Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Big pro dolD~S in Fee-nix Ronnie Martinez leads Californian Larry Watkins. The first practice's mudhole gave less experienced riders some problems. By E. C. Birt PHOENIX. ARIZ., NOV. 18 Motocross isn't new to Arizona; the Trans AMA was just run here last week. And today was the start of a four race series which will end on December 2 with a shoot-out between Arizona's top riders and California's best. . Saturday morning it was raining like cats and dogs, and I was sure glad that I had already planned to go to Phoerux. When we arrived I had a few things I wanted to check over on the bikes so our first step was Dave's Kart and Cycle. The owner of this shop, Jack Richards, eats, breathes, ard lives motocross. If you and your racer arrive in Phoenix and need a place to go to work on your bike, look him up. Sunshine Promotions Inc. has moved Pro motocross up the ladder one more step by having this AlI-P.ro Series at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. From the grandstands (with a covered top) spectators can see all the action in comfort and there's no way anyone can get on the race track and get hurt. Sunshine Promotions is setting an example that I feel other racing promoters should follow. They have three riders that they sponsor. 'Chuck Lampe (Arizona's number one motocrosser), Danny Croyle (who held the number one AMA plate in ,1972 and this season added a 1974 half mile umber one plate to his collection), and eri Kezar, a 16 year old young lady ho has her mind set on being the fastest female rider in the world. They se these riders to teach motorcycle fety in the schools in the Phoerux a. Beginner practice was first up, and hat a carnival it turned out to be! 'ght after the straightaway turn there as a jump with a mud hole in front of it. For a good rider it was an easy task to jump over the mud hole. But the Beginners just couldn't bring themselves to push hard enough to clear it, so those that tried to ride off the end of it on their front wheel were in instant trouble .• Ever ride your bike off in to a tube of bubble gum? Front wheel sticks and it's instant endo city. I never have seen so many bikes collected in one stack as I saw here. I t was obvious something had to be done. So the bikes were stopped and the tractor was sent out to push the mud hole shut. After a few more laps it was time for the first 125 Beginner malO. The class was a runaway for Kevin Marinovich and his 125 Honda. Two-fifty Beginners were next up and righ t out of the starting gate my camera se~ed up, so I had to go to the van and file off the high spots. When I got back to the track, the 125 Novice rrrst mota was just starting. Again first bike to get the checkered flag was a 125 Honda ridden by Thomas Morefield. Two-fifty Novice first place was agaiJ:l taken by a Honda. this one ridden by John Mann. Phil Westerman (Mai) was pushing a little too hard trying to catch Morefield and did an endo which took him out. 1 had a feeling at the start of the day that if you didn't ride a Honda you just as well stay home. They were winning everything. The 400cc class brought back my faith in European bikes because Maico took the first four positions with Jerry Canonic getting the win and Rick Bomar holding down second place. The 125 Amateur class was another clean sweep for the Hondas with Bill Meyers getting first, Dave Mann second, and Mike Carr third place. At the finish of the first Amateur 250 class it was Honda again wi th the win. Steve Gunderson had ros hands full bu t managed to hold off Bill Brouke and his Yamaha, which rmished second. I think it was Brouke who won the second mota which gave rum the win for the • day. The Open class saw Macilray take first place with his Husky. Jay Majum in hot purswt on his 450 M';co took second place. Second mota of this class was won by somebody behind number plate 39 with second going to Al Macilray and his Husky which should have given him the win for the day. After the last 400 Amateur mota there was a short break so the track could be prepared for the start of the Pro classes. First race up to the starting gate was the 125 class. When the gate dropped it was Ronnie Martinez in first place with his Honda. Larry Watkins on his 125 Tyran was righ t on top of him looking for a way around. Martinez pushed his Honda for all it was worth; you could see that Watkins was going to have to work for this one. Meanwhile, Honda mounted Goodrich was coming up through the traffic like a freigh t tr.;n. After three laps, Watkins finally got a drive on Martinez and passed him going over the front straight jump. Goodrich wasn't out there for the fun of. it hecause he was on top of Watkins by this time. Into the next turn Watkins went too wide and Goodrich passed him. Watkins played follow-the-Ieader 'til the last lap and passed Goodrich just before the checkered flag. Rich Davis, a former California Bu! rider who moved to Arizona about a year ago, finished in third place with his Honda. The first 250 Pro class mo to was a who's who race with more action than you could believe. After the start the lead changed about three different times with Chuck Lampe and Watkins switching back and forth. Lampe broke the silencer off ros M';co and dragged it around the track for awhile until it finally found its way into his rear wheel which took him out. Watkins moved into first place on his Rickman and held on 'til the finish with Bah Wharton (Hus) finishing second and third place went to Jeff Billotte (Yam). The 500 class was a round robin with Bob Wharton (Hus) first, Steve S Irasser (Yam) second, and Danny Croyle (Mai) third. Watkins with his 125 Tyran pulled the hole shot off the start of the second 125 mota and very qwckly stretched it out with the battle behind with Ronnie Martinez (Han) and Gary Hickerson (Hus) playing handlebar tag to see who was going to get second place. When the checkered flag came out it was Watkins first, Hickerson second, and Martinez third. Round two of the 250 class saw Watkins off the gate first with Lampe hot on his t';l with his Maico. On lap three Watkins' Rickman shook loose the coil lead. A qwck stop to plug back in the fire was enough for Lampe to smoke on by. One more lap and Watkins was out. Lampe took the checkered flag with Glen Eckersley (Hus) second and third place going to Bob Wharton (Hus). Round two of the 500 class was a play switch the position game right up to the last lap wi th David Anderegg (M';) first, Wharton second, and Eric Blatt (Hus) third. Mota three of the 125 class was a real get-it-on race. With Hickerson (Hus) working ros way up to first with Watkins second and Martinez third. After a furious battle off the start line and into the front str';ghaway they wnet. At the end of the str';ght Watkins found out he had no rear brake, and he wen t off the end of the track. Lampe put his M';co in front and held it followed by Wharton (Hus) for second and Sam Redman (Han) for third. Eric Blatt (Hus) took first in the last 500 mota with second going to Wharton (Hus) and third to Anderegg (Mai). A t the start of mota 4 we loaded up the vans and headed for El Maya Restauran t for a bench racing session. The local Phoenix heroes had a birthday cake for Larry Watkins. Next weekend, same place, same time, round 2. First place winner for the day were: 125, Larry Watkins (Tyran); 250, Bob Wharton (Hus); 500, Eric Blatt (Hus). J .• ..• 5erv~'~'~ANa Jl{ontrsa NCAfI ~ .... 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