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/125743
... - ~ w Z W ...J U > U Marty Tripes takes the first 250 Expert checkered from Bob Grossi as thousands watch. CAL-EXPO MOTOCROSS DRAW·S 15,000 Photos by Bill Spencer & John Bethea SACRAMENTO, CAL., Sept. 5, 1971 A highly enthusiastic crowd of nearly 15,000 packed its way into the Cal-Expo motocross grounds today to witness some of the fmest races ever displayed before a Northern California audience. Young Danny LaPorte caught the spectators' fancy as he came from behind in the first qualifying 125 Jr. heat and passed the second place fmisher with a tremendous leap off the final jump to take the win 100 yards away. The crowd went crazy. In his next appearance, they were waiting for him and he again delivered with more incredible leaps off the same jump and the crowd responded en tl:tusiastically , making the entire air about Cal-Expo electrified with excitement as the Experts' perfonnances were anticipated. The entire program got off the ground slowly as the pit gates were very late in opening and the races, scheduled to begin sharply at 9, finally got underway approximately an hour late. Even then, more problems set in as the man-made mud hole splattered number plates beyond recognition and by the third mo to, th ose in charge decided to bull-doze the hole out - which tacked on another delay. Then, the entire program began from start again. Marty Tripes from the San Diego, Calif., area, got the lead of the first 250 Expert class immediately with Bruce Baron and Doug Grant running second and third. Gary Jones worked up .to fourth and eventually passed the pair The Juniors charge down t~e start hill. '"'Iloll". before too many more laps had transpired butTripes was prepared as he had already built up an insurmountable lead. When Bob Grossi let the checkered flag breeze, Tripes had 13 lapped bikes between him and Jones in second. The second moto was a different story, however, as Jones started off third, dropped to fifth early but worked his way up to finally catch Gran t in the fmal third of the race to take the lead and win, with Gran t a disappoin ted second. The Olympia Beer promoters staged a fake replay of the finish at this point and Doug and Gary were flooded with flowing beer and covered with kisses by awaiting trophy girls all the while with cameras whirling off film. Grant appeared to finish third in that final moto but he was, in fact, a lap behind, putting him actually sixth. Overall, he was placed second when the results appeared - and he was immediately protested. Grant said he would settle for being just dropped one position overall but when the re-tallied results came out, Grant was listed third and again protested for starting late. Frustrated with the entire mess; Grant again said he would settle for fourth overall just to clear the mess up - they fmally agreed to that and Grant was aced out of a good deal of cash. The Open Experts were unprotested and obviously the finest set of races all day. Jim West broke to the lead in the first and held off the early charges of Tripes and Blackwell. Mark fmally got the lead midway, however and moved on to take a narrow win with Tripes second and