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/126257
Marty Moates has~:j:~:~:~:~:jj:~: :~:j ~:~: :~:~~:~: :j:j ~:~: :~:jj~ : jr~~:j~ rhis~~~j~ ~jj~ :~ j~j~ ~unsj:~:~: :~ ~ ~~ :~:~:~:j:~:~an'~r~j:~~~tj:j~ ~ j? j: :~~ ~:~ :j~j j~~ ~ ~downs~j~ ~ j: :~:j:~:~:~:j:~~~~~::,~~~~s~:r~?~j:j:j~jjj:?~~~~I j~ ~ ~ j~ ~ ~ ~ ~ j j~ ~ ~j:~ j:j: :~:jj:j: t jj~ ~jI~j~j~j~j~-j r:j:?t~tttj :j~ :j:~:j:~:~:j~ I:j ~j~ I~ III~~jtttttt~~jItjjIrItIj Side by side and gain' for it. eventual winner Raymond Boven 1171 and third overall Harry Everts (51 stage a classic Montesa vs. Bultaco duel in the hills of Spain. . . By Ray Brumbeloe BARCELONA , SPAIN , APR. 3 The Circuito del Valles motocross track near Barcelona cannot be called the most demanding course on the 250cc World Championship MX calendar, but the traditional first race of the season is a great test of horsepower and off season 16. development. The long straights and steep uphills of hard packed soil quickly become " blue grooved" by the Bonneville geared motocrossers. The course , not unlike a Southern California styled circuit, was to the liking of the American Marty Moates . When Saturday's time trials ' were complete , Marty's debut Grand Prix qualifying time was among the leaders. Only one second separated th e entire top ten qualifiers. The Spanish press and fans have seen a previous victory at th e hands of an unknown American (jim "who?" Pomeroy) and there was a great deal of excitement generated by th~ possibilit y of an encore. The 1977 season features a new scoring system whereby all GP motes count toward the World Champion - ship (T welve ra ces , 24 motos), unl ike previou s season where a co mpeti to r cou nted on Iv his best thirteen motos (half-plus -one} for overa ll points. T he resu lts of this new scori ng system will be a ll out com pe tition for eac h moto a nd eac h finishi ng position . The firs t m oto sa w a very q uick sta rt by Marty Moat es; he was in easy striking ra nge of th e leaders in fou rt h pla ce . The hard . fa st su rfa ce of th e track ; however , proved too much for h is suspe nsion a nd m id way th ro ugh th e first moto , he was forced to ret ire. Racing in the first GP moto of the year was furious with some surprises and perhaps premonitions of things to come. Raymond Boven , the Belgian Montesa rider, traditionally does well at the Circuito del Valles. He was repeating his performance of last year by moving into the lead position . Soviet riders Moissee v and Ka vinov exibited the style that ha s become familiar to GP fans "ou t-crazying" all but Boven and circulated in second and third place for the entire moto. Although Husqvarna suffered 'a severe setback in their racing effort when both Mikkola and Lackey signed with other companies, they seemed to have picked a winner with young Swedish rider H . Carlqvist.Carlqvist's Husky seemed th e equal in horsepower to the Montesa of Boven and the KT- Ms of Moisseev and Kavinov . With a littl e more experience he may provide a few surprises in th e long sesson to come. The second moto started with a holeshot by 1975 World Champion Harry Everts who was making his first appearance as a factory rider for Bultac o . Everts continued to lead in th e ea rly stages despite pressure from Hakan Andersson. Andersson's per· formance at the Spanish round could serve as only publicity for his Montesa sponsors since FIM rules prohibit a rider from scoring points in more than one class , and he plans to contest the 500cc class for the 1977 season. Nonetheless, the wheel-to -wheel battle between Everts and Anderson continued until Hans Maisch literally streaked to the lead and opened a large gap between first and second. Following in Maisch's slipstream was Jaroslav Falta who, in this moto, "ou t· crazied" even the Soviets. Both Kavinov and Moisseev were delayed by a first tum pile up and were never in the hunt. Moisseev is re-cuperating from a training injury and couldn't muster the strength to chal1enge while : damage to Kavinov's exhaust pipe left him down on power. The extremely fast track prevented much of the wheel to wheel battling that IS a familiar sight at GP motocross, and by midway in the second rnoto , the results were al1 b~ t" de termined. Once again , suspension proved to be th e nem esis with Moate's Ossa, after circulating at a noncompetitive pace he was forced to ret ire with virtual1y no rear suspension.. The 1977 Charr.~nd iship season has begin. The obvious lack of Japanese sponsorship has in no way diminished th e quality of racing. Many critics believe that the lack of J apanese support is only because there are so many competent riders and no sure winner. Raymond Boven with his very fast Montesa is a rider to watch. The Czechoslovakian and Soviet riders are always a threat and the consistency of. Harry Everts will pile up points at an increasing rate. Husqvarna , who was counted ou t' before the season began, shou ld also be providing strong competition with their very young team . • Results Moto one : 1. Boven (Mool; 2. Moisseev IKTMI 3. ; Kavinov IKTMI; 4. CarlqviSl IHusl; 5. Everts lBuIl; 6 . FaI1a (CZ); 7. Malherbe IKTMI B. Mingels (Monl; 9. An; dersson (Monl; 10. Barborovsky ICZI. Moto \WO: 1. Maisch (.all; 2. FaIt.a; 3. Andersson; 4. Everts; 5. Malhorbe; 6.Boven ; 7. Carlqvist; 8. Barborovslcy;9. Mingels ; 10. Moisseev. Unofficial Championsh ip standings : 1. Boven (Man) 21; 2. Falta ICZl17; 3. Everts IBu1l16' 4. Maisch (Mall 15; 5. Moisseev IKTMI 14; 6. Carlq;';st (Husl 13; 7. Maihorbe IKTMll0 ; 8 . l(av;nov (KTMl l 0; 9. Mingels IMonI 8; 9. Barborovslcy (CZI6; 10. Bruno IKTMI 1; 10. HO!lPO' }Hual ~. • .' _e , . ' . . ' . " • •