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/126264
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(Continuedfrom j,age 25)
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While it might have been easy for
IIIlI Sweet, it was not - for dozens of
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National ·class riders, and definitely
not for the Support class riders. One
rider who wished ' to remain
anonymous said, "I thought all of
Michigan was flat , but when I carne
up on Section 1I , 1 thought 1 was entered in a hillclimb ."
Bernie Schreiber, who entered the
trial ranked fifth in ~orld .charnpionship point standings , suffered a painful injury just after the start of the
second loop . The young Californian,
who rides glove- less, had a fingernail
tom off of his right hand, but rode on
despite being in obvious pain.
Many used to describe Mick Andrews as ageless, but most observers at
this trial shook their heads as the
veteran rider dabbed here and there,
picking up 57 m arkers in the process
which drepped. him well -d own from
the top 10
For Juan Manuel Soler the trial
almost ended as q u ickly as it had
begun. Soler crashed heavily in the fir st section of the opening loo p. He
recovered from his accident sufficien tly to place 10th in the final tally and
earn one champ ionship point. When
asked about his accident Soler simply
responded, "Bad, very bad.",
Debbie Evans, the young California
lass . Yamaha mounted like Andrews,
finished the trial with a score of 155 .
That point total put her out of any
chance for National points, but was an
accomplishment in itself. . Her fellow
competitors congratulated her and she
beamed as she graciously accepted the
accolades.
For winner Coutard it was not an
uneventful day. "I lost my chaiilTtJ.i;t
before the fourth section on the second
loop and my sp are links were the
wrong size. I found the thrown links
just a few meters back down the trail
bu t they were too bent to use. Just
when 1 had all but resigned inyself. to
the fact that I would not finish , along
carne R athmell and he gave me what 1
needed, ,,' said a tired Coutard.. He
concluded with, "Somedays you are
justJu9tyl':'-' _
Martin Lampkin, fresh off a breather
following his second co nsecu tive Scot- .
tish Six Days Trial victory, moved into
a tie for the World Championship lead
with ·R a thin ell. " I'm right glad that
Griffitts doesn't have an FIM license as
I thus picked up third place points
rather than fourth tally. 1 thought it
was an enjoyable trial , but you know I
got a "5" and that is something I've
avoided for two years in a row in the
Scottish," said Martin.
The end result of the American
round was to move the point standings
even closer with Rathmell and Lampkin now sharing the top spot at 60
points each while defending champion
Yrjo Vesterinen remains only a shadow
away with 56 points. Ulf Karlsson
holds fourth in the tally with 55 points
while Coutard's win jumped him to fif o
th place ahead of Bernie Schreiber 56
and 54 points, respectively.
Credit to the entire MOTA
organization for what most called an
excellent trial. And without a doubt
most of that credit should go to Course
Marshall Ray Hatfield for his tireless
work for countless hours leading into
the event. Clerk of the Course Dick
De Bolt tied it all together and "hats
off' to him as well .
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Results pending license ru ling
Wor ld Champiooahip cIasa: 1. Charles Coutard IBuli •
23.9; 2. Marland Whaley (Hon) 31.6; 3. Martin Lampkin
IBuli 35: 4. Mark Eggar IHon) 35; 5. Don Sweet IMon)
39 .8; 6. Lane L _ IBuli 40: 7. U~ Karlsson IMon)
40.2; 8 . Malcol m Rath mall (Mon) 44.3; 9. Yrjo
Vaetarineo 18ull; 10. Juan Manuel Soler (Bull 48.6;
WhaIoy wino NATC cI_.
Netional : 1. Marland Whaley IHonl; 2. Mik. G _
IMon); 3. Don Sweet IMon); 4 . Lane Leavitt IBull: 5.
Barni. Schreiber IBul): 8. Curt Comer IKew); 7. Tom
McKinney ' IMon); 8. J ack Sti_ IBul); 9. William
Burganar IBull; 10. G. laPlant. IKawI.
Senior cIasa: Bob NicI

