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/126292
DeCoster sweeps Motocross de las Americas By Chuck Clayton ' LIMA, PERU, DEC. 3-4 Roger DeCoster may not be a world'champion this year, but he certainly holds the title for the new world. After nailing down the U.S. TransAMA motocross title, Roger hopped off one jet (Suzuki's) and onto Aeroperu's big skyliner to Lima where, on the hot, hard and dusty Manchay circuit , he blew away the champions of six Latin American nations. DeCosrer rode Jeff Jennings' old RM250, which he referred to once as "Jennings' junk." The five -time champion of the motocross world was supposed to be in Japan testing next year's grand prix works bikes , but he detoured to South America because, "I want to help the sport here. They have so little. and they try so hard. " Runnerup in the four 25-minute moto series . was Peruvian National Champion Ivan Bulos, riding a Fox AirShoxed Maico with a Suzuki rod. Peruvian motocross equipment is a weird combination of the latest stuff available , (smuggled, no doubt) and native ingenuity. Giacomo DeCol, a runnerup to Roger D in ,one moto, rides one of the newest trick Yamahas, David Bailey , the only U,S . entry , did a good job coming in sixth overall after destroying ' th ree wheels on a Bultaco that he and papa Gary (The Professor) Bailey built in one day out of junk parts. David is not quite 16 years old , and he threatens to be some kind of MX champion in the future, DeCoster led from gate to flag in all four motes. The battle for second . , (Top) Roger DeCoster makes good use of a berm w hile !insert) David Bailey shows w hat t hey use inst ead of grease rags in Peru . (Below) Airbo rne over the double jum p. :" . 8 place was led by a succession of skille d stylists - Bailey, DeCoI, and of course, Bul os. The majority of visiting champions seemed intimidated by the rocky down hills, double jump, and whoop-de-doos. DeCoster and Bailey were the only on es who mastered the whoops. Little David was occasionally seen passing a competitor overhead until one of his trash wheels would snap an d he would be forced to wobble around just to collect a finish. ( For all its shortages of equipment and inform a tion , Latin America is developing some good motocrossers. Chile's Jorge Herrera worked up from bad starts to take third overall and Nigel Sm ith of Peru scored 13th overall even though he crashed out on the double jump and didn't finish the ' last moto, , Another Peruvian rider of note was Remo Boeck, who campaigned a 125ccRM Suzuki against the - 250cc champions and beat a good many of them . Peruvian kids had a special 125c.c "Standard" class where they cou ld win much-needed parts as prizes . Top prize, a DTIOO Yamaha, was claimed by the one guy who didn't need it, Lu is DeCoI, who already owns the hottest Yamaha in Peru . Eight-year -old Tommy Rios, a second-generation motorcycle racer from Lima, showed great style and spirit on his little 80cc Yamaha against the "big" boys. Then a couple of them body-checked the little tyke, and Tommy retired to his pre-pubescent fan club with a sprained thumb : . Be on the lookout for the Peruvians when they come to the U.S . for the CMC Series and Winter·AMAs. With a little bit better equipment, some of them could put you back a place. • Results • 250cc MX D.LAS AM ERICAS 1• Roger DeCoster, : Belqium (Suzl 2. Ivan Bulos, Peru (MaO 3. Jorge Herrera. Chile (Suz) 4. Nivanor Bernardi, Brazil (Yaml 5. Giacomo DeCol. Peru {Yaml 6. David Bailev. USA (SuI) 7. Ramo Boeck, Peru (Suzl 8. Rafael Belmont, Peru (Mail 9. Tater Ledqard , Peru (Mail l(['Fernando Macia. Venezuela CYamll1. Enrique Martinelli, Peru (Bul) 12. Claudio Pesce Argentina IYam). . 12500: 1. Luis DeCol lYam) 2. PedroVasquez (Hon)3. Jorge Torres (Yaml. On t he rusty, dusty downhill of t he Manchay course.