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/125799
• I The 250 a,..iI1ship is· Over;···· !he"500 _ ~ w Z W ..J CJ > .CJ .,, \ _~ , iI ~._ ... t ~ • .M..;,.} But that's how good John looked while he was running. Story by Carol Neill Photos by llill Neill EASTABOGA, ALA., Sept. 2, 1972 The first AMA National motocross ever held in conjunction with a Talladega National Championship Road Race was a great one. The heat and dust were intense but some 79 of the southeast and the country's top pros turned out to do battle on a fresh track which had been laid out by the Alabama International Speedway people under the able direction of Gary Bailey. Consideri1J.g the land he had to work with - the infield of the speedway was as flat as the palm of you hand, Bailey did a creditable job. The inverted ice cream cones of jumps were somewhat flattened during practice, but one mound never did smooth out enough for the riders to jump. They would attack it in a variety of ways, some very side ways, and once at the top they just slithered down and hoped for the best. The advent of the water truck created consternation among the racers with good reason. The flat portions or the track were immediately turned into mires. Some of these never did dry but. Barry Higgins commented, "There were guys riding with both feet down and still falling." 250 Championship The 250 event, the last of the AMA National Championship series for that class was dominated by Gary Bailey. it was his day and he could do not wrong. Even so, Arkansas rider Richard Jordan (CZ) got a hole shot in all three motos. Jordan has an absolutely amazing ability to get off the line fast. He went on to win, the first moto by a substantial lead'. Bailey was third at the end of the first lap behind Bultaco-mounted John Borders. He passed Borders in the second lap to cop second, which he maintained. Gary seemed to relax about two-thirds of the way through the mota when he realized he had a solid second. Meanwhile, Jim Weinert (Yam) was fourth by the end of the first lap and a couple of laps later moved into third. The final tally read that way: Jordan, Bailey and Weinert. Weinert did some fancy riding in the beginning of the first moto, but rode fairly conservatively the rest of the day since all he had to do was place in order to wrap up second place in the National standings. it's been a long season. Barry Higgins was on hand for his first appearance in the south in a while replete with a new 250 Ossa prototype. He only made a couple of laps with it before a rod snapped, retiring him for the day. A tough break - in view of the fact that he was to have ridden the 400 Yankee; special pistons did not arrive in time, however. ' The second mota was led by Jordan into' the first corner followed by Weinert; another Jordan: Bultaco-mounted Scott; and Bailey. By the third lap, Gary was second and Weinert third, and in the third lap Bailey passed Richard Jordan to take over the lead. Towards the end of the mota Jim Weinert dropped from sigh t for a little while but finished in eighth place. During the same time, Bailey and Jordan were engaging in some crowd thrilling dicing. Bailey took the flag followed by Jordan and Australian Matt Daley, showing good form on his Yamaba. Jordan led the final moto into the first corner followed by John Williams (CZ) and Husky rid}'r, Gary Semics. Bailey got a terrible start, going into that first corner fifteen tho Going down the back straigh t on the first lap he was twelfth. By the second lap he was tenth. And so it went with Gary picking riders off. By the fifth lap,' he was fourth behind the original three leaders: Jordan, Willi~sand Semics. And Brad demolished some DiHBrake champagne after winning the ,~ overall. IJ ~:I \4 .. , _ 'l.<.tJJ + .. • 'I Semics led five laps towards the end only to yield to Bailey just about the time the white flag came out. Jordan fell but was up and off again without relinquishing his position. Gary Bailey came around to take the checkered to an uproarious cheer from the spectators. Semics came across second and Jordan third. 500 Non-ehampionship The 500 class was led into the first turn by Wyman Priddy, a CZ-mounted Texan who has shown remarkabie improvement this past season. He was followed by Gary Chaplin, Brad Lackey and John DeSoto. DeSoto, looking very smooth, albeit flamboyant, immediately began closing on the top three. By the third lap he was first ahead of Priddy and Lackey; all three pulled way ahead of the pack. In the fourth lap, Brad fell coming out of a trench but was off again without any loss in position. Gary Belley (right! diced ferociously to win the 250 ove~il. 6. ,_ • • . ,