Page 12
October 2,1973
Interview:
Kenny
In the program for the Golden
Gate mile there was a brief blurb
on Ken Roberts, which,began with
a 1972 quote, "There's always
next yetrt. Now it's next yetJl", lind
after finishing fourth in his FIrst year as
an Expert, 21-year.old Ken Roberts has
won the 1973 Grand National
Championship. In his first year as a
Novice he was Number One.' The
, foUowing year, as a Junior, he was
Number One. Ken Roberts is
singleminded.
We haven't checked the statistics, but
it ~ doubtful that anyone else has risen
so swiftly to the top in professional
motorcycle Ncing. Roberts and his
persistent racetrack s'/aadow Gary Scott,
second place Fmisher this year, have
literally stormed through the ranks of
championship competition. All of a
sudden they were just there, out front.
Some of the veterans on the circuit
doubted that the quick kids could last.
Others went looking" for more
horsepower, and a few probably began
to admit, reluctantly, that the years
were piling up. A nd out East a lot of
folks had to be saying, "Hey, who are
those guys anyway?"
Like the majority of top-ranked pro
riders, Ken Robens is a small guy, about
5 '6 ", maybe 135 at the outside. He's
got an ahtleticaUy solid build. Your high
scIJool probably had a Ken Roberts
replica, the kid who was too small for
football but made first string /aalfback
his sophomore year or the l
