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/125832
Maico master Adolf Weil just put it on everybody and wheeliad out the door, down the track. past the checkered, etc., etc. himself to the 500 Champ's back fender. Hakan stayed with Roger for six laps until the role of jet setter for the past two weeks got to Roger and he slowed up. After dispensing with Roger, Hakan began charging and passed Bauer of the Dynamic Maico duo. Just as he set his sights on Adolf and second position the moto finished. Coasting his bike across the Iinc, Arne Kring took the checkered flag almost half a lap ahead of Adolf Well, followed closely by Andersson, then Bauer, DeCoster, Gerrit Wolsink, Pierre Karsmakers, Brad Lackey as ftrst American, then Gary Jones on his new factory GP Maico. Torleif Hansen crashed the factory Kawasaki and packed it in for the day. Jim Pomeroy ran out of gas only two laps from the finish. Jimmy Weinert had been battling it out with Lackey until his engine seized. The Second 500 Moto Hakan Andersson and Chris Harnmargren are using the Trans-AMA series to try some suspension changes on their mono-shock Yamahas before next year's GP season. After the first moto, both riders had their bikes tom down to have the damping changed and it was looking very doubtful if the bikes would be back together in time for the start of the final moto. Hakan stood on the starting line and received his bike from a frantic Japanese mechanic 30 seconds before the gate fcll. Adolf Well blasted to the lead this time followed by Wolsink, Kring, Andersson and Gary Semics. Arne Kring didn't like being anywhere other than ftrst place and he wasn't interested in playing follow the leader, so near the end of the first lap he tried to banzai past both Wolsink and Well on the off-<:amber downhill. The net result was that he stuffed himself in the snow fencing at the bottom of the hill and re-injured his thumb. Oh well, there's always next week at Orlando. On tpe fourth lap, Hakan passed Gerrit Wolsink, an upstanding professional man, as the PA announcer kept referring to him. Gerrit was looking a little tiretJ and kept dropping positions early. He was passed by teammate Bauer, then Gary Jones, after falling in a turn. Matter of fact, the track had everyone thoroughly pooped out midway through the second moto. Everyone, that is, except Adolf Well, who at 35 is probably the oldest rider still racing Grand Prix. Adolf just kept cruising along out front as Hakan tried his darndest to keep up the pace. The race ended with Well the winner. Since Arne Kring wasn't around, Adolf also received the overall win and his second Trans-AMA victory. Some motocrossers just don't worry about getting old. Hakan Andersson was second overall by finishing second in the moto, followed by Bauer, Wolsink, Geboers, then Mike Hartwig, who rode fantastically to take top American spot ahead of Roger DeCoster. Ame Kring was injury-ridden during the GP season, thought to be finished, over to replace Mikkola on a Husky and won the first moto going away. Semi-American Pierre Karsmakers had a disagreement with Gary Jones a few laps before the finish which saw Gary stuffed into the snow fence. There were two different versions of what happened; Gary's and Pierre's. Without anyone around to see what happened back in a wooded section of the course, no opinions are offered. The 250 Class Throughout the Trans-AMA series young Billy Grossi had proven himself to be the fastest rider in the Support Class except when he was falling down, which seemed to be during every race. Kawasaki came up with the solution to the problem. They gave Billy a detuned bike which was just the trick. for Road Atlanta. Billy led both the first and second 15-minute motos from start to finish. The third moto went to Ron Pomeroy (Bul) but Billy wasn't too far behind. It was Ron Pomeroy who gave Billy the most trouble all day, but a fouled spark plug near the end of the first moto while he was runninJl: behind Billy prevented Ron from being a direct threat in the overall scoring. Rich Eierstedt (Hon) and Ricky Jordan (Mai) added to the challenge and provided a ferocious battle over third and fourth place to keep things exciting. The 1973 Husqvarna Trans-AMA Motocross at Road Atlanta was somewhat of a revelation, representing what is, perhaps, the ultimate for motocross racing in the United States. Carlsbad and the Coliseums were neat, but when the tracks were bad, the facilities were good, and vice versa. For the 1973 Road Atlanta Tnns-AMA, they had Rolf Tibblin re-do portions of the motocross course to make it longer and more challenging. From there, they spent much time and money preparing the course. The track was fantastic and so was the racing. • Results: 500 Class: 1. Adolf Wei! (Mai (2-1); 2. Hakan Andersson Yam (3-2): 3. wun Blluer Mal (4-3); 4. Gerrlt Wolslnk Mal (6-4); 5. Roger Decoster (Suz) 5-7; 6. Pierre Karsmakers Vam (7:-8); 7. Mike Hartwig Hus (10-6); 8. Tim Hart Yam (11·9); 9. Gary Jones Mal (9-12)' 10. Brad Lackey Kaw (8-15)': 11. Mike Runyard Suz (16-10); 12. Gary Semlcs Hus (18-11): 13. Jim Pomeroy Bul (17·13): 14. Chris Hammargr.n Vam (12-18); 15. Jim Cooke Kaw (21-14); 16. Arne Kring Hus (1-34); 17_ Werner SChutz Mal (15-21); 18. SylvillO Geboers Suz (34-5; 19_ Mark Blackwell Hus (22-17); 20. Tony DiStefano CZ (27-16). 250 Clilss: 1. Billy Grossi (KiIW!: 2. Rich Eierstedt (Hon); 3. Rick Jordiln (Ma ); 4. Billy Clements (Hus); 5. John Borg (Vam); 6. Ron self (Mai); 7. Barry Higgins (Kaw); 8. Tom Doherty (Vam); 9. Ron Pomeroy (Bul); 10. Tony Wynn (Hon). Bradley punched through for top American in the fint moto. Yea, 'murka. Yea, Brad. came 13