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/125838
• -• • tight for a spell, but then fell victim to the charging Karsmakers, who moved up quickly on Geboers. Jones slowed, letting Bauer and Wolsink get by, followed by Lackey and Masuda. DeCoster and Wei! continued their fantastic pace, putting nearly 30 seconds on Geboers in third. They raced in earnest; full tilt, ten tenths, WFO the entire distance. It was obviously a personal duel, contested only for the individual s~action either man might gain. Wei! could have kicked back, having virtually won the series before the final even t. DeCoster was not in contention for the series' title. The Trans-AMA fmale was a two-man race. Wolsink, Bauer, Lackey and Masuda were an evenly-spaced procession as Rich ThOl'waldson moved around Gary J ones to join the parade. Karsmakers had moved to within striking distance of Geboers as the moto wound down, but was never given the opportunity to get by. Thorwaldson was by Masuda and sigbting on Lackey as the moto ended, making them top American finishers with seventh and eighth. The fast six in moto 1 were DeCoster, Wei!, Geboers, Karsmakers, Wolsink and Bauer. Gary Jones finished tenth, followed by Mike Runyard, Steve Stackable and Tim Hart. .t•• c<"l r-~ ..... ..... ..... s... q) .0 - e q) u q) Q Moto2 Leckey ch_ a-r. Their fint mota fight for sixth went to Willi. A second moto flirt cost Brad the top American spot. Weil and DeCoster were this dOl8 for most of the second moto. Rich Thorwaldson passes Lackey in moto 2. The American Suzuki rider _ top American with sixth avenll" -• 30 The final scratch looked like a replay (minus Jones) as DeCoster forged into the lead, but Wei! decided it was his tum to set the pace as he swept by to take over. DeCoster's machine sputtered momentarily and Wei! moved slightly ahead, as Geboers again took up third spot followed by Werner Schutz, Masuda and John DeSoto. Thorwaldson was on the wick, and, not far behind, so was Karsmakers. Wei! and DeCoster again moved far ahead of the field, each riding more fiercely, closer to the edge, than they have in any of the preceding meets. Even experienced molo-watchers shook their heads in disbelief at the incredible tempo maintained by the German and the Belgian. Their machines seemed evenly matched in horsepower, although the Maico appeared to deliver its muscle to the ground more smoothly. DeCoster's Suzuki danced dangerously in some of the rougher, high speed sections, with only a generous measure of World Champion ability keeping it under precise control. In most of the tight-but-fast turns, Wei! and DeCoster carved exactly the same lines, varying only by inches if at all. More than any other riders in the series, their fluid movements belie the bone-jarring roughness of track surfaces that tum lesser riders in to haggard hangers-on. As the frontrunners continued to wow the crowd, Thorwaldson and Karsmakers accelera ted their charge through traffic and 1IY0ved up on Schutz in fourth place. Geboers was losing ground as his frame began to stretch, eventually splitting the gas tank and forcing his retiremen t. Karsmakers was by Lackey, then around Thorwaldson, as Schutz ran afoul of something or someone and injured his foot. In pursuit of Karsmakers, Willi Bauer charged past Lackey as Schutz dropped further off the pace, with both Thorwaldson and Lackey getting by. Rich and Brad had their own dice going as Willi went after Pierre, who now held third in Geboers' absence. Lackey dropped back in the closing laps, but Tborwaldson kept gassing it, riding well, keeping Gerrit Wolsink behind him and moving up on Bauer. First Thorwaldson then Mike Hartwig (Hus) went by Schutz. Lackey lost another position to Tarao Suzuki (Yam), who finished ninth. The first eigh t in the final moto for Trans-AMA '73 were Wei!, DeCoster, Karsmakers, Bauer, Thorwaldson, Wolsink, Hartwig and Schutz. Less than three seconds separated Wei! and DeCoster at the fmal flag. It was an exciting finish to the '73 series, which was often hampered by what seemed more than its share of problems. Results International Class: 1. Adolf Well (Mal) 2-1. 2. Roger DeCoster (5uz) 1-2. 3. Pierre Karsmakers (Yam) 4-3. 4. Willi Bauer (Mai) 6-4. S. Gerrit Wolsink (~ai) 5-6. 6. Rich Gary Jones stoked the crowd when he lead led the supeman in th!! fint moto. Pierre Kanmaken 131 doses on Sylvain Geboers. who had trouble with a disintegrating motorcyde.