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/125742
ole ~ w Z W ..J U > U Nortb • LACKEY RETURNS,. WINS NORTHERN MX Photos by John Bethea and Bill Spencer FREMONT, CAL., Aug. 29, 1971 Brad Lackey, now a veteran of the European Grand Prix circuit while riding, a factory machine for CZ, has returned to the United States and will be competing in motocross with his newly acquired skills. Lackey made his first appearance at the CMC North's mo tocross h ere today and combined a third and two seconds to win overall in the Open class, despite numerous mechanical problems. In the first Open Senior moto, Brad made his first start in America after returning a dismal one as he was last off the line and last into tum one. Meticulously, however, he bagan to click up the positions with astrounding determination and by lap 15 of th-e 20-lap moto, was holding fifth. At this point, however, he had been and then Gary Chaplin (Mai). In the second, a spill in tum one piled up a mass of machinery, including Lackey's CZ and Chaplin's Maico and a halt in the proceedings was .called. A short while later and a restart found Brad pumping away in sixth, but he moved to second by lap four and began to battle it out with Mark Blackwell and Hart. Hart pulled off the track while leading and had to retire with engine troubles and Mark took the lead.' Brad finally found the lead on lap seven when he passed Mark on the esses and tried holding off Blackwell's determined Husky. Brad was again experiencing mechanical ills as his expansion chamber had been removed several laps earlier and Itis loss of horses was apparent. But, he grimly held the lead until Blackwell fmally scooted ahead again on lap 17 to eventually win. With Hart now out of the picture, -- Bob Grossi, his a!m still in a cast, chats with·250 Senior winner of all three motos, Tim Hart. Don Emler (Ric) for the lead of the 125 Sr. class and it wasn't decided until the final moto when Emler crashed while dicing with Zahrt for the leae!. Emler crashed in the first moto while leading and eventually worked back to finish third. He' won the second' with Zahrt second. Zahrt then went on to win the third moto going away. A poor Junior rider turnout caused a great deal of uneasiness in the pay window after the race, but the promoters said they will make things straight Monday (see story, page 1.) Many of the Senior riders on hand today will be sticking around the North country awaiting this weekend's biggie at Cal.Expo, the $3000 motocross in , Sacramento, Calif. (Results on page 24) GOLD ONLY The recent decision by District 36 officials to ban Blendzall additives in sportsman events involved only Blendzall Gold Label. All other BlendzaH additives are permitted. "B" TEAM DROPPED BY ACU Bili GrossI leads eventual 1;15 Senior winner. Ken Zahrt. Bill experienced many problems during the day and finished fifth overall. running several laps with a broken rear shock and now another problem began setting in as his rear brake rod slipped off. But Lackey never shut off and worked his way to third when the checkered appeared for Tim Hart (Mail "'" This is what Tom Rapp Saw most of the time during the second and third legs of the 250 Sr. class - the back of Tim Hart. .. Lackey led in points with Blackwell tied for second with Hart. The tltird moto would be the showdown and a pedect finale. Blackwell and Brad broke to the point and began stretching it away from the pack, dicing for the lead all the while. On lap five, Lackey succumbed to more problems as he spun out and loaded his engine. Working ferociously to restart the engine, Lackey watched Blackwell chum up more and more ground ahead. He finally got a successful push and got going, down in seven th place, nearly half-a.lap behind. Like in the initial moto, he began charging back and had reached second by lap 13 and began closing in on Mark. The crowd sensed Lackey's comeback as the distance between the two decreased greatly every lap but Mark just had too much of a lead to overcome and when the checkered showed, Lackey was only 10 yards behind; good enough to win overall, however, with Mark second, just 25 points behind. Blackwell admitted he knew of Lackey's presence, but he also rode a smart race, confident he wouldn't lose. Third overall was local rider Larry Batistoni (CZ) who rode consistently throughout the day. Hart combined three strong firsts in the 250 Sr. class to win overall. His most cansistent challenge came from Tom Rapp (Bul). Rapp had a bad start in the first moto and could not work up, but rode second a:II the way in the next and held first for a short' while in the third before finishing second and second overall. Recen t1y turned Expert, Ken Zahrt (Bul), got locked in a tight battle with The Auto Cycle Union (ACU) of Great Britain reports that it· has been flooded with entires for the 1971ISDT at the Isle of Man and is forced to drop the American "B" team. LeRoy Winters, Dane. Leimbach and Ron Webster have been notified of the action, but the AMA still encourages them to make the trip'as alternates. Brad Lackey experienced all kinds of problems but still won the Open Senior class. Here, his rear shock has busted and his rear brake rod is dragging on the ground.