Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

, This time you'll be able tosee rn II ag 2: ag ..:I g ;... g "::f'< I' C'l ...... ...... s-. ilJ ..c 0 ..... u 0 Racers from allover the planet have signed up for the Champion Spark Plug Motorcycle Classics at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California the weekend of October 5 and 6. Scanning the en try list is like reading a who 's who of motorcycle road racing throughout the world, and spectators will be able to get close to the track to see the action thanks to new promoters. AMA Grand National Champion Ken Roberts, 22, heads up the list on a potent Yamaha TZ 700 water-cooled four. Fresh from running away from everyone in the Race of the Year at Mallory Park, England only to have his rain tires start chunking when the rain stopped and forced him to quit. Roberts is looking to annihilate the field once more. This time it will be home in the U~A, on a new version of an old course and a fatter field. but that shouldn't slow Ken. At the time he retired from the Race of the Year, Roberts had already pulled such a giant lead on 13 time World Champion Giacomo Agostini (Yam) that Agostini. who has beaten Roberts twice, went home in disgust without completing the race. After Roberts was out. Barry Sheene (Suz) went on to win, narrowly beating teammate Paul Smart (Suz), who crashed into the wall in the last turn of the race and was seriously injured. Sheene will be in America for the Ontario race. as well as Teuvo "Teppi" Lansivouri (Yam). Agostini. Yvon DuHamel (Kaw). Don Castro (Yam). Gene Romero (Yam), Gary Scott (H-D), Art Baumann (Kaw), and Cliff Carr (Suz). Lansivouri's from Finland, Agostini from Italy. DuHamel from Canada, and Carr for England. Also present will be Greg Hansford. Warren Willing, and Trevor Wood from Australia, John Boote from New Zealand, and Hansueli Rothermann from Switzerland. All the best will be there. WiII you? J: o a: -' :J Z J: o L.. - ' .... Cliff Carr could be surprising this time at the Big O . attempt to beat Roberts for the third time. Right now. the score is Ago two. Kenny one. Ontario's altered track will be a great equalizer, and spectators should be able to really see who's best at the October 6 Expert race, which starts at I :30 p.m. J: o a: -' :J factory Yamaha over so far in the comers that his knees frequently touch the pavement. "I usually finish a race with my knees bleeding, or at least with holes ground through my leathers." ~pert Z J: "'--- - - - - - - - - -- --::-' o .... "I think it would scare me to have a speedometer on a motorcycle anymore," says Gene Romero, who expects to be clocking 180 MPH at Ontario. "A bike- like my Yamaha TZ700 is so fast." Romero says. "that it Tl wear you out. You've got to hold on to the thing, and when you accelerate in a comer you can feel the back tire starting to skid." ~ e a: Novice :J "' Z

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