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O"l l- 11.I ;:l a 11.I > o Z (Above left) DeCoster. Croft and Geboers appear to be rattling handlebars. but imtead it is another example of devious photographic tricks. By Jim Gianatsis DALLAS, TEX. , OCT. 31 1971 Trans-AMA Champion Sylvain Geboers scored an impressive win at Rabbit RunMotocross Park outside of D'allas, but the factory Maico rider from Belgium was disqualified by the AMA after the event had ended for using an illegal motorcycle. Geb oers im- 6 mediately filed an appeal with National Motocross Referee John . Lancione, allowing Geboers to temporarily hold his first place overall position until a special AMA b~ard can meet to de cide his fate . Putting in an exceptional ride for second overall was Honda's Tommy Croft, beating out World Champion and present series points leader Roger DeCoster. The 250cc Support class could hardly be deemed exciting in comparison to the antics in the International class, but Montesa factory rider Mickey Kessler used the day to score his first win of the series over Texan Steve Wise on Suzuki. Support class series poin t leader Rich Eierstedt, Honda, garnered third. "I feel so disgusted. I think I go back home to Belgium." Sylvain Geboers was more than a little bent out of shape after being informed of his disqualification after impressive 1-3 moto scores that gave him the overall win at another week of muddy Trans-AMA racing. Whether Geboers himself was directly responsible for the rules infraction, or Maico was, no saying. What was for certain was that Sylvain's bike had been using an illegal " alu m inum alloy" rear axle during the race. The axle had been built with steel caps on each end to disguise the fact that it was aluminum and to allow the bike to pass AMA technical inspection. While the FIM allows the use of aluminum and other exotic alloys for axles , in Europe, and the. Trans-AMA Series is being run under FIM rules, the AMA has supplementary regulations for the Trans·AMA which state ... "axles must be made of steel," After the finish of the final International class moto A.'vIA technical inspector Carrol Chandler, under the direction of ' Ligh t Brown' Lancione, impounded the top five bikes for inspection. It was obvious though, that Geboers ' Maico was being singled out for some reason because only axles were being removed from the bikes and being inspected. We were later informed by National Motocross Manager Mike DiPrete that the- AMA had been in receipt of a le tter from a "privateer" rider pointing out the various rules infractions of numerous fa.ctory teams. The letter was so detailed as to include a drawing of how the Maico cheater axle was constructed with its steel tips an~ aluminum shaft . When the aluminum rear axle was discovered on Geboers' bike the AMA disqualified Sylvain. He filed an appeal which read as follows"The reason I had changed the axle of the rear wheel is that original Maico steel axles do bend after a few laps. The axle used has proven to be more reliable and stronger than the steel axle. It is not titanium, as this material is illegal by FIM regulations. When I entered the series I never received the special regulations, and since this is an FIM event I thought ~IM regulations would be respected. tt . With his appeal presented to DiPrete, Sylvain was allowed to retain his first overall position pending a special appeal board meeting to be held at the AMA with in ten days. Since he was in obvious violation of the AMA supplementary ru les though, Sylvain will most likely be disqualified and Honda's Tommy Croft declared the winner. \ , 'Mo st of the European riders, including DeCoster, seemed to be in sympathy with Geboers. Already irate over the AMA 's decision not to allow the use of nylon pants, Gerrit Wolsink declared, "This is all just a bunch of bullshit to hassle the riders and kill the sport. "