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/125840
. , . .. ..~... .. .. ..t&..~,.. , .. .. . . ... . .... .... .... .... .... . ... . . .. ~ '~' ... t&..t&.' .t&.' BCA Grand Prix By John Grout VALENCIA, CAL., DEC. 2 With 267 riders, (45 of whom were, professional racers) ready for action, popular grand prix-style competition returned today to the Indian Dunes Park near Saugus. Running under sanction of BCA, the large group roDed onto a freshly cut three mile circuit utilizing better sections of the park's existing Shadow Glen motocross tr~ck. It was a course that was quite muddy from heavy rainfall in the area on Saturday, and required almost constant work (right up 'til ten minutes before first post time) to prepare and get in proper shape for the day's series of 45-minute divisional combats. With the exception of a few deep water crossings (somewhat resembling miniature Castaic Lakes), it was a course enjoyed by the majority of contestants. A 53-rider group of Novices in the 250 class was responsible for much of the early fireworks, when they attempted to design a raceway all their own. Upon reaching the end of a long and sandy front straightaway, this crew of mid·bore tyros decided it would be more fun if they just continued right on straight ahead in a full-throttle drag race .. .instead of banking into a rigbt-hand sweeper. With the' first rider to reach the end of the fron t chute (nobody seems to know who it was) going right on through the marking banners, the whole pack, howling directly behind him, followed. They had almost reached park boundaries when somebody decided that there was little room in which to shut off for an abrupt SlOp. The black flag came out for five riders who had made the proper move and were still racing on the right course. Then, five minutes later, the erranls returned for a fresh start. Talk about a muddle of confusion! Safely underway this time around (and with everyone making the proper tum at the end of the straightaway, final victory was to go to Honda rider Dave Arnold. Closes runners-up included Chris Bartlett (Hus), John Beardshear (Hon) and George Crezee on a Yamaha. 'c r., ( r! ) I ~ bo ): I I J t ) r at the rigb t' time. Runners-up were Howard Smithson (Hon)" Randy Gauvin (Hon), Jim Goldberg (Pen) apd Rob Westbrook, mounted on still another of the Hondas. Young Mark Raiche (Hon). completely dominated the 45·minute race for '100' Novice contestants. After grabbing an immediate lead from the starting line, Raiche, who is currently leading the 1973 ligh tweigh t poin t standings a t the park, con tin ued to extend his front.running margin. His lead at the final flag was quite close to a full lap on the entire field. Bruce Johnson (Yam), following hard-fought grind with Larry Robedoux and Randy Meechan was declared overall winner against a wild group of Open Novices. In the final event for all displacement divisions of Experts, winners were Eddie Cole (125 Pen), Tracy Oswell (250 Hon) and Rick Shirey, making an unexpected comeback on a Yamaha in the Open ,class. Cole, who finished second overall in the combined grouping, has now regained his lead in the '125' point standings at Indian Dunes from Jim Hale, who did not ride today. U Not everyone can carry the Number 1 on his motorcycle. He , I . ., fIJI l1li 2: l1li ..:I g ~ g ~ f" O'l ..... ~ 00 >"'" ~ :l C ~ ~ Rick Hanley leads the 250 Novices. Photos by Bill Sippel. has to earn it. And that's exactly what Kenny Roberts did. By winning the AMA Grand National Championship this year, he'll display Number 1 on his Yamaha in 1974. We're proud of Kenny. We can't help it. After all, he wears our product - A Bell Helmet. And we're proud of the fact that more professionals choose Bell Helmets than all the other makes combined Shouldn't you? Insist on this mark on every helmet you buy an One In action for the holly contested 125 Novices, George Viens, emerged as the eventual winner astride a super swift Monark from the Rotorcycle Shop in San Fernando. Viens, who has been showing steady improvement each week at the Dunes, finally seemed to get everything assembled in the right place Chet Hoover in flight. ... 53