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/125811
~ i ... ... '" ... Iti g c ~ w Z W ..J CJ > CJ The banner says it. Ake Jonsson from start to finish in moto one. It was his day again. by J ohn Huetter Photos by Patrick Neil, Art Friedman and Huetter LlVERMORE. CAL., Nov. 26, 1972 Awakening to the sound of fog horns, then a quick rush over bridge and bay through the fog pockets into wi n te r-greened hills studded with grazing animals and oak trees to a winding road and a long hike irr the winter sunshine, then finally arriving at a place where long-haired girls on horseback ride beside you and ask to see your .ticket or pass. They say they don't 'understand about motoreycles too much, then gallop off to stand on a little knoll. They look down on a crowded pit which has more than its share of walling banners and, what would appear to the rest of the world to be: freaks. This is the Bay Area and believe it or not, America, native son Brad Lackey is very straight in comparison with the environment. They have come here to express an outdoorsy freedom-loving thing that focuses on motocross. Bikes are simple and they have heard that these Europeans are fast. DeCoster is Leading Mota three with a styLe that cannot be duplicated when the girL in the basebaLl cap with purpLe wine stains on her Lips turns to her compamon and asks iJ he's European or A mericlln. The cast of characters is basically the same as the long series draws to a close but the numbers are dwindling for this next to last round of TransAMA motocross. The Commonweath CZ contil1ge.nt, Bickers and Nunn. aren't here. Ileikki Mikkola has gone home to Finland since his bike was stolen. Jim Weinert is not entered nor will he race at Saddleback Park. What it amounts to, really, is that the spoilers and the supporting roles are shifted around to o.ther riders who are maybe hitting their stride or getting their bik~s sorted ou t or having a particularly good day. There is no news to impart. Ake Jonsson won overall with his usual two firsts and a second, deciding any disputed finish by winning the last moto. Brad Lackev was first American, this time at a v~ry steadily achieved fourth overall. Mikkola was gone and Aberg crashed heavily in We last moto so the World Champ, Roger DeCoster, moved up from his seemingly constant third overall on the Western swing to a second. "Go. Brad, go. Oh, wow, look. He's sixth. Gas it, BradLey." Everybody knows Brad:" name. They can identify with a nineteen year-old motocross rider from LaJayette. HeLl, they were racing against him here III Carnegie maybe a ye.lr or two «go. Peter Lamppu won the upport class with come from behind riding in the last moto to get by Cary Semics (Cary was WFO as only a young charger with "factory ride can be.) and put the 11 u sq v a rn a-moun ted Eastenler in to second overall with two seconds. Lamppu, again as usual. seemed to out.p-ower the other 250 riders both physically and with experience as the reliable Kawasaki kept together for Jast lap wins. That wasn't too much of surprise, either. Well, Peter:" doing a pretty good today. At lellst there's one Finn LeJt in there - Finnish chauvinist. What got people's attention was a collection of things that started to happen and then didn't. Bruce Baron led a moto for a few laps on the 250 \-Ionda two-stroke and then had some problems, both mechanical and from other riders. Honda factory rider Toichiro Yoshimura, campaigning in the International class, pulled in in the last moto after about two or three laps. Bugs Mann was on the only four-stroke and qualified for the 250 money motos. He diced with Baron for a while in the first support moto after getting a terrible start. The old 250 EISA wasn't up to the task even if Bugs was. lie didn't go out for the second moto. Former Grand National Champion Alert LawwiLl stood by Bugs' motor home, grin ning and signing programs. He had stood beside the track eating a hot dog and watching the motocross with rapt lind studied attention. lie Loohed Like he was seeing his Jirst motorcycle race. I/e grinned a Lot and seemed to reaLly enjoy the rQugh sttL!!, at least as a spectator. I10nda has definitely arrived on the rno (across scene. There were developmen t engineer~ and guys in red !londa jackets allover the place. There was also a giant rent-a-truck fuJi of bikes and parts and tools. American Honda really doesn't mess around when they decide to go racing. The bikes seemed to have adequate power hut didn't handle all that well. They were uncertain in tlle conlers and the rear ends were allover the place in the whoop-de-doos. They need some more sorting ou t. Of the large entry of Japanese national riders, the best show was by Masaharu Takezawa. lie had never looked too impressive before. mainly like a fast. llashy amateur. At Camegie, right behind him. Jonsson and DeCoster While the Eur.opean sideh.akers were mind-bCJ!lgling~ Thes~ guys'don't merely endui'e. 'l'hey raee ' , motocross. The whole way. . i ( .. I • < : " , " r,.·