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/125815
.. !::! 1 ... M Q) M Two In. A Row For Willi Bauer DeCoster Maintains slight Point Margi > :; .., ~ w Z w oJ THE U. S.GP U > U Roger DeCoster (1) held the lead on Willi Bauer into the first turn in the opening moto. On the fourth lap Bauer took the lead and held it. bv Tod Raffertv Photos Mostly by Steve French CARLSBAD, CAL., June 24 - World Championship motocross made its U.S. debut bHore a crowd of 40,000 fans today, as Willi Bauer (Mai) won both motos convincingly over current champion Roger DeCoster. Bauer swept the Czechoslovakian GP in similar fashion, and today's victory moved him to within four points of DeCoster ill the world standings. Top American rider was Brad Lackey (Kaw) in eighth place, followed by John DeSoto in ten th aod Jim Weinert twelfth. Jim Pomeroy, forced to practice on a borrowed machine when his works bike dido't arrive in time, managed to tu,ro the fourth fastest lap in time trials on Saturday. (FIM procedu..., calls for qualifying times to de te rmine the choice of starting positions.) Marty Tripes was sidelined with an injured foot, leaving Gary Jones to carry the Honda banner in its first 500cc GP appearance. The Honda Elsinore 450 (give or take) looked and sounded like the most horsepowerfuJ number on the troKk, bu t teething problems became apparent and Jones could only manage 17th and 18th on the unfamiliar machine. DeCoster was ihe odds-oo favorite going in, though many favored Pierre Karsmakers who had set the second fastest qualifying time on the Yamaha. Wben asked in an interview who he'd pick as the winner, Brad Lackey said, "DeCoster. If his bike doesn't break. One hundred per cent." Announcer: uThaes it, huh?" Brad: "Thal's iL" Weinert was asked what the fans could expect to see, and said, "Watch the turns. Lotta passing in the turns." 500cc MOTO 1 Brad's prediction held up for only three laps, as DeCoster took the lead in the first tum with Bauer and Banks (BSA!) close on him. Karsmakers was just just off the pace in third. Roger was gassin' it fron the git-go, but in the fast bumpies the Suzuki demonstrated early a serious tail end twitch. We asked Roger before the race about the Suzuki's suspension characteristics. HI t's not as good as it could be," be said. "But it's okay." John OeSoto started well and was holding fifth behind Karsmakers. Jim Pomeroy and Bengt Aben (Hus) tangled in a tum and went down, putting them both out of the moto. Bauer p...,ssured DeCoster in every turn, and within four laps they had swapped positions twice on the downhill as Roger narrowly shut the door in the tum. But Bauer finally dove inside approachjng the downhill jump, DeCoster pulling alongside on the hill, Bauer diving deeper in to the slow tum and "laking first. DeCoster hung close for a lap, but Fast Willj had the handling advan tage and the horsepowers to pull out an eight second lead within a few laps. John Banks was holding third, not far behind DeCoster, and providing a pleasing audio contraSt to the unmuffled two-strokes. Jaak Van Velthoven moved by Karsmakers and 'into fourth place at the 30-minute mark. Werner Shutz was running sixth. DeCoster sliced a few seconds from Bauer's lead in the late laps, with Banks falling slightly back. The Maico's of Schutz and Genit Wolsink both moved by Karsmakers in to fourth and fifth near the end. Chris Hammargren was eighth and John DeSoto ninth and best American finish in the moto. Lackey was tenth, AkeJonsson eleventh. SOOccMOTO 2 Into the rust tum, Gary Jones! Lackey right behind him, foDowed by Bauer and Banks. The spectators wen t berserko. DeCoster was running ahout eigh th as Bauer powered past Lackey and set out after J ones. Banks took another lap to get around Bradley and Bauer blew past Jones, then Lackey also got by Jones as the Honda seemed to slow. Banks was gaining slightly on Bauer, but Wolsink was flying and went by the BSA and closed on Bauer. Stoulka (CZ) retired with mechanicals. Lackey, Hammargren and Van Velthoven were dicing for fourth, Van Velthoven taking the advan tage and drawing slightly ahead. Gary J ones pulled off at about the half-way point, as did Jim Pomeroy, more than a little dejected. Bauer lapped Karsmakers as Van Velthoven blasted past John Banks on the long uphill and stretched out a 7-seceond lead over the thumper. Wolsink had moved up to challenge Bauer in the closing laps, bu t probably decided not to jeopardize his teammate's victory as they finished a tight 1-2. Christer Hammargren tried to get hy Banks near the end, but the British Baron held him off to finish fourth. Brad Lackey' and Ake Jonsson had a battle for sixth, advantage to Bradley. John DeSoto came in eighth, a lap down. DeCoster had retired with gearbox trouble, SO the anticipated