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/125802
u o ~ w Z W ..J (J > (J He has won tour bi~ motocrosses in a row: urand I nternational I rophee des NatIons, Matocros.s des Nations, and now the first Trans·AMA. Roger DeCoster is very. very hot. by Gary Van Voorhis & Todd Rafferty COPETOWN, ONTARIO, CAN., Sept. 24, 1972 - After twin overall wins at the prestigious Trophee des Nations (250cc) and Motocross des Nations (500cc), Suzuki star Roger neCoster shows no sign of relaxing. DeCoster dominated both 45 min. motos at Cope town to win the Trans-AMA opener. The World Champion's only serious competition came from Maico rider Ake Jonsson, who led nearly half of the first moto until DeCoster got by. Jonsson and Yamaha team rider Marty Tripes led the field into the first tum, DeCoster and Heikki Mikkola squeezed in behind. The Kawasaki prototypes of John DeSoto and Brad Lackey were righ t behind. Jonsson opened a five second lead in the early lap, moving well on the bumps, humps, holes, and off-camber nasties. DeCoster and Mikkola con tested second place for a spell, as Lackey, DeSoto and Tripes made up the next con tingen t. DeSoto took a spill on the fourth lap and came around slowly, then pulled - off. DeCoster pulled out on Mikkola as the three fron t runners increased their lead, with Brad Lackey just off the pace in fourth. Tripes held fifth spot, followed by Yamaha teammates, Gary Jones and Jim Weinert. Nearing the halfway mark, DeCoster and Mikkola had both closed on Jonsson as all three began lapping the tail-end~rs. DeCoster, picking lines that no one else even seemed to consider., moved around Jonsson as Mikkola held third with a ten second deficit. This established the finish ing order, and though Jonsson stayed tigh t on smooth Roger for the remaining laps, the champ gave him no opportunity to regain the lead. Lackey was fourth, follower.! by Gary J ones, Mike Runyard (CZ) and Rich Thorwaldson (Suz). The start of the second moto was almost a replay of the first, although DeCoster quickly took the lead from Marty Tripes. The Yamaha youngster held off Ake Jonsson for one lap, but surrendered second place on the nex t round. Mikkola moved by into third on the following lap. Brad Lackey and Jim Pomeroy (Bul) were both on the move, and captured fourth and fifth respectively after seven laps on the rugged Cope town circuit. But DeCoster was really stretching au t a virtually uncon tested lead, and he lapped So~y DeFeo on the eighth laP. Jim Weinert moved up to challenge Tripes, and took sixth place at the halfway point. A few laPS later, he got by Pomeroy in fifth, where he finished. Tripes held seven th until the last few minutes, when he ran out of gas. DeCoster compiled nearly a 30 sec. advantage at the flag, with Jonsson, Mikkola, and Lackey also repeating their first moto finishes. Jim Pomeroy was sixth, then Mike Runyard (CZ), Gary Chaplin (Mai) and French champion Serge Dacou (Bul). (Hus) flJling out the top six. GrossI opened an early 10 sec. lead in Mota 2 over Dewayne Jones (Yam) and Jim West. J ones injured his an kle on lap three and retired, followed two laps later by West with a sick engine. Gary Bailey moved in to second followed closely by Lamppu, who moved past two laps later. Bailey's engme soured four laps later and Grossi found himself the victim of the same malady on the last lap leaving Lamppu in first place cooling it. Gary Semics, realizing that he was now second and Lamppu was aPparently unaware, turned the wick WFO and caugh t the Kawasaki just before the finish to take a close victory and slip into second overall. One new face on the team with a machine seldom seen at big bore even ts was the Penton KTM 250 of Jack Penton. Jack put together a fine ride in Mota 1 for a 10th, only to have spark loss sideline him in the second even t. The bike will be contesting the series and, with the promise it showed at Cope town , it could be a real sleeper. CAN NOTHING STOP HIM? Maybe Robert,- meanwhil'-rDeCoster Rolls On; i Lacleey Top Yanle . ....it!':'.&a~jJ!t"lil.:J...... . . . . • . . ~~j . FillIes 14 ~'. -= Mike- Runyard ;ppeared ;n a 400 CZ to put r himself and the marque in the top ten. He The little differences that make a champ. The start of the International class and Roger DeCoster gets more Suzuki power to the ground and gets going. 250 Support Class Peter L~mppu, in his first ride for new sponsor Kawasaki, pu t the lime green marque in to the winner's circle as overall victor in the 250 Support class. L';"'ppu, ,.,Iw wu .ixth overall in the .. 4-.~~". Inter-AMA series on a Montesa, found himself withou t a ride after the series, then signed with Kawasaki for R&D on the new piston port model. .0 Mota one was a duel between Husky riders Bob Cro...' and Jim West with looked comfort Ie ... Lamppu playing the spoiler in third place. Grossi took the flag flfSt and a hard-eharging Lamppu followed West in close company for second and third. Frank Stacy (CZ) picked up fourth with Gary Bailey (Bul) and Gary !iemies-" .... • •• • 0.- .... I ....... ~ ~ ..