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/125791
~ '" 'g> l1. ; ,~:' ( . 1,1 6:' 1)1 l: \, ~ \ f _..JPF:;\,C N ..... en Walker co By Alice Rhea ADELANTO, CAL., July 9, 1972 One unwritten law of the desert is that it is usually quiet at the finish line, ~ except, of COUl:se, for the racket created w by the motorcycles. Z W Today that tradition was torn ...J asunder by a mob of George Walker U >- fans. Suzie Walker was first to spot U George and began whooping and doing back flips. The rest of the Walker fans, which includes almost everyone who has ever met him, followed suit. Yelps and screams of deligh t were heard, hats were thrown in the air and the fans went wild as George Walker, mounted on a 350 Kawasaki, swooped in fust overall. George has always finished well but this is the first ime in the history of the universe he has ever won overall. To make the victory even more outstanding, it was a good five minutes before Jim Fishback (CZ) appeared to take second overall and first 250 Expert, the poor guy got mostly ignored in the big flap. An estimated 700 riders lined up for Sled Riders' Hare Scrambles and Art Kanpp (Hus) grabbed an early lead, followed closely by George Walker. The territory was virgin and up to the first check, it was beautiful rolling hills, except for the rocks on the way to the bomb. These proved to be the only rocks on the course, to the delight of all riders. After the first check, the course dropped into a swooping sandwash where th e skilled riders could lean in to the turns and ride the banks, then charge out onto the fire road. Edison Company thoughtfully graded the road within the last week and on the first loop it was smooth as a freeway, all eight miles of it. Knapp and Walker pegged it down the fireroad, and Knapp began slowly pulling away, then stuff! The 450 Husky seized and George pulled into the lead, beginning to increase the margin between himself and Jim Fishback, and he didn't give back one inch for the rest of the race. Bill Friant was running third coming into the fourth check with the 175 Puch wound out, but the flat desert wasn't small bike cOun try, and Bill had to settle for seventh overall and first 175 Expert. Art Knapp got the Husky unstuck and diced for a while with Whitey Martino (Hus) but finally it got to be too much for the overheated Husky and Art dropped out of the race. Steve Holladay (Yam) has been doing well lately and today managed third over.,J1 and second 250 Expert. Larry Bergquist (Bul) came in fourth overall, followed by Jack Knebel (CZ) who was second 500 Expert. Jack's shoulder is still pretty sore, but he rode in spite of it. Todd Cornish (Hus) got it together and appeared at the finish line first Amateur, about 12th overall. Spectators along the course said Todd was really flying low. Mitch Mayes, riding his Baja today, was first Trail Expert. Mitch will end the season with a couple of small . numbers for his stable of motorcycles if he can tinues to ride the way he has. Jeff Kirk (Man), was second 500 Amateur and second overall Amateur today, followed by Dave Waldbaum (Bul) first 250 Amateur who said he was riding that fast because he thought Randy Brown was in front of him. I don't know who Randy is, but Dave's pit crew better start telling him Randy is ahead of him at every race. Fifteen.year-old Larry Roesler (Baja) was first trail bike for most of the race, but lost his lead somewhere on the back half of the second loop and finished second Trail Expert today. Very impressive for one so young, but then that number four plate is pretty impressive in itself. A. J. Kirker was first 175 Amateur. Kirker, a Desert Fox, Was one Novice several of the transferring Amateurs were happy to leave behind, bu t there he is again, riding Amateur and outrunning their 400s and 250s. Joel Semple (Baja) bounced in first Trail Amateur again. Joel must be about to transfer it; it seems like I write his name every week. , • Big day for Bajas. Steve Stevens who took second Trail Amateur honors today was also mounted.on one of those little screamers. Chris Gerner (Bul) was the fastest > :; .., Desert racing: barebacked tootsies, sand, and don't land on your front wheel rC?ad crossings. Novice today, pounding over the SO-mile course to take both first in the 250 class and first overall Novice. John Dykstra lost his tank card and everybody was in such a flap over it that we forgot to see what he was riding. The guys at the first check said they thought it migh t be one of those 350 Buls, but it could have been something else. We checked the lap charts, and John's number is on every one of them, so he gets that second overall and first 500' Novice. First girl, riding a Sweet Duck . Suzuki, was.. .I don't think I even need to put her name in, but just for the new readers, No. 1313c is Sharon Rosenauer, covered with dust and wearing her usual happy grin. Sher said it was rough on the second loop, but a gQod course and lots of fun. The ballet teacher, Joy Malis (Ric), raced today and fmished shortly after Sher and shortly before Chris Fields, who was first girl Amateur. Whoopee! He got back on and rode it out.