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/125822
.. ill -...... Finland I M .... 'C) - r---:-:;;;::-:-=-:==;;;;;;;---~-:------:-----;:-:-;:----:=;:--, N co ~ « en ;: w - Z W -J U > U Two examples of why motocross in Finland is such a gnat sport. Jaroslav Falta led the CZ contingency in with a seventh. Jim Pomeroy would have been third overall but for a last lap e:rash which left him sixth. Heikki Mikkola had a good run, netting himself second overall. to ten th. Two of the riders passed him on the last lap as pain destroyed both his concentration and control.. It was a bloody shame but it was reality. Jim's loss of three places in the closing minutes of moto two also dropped him three places in the overall standings. A third and a seventh were good for third overall behind Hakan Andersson and Heikki Mikkola. A third and a tenth "only" pulled sixth overall wi th 11 GP poin ts. Weil, Moisseiev, and Uno Palm all totaled 12 points tying them for third nominally but the place on the trophy stand went to Adolf. Andersson's perfect fmishes for the maximum GP points: 39, also won the World Championship for him - a title which the dedicated Swede richly deserves. He has always been good, second in the world in both 1971 and 1972, but there is nothing like being Number One. That's what Hakan is today. championship but have been thwarted by Finland's liquor laws which don't permit sale of bottles on Sundays bu t individual drinks are OK. We march back into the ''ravintola'' where Joel gets the inspired idea of sitting down and having everybody order two bottles of champagne. The waitress doem't believe us as we insist in Swedish, English and occasional courtesy words of .Finnish that we need champagne for the two World Champions:'" two bottles or more for ea",h of us. Finally, it starts to arrive by the ice-bucketful. Pomeroy and I slip three bottles each under our shirts and wobble out looking pregnant with sheepish grins on our faces. Hakan and Joel hassle with the manager to get some more bottles as they finish one off and settle the bill for eight magnums of the French bubbly. The Finn is· not cooperative. A very international crew waits for The post-race celebrating was, strangely subdued, another reflection of a very reserved Nordic temperament and the dripping forests all around. Hakan said, "I didn't want to buy a bottle of champagne beforehand in case 1 dido't win it." In the pits, Pomeroy produced a pint of scotch and the Czechs some . IZ% Pilsener beer and that was drunk quietly with more toasts than guzzling as the thin, blonde Andersson grinned politely and, perhaps, reflected on his accomplishment and how long it took to get there. His mood changed after dinner and a sauna, however. As Jim and I were coming out from eating we ran into the new 1973 champion and also the six-time champion (including 1972) Joel Robert, the latter wearing a T-shirt that says Champion "Race Fan" on it. (Well, yes, I suppose he is.) They are togeth~r on a search for champagne to .properly celebrate Hakan's victory and us at the racing headquarters: A Swedish chant of "Ho-kan! Ho-Kan! Ho-Kan'" goes up as the corks pop and white fountains spill over the tables and floor. Pretty Finnish girls seem to appear through every door and glasses are stolen from behind the bar to be raised in a toast to Hakan Andersson. Joel Robert is among the first to Hft his glass. Hakan Andersson finally had his cel ebration. It was srnall enough recognition for a World Motocross Champion but there were no complain ts. Results: 1. Hakan. Andersson (Yam 1·1) Swed; 2. Heikki Mikkola tHus 4-3) Fin; 3. Adolf Well (Mai 2-) W. Ger; 4. Gunnady Moisseiev (KTM ~2) USSR; 5. Uno Palm (Puc 5-5) swed; 6. Jim Pomeroy (Bul 3-10) USA; 7. Jaroslav Falla (CZ 6-6) CSSR; 8 . .Joel Robert (Suz ·4) Bel; 9. Leonid Tchlnkarenko (eZ 9·9) USSR*; 10. Miroslav Halm (CZ 7·) CSSR*: ...1 1. Lars Ohberg (Mon -7) Fln*. *AII tied on points for ninth. •