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December 14, 1976 CYCLE NBWS
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HOMDAAND
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1976 U.S.MATI0 MAL TRIALS eH
The team of Honda and Marland
Whaley made it two successive U.S.
National Trials Championships when
they wrapped up the 1976 series with
an unprecedented three straight wins.
Whaley and his RTL-300 factory trialer
had already demonstrated that they
were the team to beat. After taking the
title last year, their first year on the
champi onship trail, they returned to
take an early-season win in the tough
northern California round. Then, during
the annual visit of the European Masters
at the World Championship round in
Washington, 18-year-old Marland piloted
his four-stroke machine to an incredible
second place behind the reigning ',
World Champion.
Then it was back to the U.S. Cham-
pionship Series and the last three of the
nine events. The outstanding tractability
of the RTLs four-str oke engine powered
Whaley smooth ly over the moss-covered
rocks to a win in the dark Rhode Island
forests . Pennsylva nia had a sprinkling
of everything: mud, rocky streams,
mulch-covere d hill sides and more. Using
the Honda's razor-sharp steering to its
fullest, Whaley cut precise lines through
the most difficult sections, once again
dernons tratlnq Handa's superiority as
he won his second event in a row
and third in the series.
The final round was in Michigan.
Here, loose, dry rocks, some the
size of oil barre ls, combined with
slippery, fallen trees to create a
naturally demanding event for the
'riders. Using the bike's generous ground
clearance advantage. Whaley kept a
win -hungry group of competitors at bay
for th e third straight time as he once
again claimed the Championship.
Whaley's four-win total in the nineevent series was double that of his
nearest comp etito r. And with Team
Honda's Mark Eggar taking the win at
PIOMS.
the Kansas Nati onal, Honda won over
half of all the events as they dominated
championship-level trials in the U.S.
In the overall standings, Honda took
three of the top five positions. Not bad
for just the second year in competition.
To get the kind of advantages that
Marland Whaley and the other Team
Honda members enjoy, check out the
only four-stroke production trials bikes
in the world. The Honda TL-250 and
TL-125. Bred from championship stock.
Available now at your Honda dealer.
,H O N D A
GOING STRONG!
