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/125805
by Gary Van Voorhis, Cycle News East Serge Bacou is one of the many new faces on the Trans-AMA fall circuit. Serge, 25 and a native of France, is a works Bultaco rider and the first of what may tum in to an invasion of Bultaco riders into the world of the Japanese (Suzuki-Kawasaki-Yamaha) and the European-Scandanavian (Maico-CZ-Husky) makes which dominate the motocross standings. The first taste of motocrossscrambles that Serge had was on a BSA four-stroke in 1962 and, with it, the bug got hold. During the late 50's and early 60's BSA was the scourge of the four-strokes being hustled around the European circuits, most notably by Englishman Dave Bickers. Bacou continued. riding BSA until 1967 because ''The two-stroke was hard to get", In 1968, Serge began working with Bultaco to do development on their bikes which led to competition on that brand and, finally, dual 250 and 500 French championships in 1971 and because an acdden t forced him to curtail his competition earlier in the season, just the 500 national title this year. Still not too shabby in a country with the fiercest weekly competition in Europe. " In 1971, Serge was keen to make the trip to the U.S. but it was felt that another year of competition would benefit him so the date was changed to this year. Campaigning for the French championships iit both classes leaves Serge little time to compete in the 1l1teplational series and, it was well reasoned, that another year of competition and seasoning plus the added development on the large displacement Bul would work to an advantage. Serge has not proved his sponsors-Gemoto East and Bultaco of Spain - wrong. In the first two motos of the series, Serge, against some of the top works competition from the U.S. and abroad, raced to seventh (Cope town) and fifth (Honda Hills) overall placings. A rider pile-up ended his third round competition after only a quarter lap at St, Peters, Mo. The preparation for the U.S. trip was kept to a minimum with only a complete 350 plus spare engine ana extra parts as well as a full tool box. Serge is a top mechanic as well as rider and does all his own wrenching, while making notes of his performance, the bike's performance and any changes or developments that might be incorporated to, increase the Bultaco's performance-reliability. Everything is noted and sent in report style to the factory for future reference. "He is the perfect test rider" noted John Grace, president of Cemoto East, "meticulous in preparation, detail and ability to transfer to paper exactly what the machine does. ,,. Conversing with Serge was much like a race ...there were straigh ts, jumps, curves and whoop-de-doos but, between his English and my French and some international bench racing signals we made each other understood. SERGE BA,COU ~ " o DOUBLE FRENCH CHAMP 2 ~ U >U National Champion of France is both 250 and 500 classes in 1971; Champ in the 500 class this year. Serge Bacou pushes his Bultaco toward development and 400cc's, pick for top riders and was virtually The first thing that was immediately four years have prepared him well. amazed that Tripes was only sixteen. clear was that Serge and his wife Kathy Machine preparation so far in the series Jim Pomeroy, another Bultaco rider, (for lack of the correct spelling) enjoy has required only minor work. plus Gary Jones and Jim Weinert also the U.S. and are making every effort The money system in Europe is between races to familiarize themselves structured differently than in the U.S. rate very high with Serge and, in with the country with as much general, he thinks most of the "In America, you must win to make sigh tseeing as possible. money but in France you get starting Americans are very good. It was also evident that American monies so that if you do not finish When I asked his fu ture plans, Serge Western movies had made an impact on good, you do not lose". replied that he would like to stay for them because Serge couldn't wait for ''Today, in Europe, Roger DeCoster the winter series of motocross but that the Houston round of the series to get a is the best. But tomorrow, who his contractual obligations would take Stetson and a pair' of cowboy boots or knows?" "Joel Robert is also a great him back to Europe for testing of the Orlando, so he can to to Disney World. rider but the factory involvement new 400 Bultaco prototype and this will Back to racing. '" must do my own (Suzuki) is so great that it puts other carry on for the European motocross mechanics because only 1 know how' riders sometimes in a disadvan tage." season, also. Then with a smile and his must ride." 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