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/125733
.... '" ~ w Z W ...J U > U VALE CIA, CAL., June 27, 1971 The Americans almost pulled a surprise on the visiting Europeans in the opener for the Inter-AMA Series for 250cc machines today at Indian Dunes Park. The fast two-mile course threw a little bit of a scare into the Europeans as they didn't have their gearing set as high as they should have, had they known how fast th e tJ"ack was. Instead, they were just abou t evenly geared to some of the fastest Americans and had 10 rely upon skill 10 do their thing. Tom Rapp, Bultaco ace from Buena Park, Calif., immediately caught the crowd's fancy as he roUed in 10 second place al the slart of the first moto behind Vlastimil Valek, Czechoslovakian CZ ace who was fourth in the World Championships several years back. Valek continued to pull away from the rest of the pack but Rapp remained hot on his tail and mid-way through the 20 minute moto, Rapp almost got the lead but Valek closed the door on the back sides series of jumps. Then, Rapp began to show fatigue as he slowly dropped off the pace until the final few laps when again tried to pick off the Czech, but failed and took second. Krister Lindblom (Sweden-Hus) ran third aU the way and Jan-Erick Saellquist (Sweden-Hus) had to work his way through the pack to take fourth. In the second face-off, Bob Hershey (CZ) stunned the crowd as he picked off firs I place and Rapp took second. Hershey, however, went down before the second lap was completed and had to retire. With this, Rapp took over the point and continued to hold it for most of the race. But, again fatigue set in and Gunnar Lindstrom, a European who has taken up residence in New Jersey, finally caugh t Rapp and moved his Husky into the lead. On the final lap, Saellquist also caught and passed Rapp to take second. After two motos, however, it was Rapp leading in overall poin ts with a host of Europeans behind him, settinl1; up for the climactic final moto. 10 this, he got a poor start and was running a distan t 13 th after lap one. Valek, who fmished 5th in the second moto, was again out in the lead and stretching it. But, Rapp wasn't to he denied yet and he moved to 12th on lap two, then all the way to 8th on lap three. Two more laps and two more positions found Rapp running 6th in definite position to take second at least and perhaps firsl if he could knock off a few more positions. H_e had finally gotten to fifth when the last lap nag appeared and he had second secured almost. On the back section, tragedy struck Rapp's hopes as his rear brake rod came off and kicked his chain off the sprocket. He recovered as rapidly as possible, but had dropped by at least a dozen positions to dash his hopes. Meanwhile, the ever-consistent Lindstrom had main tained second most of the way and collected enough points to be listed second overall and Top HForeignH American. Dave Bikers, who never was in the real spotligbt, still managed to garner enough POIDts to take third with Rapp seltling to fourth. Saellquist took fifth and Swedish Husky rider Keit Fransn seventh. The next full-blooded Yankee was Maico's Tim Hart, who has recently been sponsored by Bob Bailey's Cycleland, in eighth followed by Gary Jones on the prototype Yamaha. One of the American hopefuls, Bill Clements, had his fill of troubles. In the flfst moto, he spilled at the top of the start hill on the frrst lap and snapped a throttle cable. Then, in the second, his engine seized and he caUed it quits for the day. Mark Blackwell, unofficially rumored to b-e Bob Grossi's replacement for the vacant AMXT berth, got in a tangle with England's CZ ace Stuart Nunn in which Nunn's foot gOI stuck between Blackwell's spokes and rear shocks. ~::.... __.. ...i:;~::::::;:=",~ Jan-Erick Saellquist. Swedish Husqvarna rider, takes fast Indian Dunes jump. Report by John Bethea Photos by John Bethea, Tom Culp, David Swift, Larry Groves and Paul Perkins • 4th Overall GREENHORN ENDURO That's End uro-bility built ilto I'lry HODAKA BI Tiger Distributing 653 W. Broadway, Glendale, Calif. 91204 ~ -~ This is how close Tom Rapp and Vlastimil Valek were in the first moto. Try as he might, however, Rapp could never quite get in front of the fast Czech, who won the moto and overall as well. They were unable to sepa for aboUI 15 minutes, sa Nunn was tlnhurt and . moto, but Blackwell's ruined. Easterners Sonny DeF e Higgens also had their pro failed to finish a mo to wh far down in the overall stan Doug Granl (AJS) and (Hus) really had a battle 500 Support National eI the first mo to with Larsso then they swilched posit second go. Thi. set up a lot of eo