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g f Q. ... en N cD '" c: .. en ~ w Z W ...J U > U 20th Annual Grand International Motocross DeCoster Over Robert; Vebkonen's Eyes Had It by "Light Brown" ORP-LE-GRAND, BELGIUM, Sept. 10, 1972 - This small town about 60 kilometers East of Brussels was the site of the 20th Annual Grand International Mo to.ero.s promoted by the Auto-Motor clubs ofOrp-Le-Grand. The season for ~1otocross is just about over in Belgium and this is considered one of the big events of the year. Ln 1971 the attendance was, I'm told, around 12,000. This year the weather was to be a factor - cloudy and cool. The races started with about 3000 watching and shortly thereafter the clouds opened up and the crowd started driCing away. The course was laid out next to one of the roads leading out of town in a field and on a couple of hillsides. Lots of nice green grass with no worn-out paths, or even any tracks. The race track was completely fenced with markers one meter inside the fences outlining the track. There was plenty of room. with the narrowest part being about 20 feet wide. There were hundreds of hay bales place.d in every spot that even remotely looked like trouble. At one o'clock the races and the rain started. Into the first comer, it was the rain winner hands down as 44 screaming 125's tried to take the same line. Some of them made it. After the first 125 mota the organizers decided to make it a little easier by eliminating one of the downhill-uphill combinations as only 10 125's finished the first mota. It didn't help too much, though, as only six rmished the second mota. 250 Jr. and 250 Sr. motos were conducted then it was time for the 250 International class, the rrrst of two 35-minute motos. The starting gate fell and Kalevi Vehkonen (Man) won the race to the first turn. Everyone made it except Joel Raben (Suz) and Vic Allen (Bul). They were up about half a minute after the last rider wen t by with Robert away first. Coming around for the first full lap, Vehkonen had a small lead on Willi Bauer (Mai) who had a big lead over third place Roger De Coster (Suz). On lap two, things started happening. Robert moved into fjfth place after passing 27 other rieters. Fourth was Adolf Weil (Mai) and just ahead of him was De Coster. Vehkonen continued to stretch his lead and, by the fifth lap, he was 23 seconds ahead of De Coster who has assumed Bauer's place when mud forced Bauer out of the race. Robert had moved into founh. The rain was really coming down now and everyone had their hands full just trying to go the same direction on the. course. Coming up on the ninth lap, Well started to shorten the distance between him and DeCoster. Lap ten saw Weil pass not only De Coster but Robert as well and was rapidly closing on Vehkonen. Halfway around the track Weil got off and was passed by Robert and De Coster before he remounted. The finish was Vehkonen, five seonds later Robert, three more seconds distant was De Coster, with Weil a distant 28 seconds back. After a lone break for the local boys, the second moto was started. The first lap Weil in the lead followed by Vehkonen, De Coster, Rulev (CZ) and Moisseiev (KTM). Robert was deep in the pack. Next time around, Weil opened up a big lead over second place De Coster followed by Vehkonen, Rulev, and Robert. By lap seven, Robert had moved into third. Vehkonen dropped au t with eye trouble. Seems like his eyes get infected when fouled by mud. The organizer stated that Vehkonen's doctor told him if it happened many more times he wouldn't live to see the next Olympics. Serious business. De Coster passes Weil for the win followed by Robert in third more than three and one half minutes later. 250cc INTERNATIONAL Orp-Le-Grand..l Belgium sept. 10, 197< by "Light Brown" 1. Roger De Coster-selgium-suz. 2. Joel Robert-eelgium-S'uz 3. Adolf well-W. Germany-Mai 4. Guemnady Molsseiev-Russia-K.T.M. 5. Jean.Paul MingeIS-Belgium-Bul 6. Philippe Camal-Belgium-cz 7. May Goessens-Belglum-eZ 8. Kalevi Vehkonen-Finland-Mon 9. Pavel RUlev-Russia-eZ 10. Alexei Klbirln-Russia-CZ 11. Harry Everts-selgium-Puc 12. ? Ropenko-Russia-KTM ~3. Claude Jobe-Belglum-Bul 14. Joseph Delre-Belgium-Sul 15. Christian Gouverner -Belgium-s'uz All other riders DNF both motos. Roger De Coster got on a 250 Suzuki to beat a star-studded field in the 20th Grand International in Belgium, includ~ng teammate Robert. ... ~ - Those CZ-mounted Russians don't seem to care what kind of shape they get in so long as they go fast. What they lack. in talent, they make up for in throttle. NEW ontcsR SALES & SERVICE Y"l 4f"l/t "'1 .~, 0 ALL NEW 123 COTA RIDE ONE HERE 1032 W. BROOKS ST.- ONTARIO.CA 91762 '714983·5871 ~I USED PARTS ALL MAKES ~"l(, 40 to 0 60"" off "'ESO ~IKES new&us SPEEDW I.A.P. 0 ~~ • SCRAMBLER MOTORCYCLES I EXHAUST TUNER 6624 Atlantic, Bell, Ca. (213) 581-3983 1801 W. 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