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Brad clinched the 500 National title while beating Gary Jones, who is 250 National Champ. He
was top yank, again.
Jonsson Again? Doesn't He Ever Have a Bad Day?
by Bruce Flanders
Photos by Pjltrick Neal
moto. lie came off his scooter on e or
SEATTLE, WAsi-r., Nov. 19, 1972 twice but got back on to finish sixth
Weather that was beautiful at least for
overall. I cartnot overstate the beautiful
Seattle in November, combined with a
starts Roberton got at PUJaIlup.
well-oiled AMA show left Lhe reported
Brad Lackey (Kaw) was another Mr.
20,000 motocross fans convinced they
Consistency for this days ride.
got their money's worth. A good sound
Consistent in a couple of ways; first was
system, grandstands, and for the ijrst
his poor starts, perhaps excusable
time
in
Wa'5hington's state's
against this star-studded field. Second
motorcyding history, beer sold at the
pain t of consistency; Bead rode very well
races were all pluses that made the
and hung inside the top ten in ea h of
Puyallup round one of the best in Lhe
the three motos. His overall was seven th
TransAMA series.
and first American which cinches his
Impressions
hold on top A merican for the series and
Really a nice day. Why did 1 pack my
National Chm:np in the 500 dass.
long underwear? Fou teen jumps per lap
Afterwards
on this course and they all look like
Brad also teamed up with Jim
somebody designed them backwards.
Pomeroy (Bul) who finished tenth and
The angle of approach is super steep and
second American, and they went for a
those guys are going straigh t in to the
ride on one of the Norton sidehacks.
air.
"
Brad drove; Pomeroy monkeyed_ This
Wow, what a cro:wd! They said
happened after the main show was over
20,000 but you could honestly bet on a
but many stuck around just to ruffneck
minimum of 14 or 15 thou. Boy, was
the hacksters.
there a traffic jam heading ou 1.
Brad also teamed up with Bryon
Ake Jonsson (Mai) destroyed his
Farnsworth, Kawasak~ tearn manager, to
opposition. He unloaded in the first
set top time for a rent-a-racer. After the
mota, a mild unload, and fought back
race's and; after the sidehack ride;
from a mid.pack position to a second
Lackey took a Plymouth rental all the
place by the end of the mo to.
way around the course. Jumps, hills,
Two more laps and be would have
berms and all. Of course, everybody was
dusted off Finn Heikki Mikkola (Hus)
still sober by then.
who won the first one. Mikkola DN F'd
The Winner
the other two motos by reason of
Ake Jonsson has won the TransAMA
mechanical failure; the second time in ~
series I ntcITlationaI class. There is,
row his 360 prototype has cost him a
mathematically, no way that anybody
probable win.
can beat him.
Joel Robert, (Say Joe-ell Row-Bare
His domination of the latter part of
or you're not with it) (Suz) made his
this series was phenomenal for
first appearance of the series. Physical
consistency and skill. He was challenged
condition of the rider is supposedly
strongly only by Heikki Mikkola, who
sound bu t mechanical condition of the
was plagued with minor mechanical
scooter put him in the DNF column aU
difficulties that put him back.
tluee motos.
250 Support Class
.
Roger DeCoster (Suz) is still going
easy on his left knee. He ran hot and
Bill Clements (Hus) was switched to
cold. Even when DeCoster is cold, he is
the 250 Support dass instead of being
tough to beat. His final placing was third
in the 500 International dass where he
overall and the best Suzuki finish.
was originally entered_ Bill was mo":e
Arne Kring (l-Ius) was Mr.
dominant in the two support motos
Consistency the whole day. ,He rode
than Ake was in the International. He
smoothly and made very rew mistakes.
won both of the 20 minute motos going
away.
He ended up second overall without
ever finishing higher than fourth in any
The sidehacks blew everybody's'
one mota.
minds. The Honda hack of the brothers
Hans Maisch (Mai) is an impressively
HaUer from Holland did the job in one
smooth rider. He make very few
moto aqd finished second to one of the
mistakes and doesn't waste time sailing
orton hacks in the second moto to win
through the air. Crossed up and smiling
overall.
for the photographers, he ended up up
The two winner, Jonsson and
wi th fi fth overall.
Clemen 15, were last seen smiling and
Andy Roberton (Hus) could give
counting their mOl).ey. as were the
starling lessons ro Eddie Mulder. He was
promoters_ In every way, Puyallup was a
the leader for th; first few laps of every
success.
Are they getting along any better now than they did in Europe during the battle for the
r.hampionsh ip?
British 2?O Ch.am,? Andy Roberton put together his best rides of the series for a fourth overall;
even gettmg thiS high. Unusual for him, eh, wat?
