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/126268
'C OSE FMX PISTONS HONDA GL-1000 RING & PINION 4.0:1 RATIO Your biggest performance gain for the Gold Wing Sl69.95 list . . Bill Uhl is one of America's best bets for a gold medal in the Internati onal Six-Days Trials (ISDn. At the age of 26 he has already wo n five golds and a bronze. Bill first started riding when he was seven, on a prototype Honda 50cc stepthrough frame cycle. His dad, Herb, designed the bike, wh ich he later sold to American Honda. ' In his first competition , Bill placed first in his class in a cross-couotrv race on the 5OHonda (compete w ith plastic splash guards). Bill's first participation in the ISDT was in 1969. His father was selected as part of the team and Bill was the first alternate rider. Before t he event a Penton rider broke his leg and Bill found himself in the German Six-Days. Until he learned that he wo uld be part of the team, Bill had never raced a timed event, and in,Germany was very short on experience. A the first observation check he just stopped , watc hed the offi cials take his card and mark it, and took off again - he didn't even know what it was. It is indeed remarkable that Bill was one of only two Amer icans to finish the Six Days w ith a gold medall (The other wen t to Malcolm Srnith .l Later, in a road racing special test, Bill was at a definite disadvantage with the power of his bike. It had plenty of torque but nothing on the top end. It was then that his father employed a littl e father-son riding technique. Herb wo uld go slow enough on the straights so Bill could draft, and in the turns Bill would jam th rough. Once again on the straight his father wo uld pass Bill and let him dive in a mere three inches behind to catch a draft. This unusual sty le saved the gold for Bill. The Uhls were the center of attention in the German press. Over therethev had a tradition that married men should be clean shaven, and if single be bearded. Naturally the Uhls were oppos ite - Bill wasn't old enough to grow a beard! W ith the capture of his first gold at that time Bill Uhl was the youngest gold winner ever in the ISDT, at the age of 18. Since then he has ridden every Six-Days except the English round last year. This year is Bill's first year on a Maico and he has qualified again for the Six-Days. His growing pains w ith the new bike are behind him and is looking forward to September and a great performance in Czechoslovakia, the site of this year's ISDT. Bill rides about 3,000 miles of trail in a year training for the International event. The United States team is selected through a series of qualifiers throughout the U.S. Bill is disappointed in the fact that the U.S. races are so easy. "85% of the Czech race will be won on the trail. Here in the U.S. they are almost always won In the Special Tests. The qualifiers don't test the rider's ability enough. It will be different in Czechoslovakia, they hare tough trails." Bill and hs w ife Debbie have two sons, Brecken H.U., three years old, and fourmonth-old Nathan. 13i11 will leave for the Maico factory in late August to begin his preparation of the 250 WR he will race in the Six-Days. Abo ut the Maico, Bill says, "The thing handles so nice, it's really good on the rough trails. The only difference between the WR and the Ado lf We il replica MX machine is that two sets of gears are wider ratio." Afte r the bike is set up in Germany, Bill will then travel to Czechoslovakia, for almost 1,000 of the toughest miles around, in quest of another gold. - VELOCITY STACKS GAUGES FASTENERS HARDWARE Tu GeeEnterprises InC. 731 EAST CYPRESS • MONROVIA. CALIFORNIA 91016 (213) 359-2415 DEALERS - CA LL OR WRI TE FOR LA T EST CATAL OG Don't hate yourself in the morning - sleep till noon Tl:'RU lJ\/T 1111. I J{( ):\ I 1 ,'\1 ) 1J\\I1'1 :\1:\(, I :\11 I OJ{ "I J{ lot" « )\11'1 III OJ{ 250/370 RM SUZUKI 9" of Travel 8" of travel for Beto r, Ceriani , Kawasaki, CZ; Suzuk i , Yamaha, Montesa, Penton, KTM, Hodaka. Designed for air or spring better dampening - smoother action - more control - longer travek , The front end kit that beats them all. out of s tatc call t o U free' 800-854-4691 90 day m 07.ey back guaraftte e Dcalcr or Direct B Dave Hawkins I would like to add,... thla rneauge to tt. and . . . . . of the following brands. ~ SUZU KI: The 2 new models of RM 250', . . the finest . Suzuki! ever medlJ .-1d ,we probeblv the best 2 stroke racers in the world today. • HONDA : You Honda peopie have ~ned for yeers about not heving " racer • wed. the CR 250'. are great and they are dif1 cheep - there are thousands of used ann around, it \'OtI canno laHord. new one . CAN AM: This i, the moa powerful 250 engine going . Thev . " the result of ve-s of power development and • • made riA"t next door. KAWASAKI: The KX 250 Kawasaki has the "gMt tr. , . fer port of t he new generation of bikMo and has • _ell tremendous polentialas It winN'tt . • I dtd not mentlOl"t Yamaha , H8I ley Oavd son . Buhaco or Ossa beceuee we already kno w th ey afe proven winnen, Any of these 8 engi nes are reedy and willing to win a NBtional Cha mpionship. What I a m trying to My i, - let' . ge t to wo rk. I tor o ne 11 m tired of seeing 1 or 2 bra nds win every time, aren't you ? It I left oul yOur brand , don 't despeir, there are 4 more justa. good a. t't'loM noted . • •& • • • • 2415 Brown Rd.• St. louis. 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