ill
"'
g
""
N
r-
en
N
N
,;,
"
u
by K. C. Brintnall
VALENCIA, CAL. Aug. 13, 1972 Even heroes occasionally need pocket
money, and the $500 purse at Indian
Dunes lured many of the best riders out
of hiding for the motocross here
Sunday.
The Open Pro race was the one to
watch as John De Soto and Brad Lackey
introduced Kawasaki's new frames into'
racing for the first time. De Soto
grabbed an early lead in the fust mota
with Lackey in hot pursuit, but Lackey
dropped it twice on the third lap to faU
back into seventh.
Undaunted,
Lackey
began
an
incredible charge that managed to get
him back in to second in time for the
checkered. flag. Their second mota was
mostly a replay of the first, but this
time Lackey managed to sayan
DeSoto's tail the whole way for another
second. Kawasaki must be doing
something right, since Jim Cooke picked
up a third overall in this division on one
of the older Kawasakis.
In the 250 Pro division, the day
belonged to Tom Rapp (Bul), who took
an easy led in his first mota and held it
the whole way. Rapp got off to a bad
start on his second mota and was in
sixth position on the first lap, but
through hard, steady riding he was able
to pass everyone but Larry Watkins
(CZ) for a second and an overall win.
Dave Rodgers (Bul) put in a great
performance in the 125 Pro division for
an overall win, but one of the most
fan tastic showings in the second mota
of that division was turned in by Rocky
Morrison, who lost bis seat going over a
jump on the second lap and rode the
rest of the 20 minute mota up on the
John D. was half a lap ahead of goodly portions of
pegs.
Another young man named DeSoto
has appeared on the southern California
racing scene. CZ-mounted Bruce DeSoto
took an overall win in the 500 senior
class as brother John cheered from the
sidelines. How many more fast DeSotos
do they have hidden away somewhere?
In the 100 junior division, the rider
to watch was eleven year old Mike
llrown (MK). This youngster is really
fast, and he bears watching over the
nex t couple of years.
A few riders met with bad luck
during the day. Janine Pennington
(BUL), returning to racing after her
recent knee injury, won the first two
motos of the Powder Puff division but
managed to re-injure her knee in the
second mota and was unable to
the 500 Expert field.
compete in the third mota, gIvmg the
overall win to Nancy Payne (Ric).
There. were no major injuries on the
seemingly safe course until disaster
struck during the third mota of the 125
Jr Division A. Two· riders locked
handlebars on the first lap and feU.
Many riders were unable to miss them.
A guard, trying to help, was cut in the
head by a flying motorcycle. Three
riders and the guard were taken away by
ambulance. Fortunately, crowd control
at Indian Dunes is now quite good, so
the injured men were able to get
immediate medical assistance without
interference from curious spectators.
One youngster decided his life's
ambition. "When I grow up," he told his
father, "I'm going to be John DeSoto." .
Racing world, watch out!
