Comstock "1st 175 GP - Greg Comstock Desert Blythe M/C - 3/14 1st NOV. - John Owens 1st 250cc - John Owens (2nd Overall) Invaders M/C - 3/21 "1 st 125cc - K.A. Buckspan 8th Overall - K.A. Buckspan 1st 250cc NOV. - John Owens (64th Overall) Need ""e say more H'ere's the WORKS number Motocross Bay Mare - 3/7 1st 250 EX. - Steve Scott "2nd 125 JR. - Ross Maeda Saddleback - 3/14 "1st 125cc INT. - Ross Maeda Bay Mare - 3/14 1st 125cc - Mark O'Neal 1st 250 JR. - Andy !lopez 2nd 250 EX. - Steve Scott Bay Mare - 3/21 "1st 100/125 SR. - Ken Zahrt (4th Overall) 3rd 100 JR. - David Zahrt 1st 250 EX. - Steve Scott 213- 427-7433 "Denotes a Pumfrey built engine PUMFREY BULTACO 21819 Shelman Way, Canoga Park (213) 887·7696 day, that a professional rider can make a living just competing in races every week? B.H. - Right as it stands right now, I don't think so. You have to have a sponsor of some kind. Judging by the way the prize money has gone up in the last two years, maybe by this time next year some riders may be able to. D.W. - What do you think of the AMA's entry into professional moto cross? B.R. - I think it's tbe best thing to happen to motocross in this country. With this Winter series in Florida and the up-coming Spring series in Georgia and Alabama, it's giving riders a chance to compete with tbe fastest guys around and by the end of the year after riding three twenty minute heats in this kind of competition, we're going to have some fast racers. When the AMA first started with the Trans-AMA series, I went to the second event and then I went to the last one in Seattle. The outstanding thing about these events is that they were all run the same. I didn't even have to go to the riders meeting because things were so organized that you knew exactly what was going on. The starts, Just 37 more works issues left. . the nags, everything was the same at aU of the events. We had this Can-AM series up North. It was screwed up. It was supposed to be a SIX race series and it ended up being five. Every race was run completely different. Most of them were just like a bunch of scrambles. There was only one event that was run like a professional motocross. The AMA has come along and given an aura of professionalism to the sport. D.W. - There seems to be a wide disparity between you and some of the other fast riders and about half the field in most of the races in which you compete. Have you had any problems with slower racers getting in your way out on the track? B.H. - It's not too much of a problem at some of the wider tracks but, you always seem to run into 4 or 5 guys that when you're lapping them they seem to say, "Boy, here's Barry Higgins I'm going to see how long I can stay out in front of him." Like, I've seem guys that see you coming and you can see their hand open the throttle and then they forget and don't turn off at the next corner. If I see one of these guys, I just back off and let them go. It cost you a lot of time to do it but, it'll cost you a lot more when one of those idiots runs into you in the next turn. They think they can go twenty miles an bour faster because you're along side of them. It really doesn't work that way, though. D.W. - Getting back to the faster riders in the country, there has been a lot printed about how fast John DeSoto is now. Is he really as fast as the Nations press has made him out to be? B.H. - I can name twenty guys right now that are faster than he is. He hasn't got any brains at all. If he's in front of you be'll just Banzai you. He's knocked me on my head just for no reason. D.W. - How about two of the riders from your area, Sonny Defeo and Doug Rodriguez? B.A. - Sonny's fasl. If he ever gets his head together he'll be greal. Doug would like to be world's Champion_ He's not afraid to try anything. Like