Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

. Ii' 0.. M ..... 0> ~ UNADILLA Mikkola Wins Inter-AMA Series Grossi picks up Support CD' g < II) ~ w Z W ..J U > U Mikkola won both motos and the series. UNADILLA, N .Y., JULY 29 The 1973 Inter-AMA Series ended here today with Heikki Mikkola (Hus) of Finland winning the series overall ahead of Pierre Karsmakers (Yam) by taking the final event of the five race summer series with a convincing win in the ftrst moto and by staying ahead of a come-from-behind charge by Marty Tripes to capture the second moto as well. Jaroslav Falta (CZ) of Czechoslovakia finished second overall and Americanized Dutchman Karsmakers was third in the 250 International class which in 1975 will - count towards the World Championship. Young Bill Grossi pleased his new sponsor, Kawasaki, by winning the 500. Support class ahead of Bob Harris (Mai) and Ron Pomeroy (BuI). Harris, however, clinched the support class series 'for Maico. 250 I ntemational Unadilla was the final event in the AMA's five race Inter-AMA series and was billed as the United States 250 Grand Prix; the event was under observation by a Belgain FIM member in preparation for Grand Prix status as a 250 world championship event in 1974. Gary Jones turned in the fastest qualifying time on the rock covered hilly 1.2 mile course during Saturday's practice, but 'when the starting gate dropped on Sunday for the first forty minute moto, it was Heikki Mikkola's Husqvama that jumped out in the lead followed closely by Antonin Baborovsky (CZ). Mikkola began pulling away from the rest of the field bu t Baborovsky was seemingly tied on to his rear fender and the two s'tretched out a long lead over Pierre Karsmakers. (Yam), having his own problems with Jaroslav Falta (CZ). Behind them were Jim Pomeroy (Bul), who ,had quickly worked his way up to fifth after a poor start, Gary Chaplin (Mai), and Jim Weinert (Kawl. Heikki kept the Husky on its line and never got it out of shape. The same couldn't be said for Baborovsky, though, as he broke over berms or missed them completely and had the back end of the CZ bouncing every which way as he tried to narrow down the distance. The four Europeans were obviously in a group to themselves as they increased their distance over the Americans. Only Pomeroy was able to break out and attempt to catch the four. Even though he was able to actually gain on them by two and three seconds a lap towards the end of the moto, the distance was just too great to make up. It seemed all the other better Americans were having problems. Brad Lackey was lapped twice when his engine went sour, Mike Runyard lost a footpeg, and Rick Thorwaldson had a crankshaft nut come loose on the other Team Suzuki. John DeSoto was having a problem with his bike not wanting to stay up on two wheels, and only Gary Jones knew why he couldn't even come close to the practice time which he set on Saturday, a considerably faster time than the present pace Mikkola was main taining, While the crowd was cheering on Pomeroy in his attempt to catch the Europeans, Pierre was having trouble holding onto third place over Falta. The Dutchman was leaning his Yamaha so far over in the turns that the shifter was being knocked continuously out of gear. Special crash bars which had been attached to the frame to protect the brake and shift pedals were being ben t out of shape by the rough track. It was these missed shifts that allowed Falta to move by Pierre and take over third place behind Baborovsky. The moto finished out with Mikkola" still holding on smoothly to first, then Baborovsky, , F aI ta, Karsmakers and Pomeroy, still about ten seconds behind the ·Europeans. Gary Chaplin was first through tum one in the second moto with Gary Jones hot on his wheels. Then came Baborovsky, . Mikkola, Falta, Gary Semics and Lackey. It didn't take Baborovsky and Mikkola very long to get past the two home country boys. They quickly resumed their first moto battle over the front position. DeSoto was running well, around fifth position by the third lap, but he then tangled with Falta and Karsmakers and went down, hurting his ankle and forcing him back to the pits. By the fourth lap it could be seen that Marty Tripes was putting on a charge from the back of the pack, picking off riders on every portion 0 f the course and moving him up three or four positions a lap. The order by lap five was Mikkola and Baborovsky still tangling over ftrst, Chaplin, who was soon to be passed by Lackey for third, then Karsmakers who went down and lost four positions, one of them to the flying Marty. The other three posi tions were filled by Baborovsky, Weinert and Pomeroy but they all went out in the next few laps, Baborovsky and Weinert crashing on rocks· and Pomeroy DNF'ing with a dead engine. Marty Tripes continued his charge and as the moto drew into its final stages he also zapped past Chaplin, Lackey and Falta. He pulled within eight seconds of Mikkola only to have the checkered flag bring the race to an end. down-uphill section, Harris found himself on the wrong side of Pomeroy as they went into the following sweeper and Bob went down, getting back _ up again in fourth behind Grossi. Grossi moved up on Pomeroy with-Harris now out of the way and the two raced each other for the remainder of the moto. On the last lap Billy gassed his factory Kawasaki on by Ron's Bultaco to take second. Hartwig meanwhile had run away with the moto, half a lap ahead of the rest of the fiel~ The second go:round was Mike's downfall when he let himself get tangled up in a ftrst tum pileup that bent his bike and took him almost two laps to get running again. Bob Harris found himself in the lead with Hartwig ou t of contention, and he held his Maico wide open to the finish to win the moto ahead of Pomeroy and G'rossi, with Gary Ingham in fourth. Hartwig tried to come ou t and run the fmal moto but after his engine loaded up and he lost second gear, he knew his day was over. Bob Harris got another good start but before the first lap was over Grossi-had slipped by and taken over the lead. Things seemed fairly consistent until toward the final laps where Harris seemed to tire out somewhat and let Doug Grant slip by to capture second behind Grossi, with Bob then third, followed by Ron Pomeroy and John Dallaire. 500 Support If Husky's Mike Hartwig could rack up another three moto sweep as· he had been doing, then Mike would walk away with the 500 title. There were others who had a chance, like Bob Harris, Ron Pomeroy and Bill Grossi. When Hartwig quickly took to the lead of the first twenty minute moto, things seemed to be going quite as expected. Mike was followed by Pomeroy and Harris who were running side -by side with Grossi hanging back in fourth. On the second lap as they CanlJ' out of "screw you", a treacherous RESULTS: 250 CLASS: 1. Heikki Mikkola (Hus): 2. Jaroslav Falta (eZ): 3. Pierre Karsmakers (Vam): 4. Goiry Chaplin (Mai); 5. Gary Semics (Hus); 6. Gary Jones (Hon): 7. Rich Eientedt (HOn); a. Boo Grossi (Hus): 9. Tim Hart (Vam); 10. Tony Distefano (ez). OPEN CLASS: 1. Bill Grossi (Kaw); 2. 80b Harris (Ma!); 3. Ron Pomeroy (Bul); 4. John Dallilire (Mai): 5. Gordon Oehs (SuI); 6. Gary Ingham (Bu!): 7. David Clemenci (Bul); 8. Joe Ferrini (Vam); 9. James Snow' (Mal); 10. Wayne Clukey (eZ). Jim Gianatsis Photos by Dave Fitzgerald & Gianatsis

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