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/126395
Moro-X Fox, Jim took his 400cc Suzuki and a 250cc Honda up to Canada to compete in the Canadian Champion ships once again. The Nationals up there are a series of four races with points from either the 250cc or 500cc class added up to deicde the National Champion. Jim picked up his second title in a battle with another rider which went down "10 the last race of the series. To some it might seem that Jim was cherry. picking up in Canada. That's true , the riders aren't as good as in America . But a professional motocross rider has to make his living where best he can and it 's already common knowledge that you can't earn a living racing motocross in America unless you have a factory contract with one of the top Japanese tea ms. Besides, no one called the Europeans cherry- . pic kers when they came Over here to race . And j ust like the Europeans ' ta ught us to ride better, pe rhaps Turn er is doing the sa me for the Canad ia ns. There are ot her thi ngs Jim likes a bo ut raci ng u p the re co m pa red to racing in the United St ates. " I appreciate the racing more in Ca nad a . T he races a re all on natura l terrain courses , rea lly interesting. The racing up there is more low-key , fun , and the riders are much more friend ly. Money has gotten to be such a big thing , the main consideration in American races . Supercross is taking over and no one pays any attention to how the riders feel. "The tracks here are no longer real motocross like they used to be . Unadilla is the only exception. Only a few of us still remember what real motocross tracks were like just a few years ago. They're almost gone now here in America . All the tracks are now built by bulldozers and any time . you use a bulldozer the first guy out in practice is going to make the fastest line and everyone else is going to have . to follow it . There's no real racing any mo re ... just following each other. O nly when the track is natural terrain can a rider be offered the choice of different lines . "I 'm considered old a t 22 . The younger. riders have no basis a t all to judge tracks now from what we raced on before, so the tracks can only get smoother and faster . That's why more of the top riders are getting hurt now than ever before , " You find the younger riders can't ride sim ple things like off-camber turns, or tricky things like steep hills . It 's strange for me since 1 can do well on rough tracks - really gnarly tracks - but get blown away by less talented riders on smoother tracks. "I tried to make that riders' organization , and no one was interested. 1 wanted to improve our tracks and make them more challenging, That's why 1 like racing in Canada because the worst tracks in Ca nad a are like the best tracks in America ," For the 1979 racing season Moto-X Fox will be sending J im to Europe to ni ce the 250cc World C hampio nsh ips. For Fox. it is the o pportunity to gain some publici ty for th eir ex panding lin e of produ cts in the world m a rk et. For im T urner it is the oppo rt u nity to continue racing the type of motocross he re the spo rt still holds strong ly to .ts or iginal roo ts . . " I' ve alwa ys hea rd th a t European ra ci ng is t he rea l thing and 1 wa nt to ee for myself. 1 want. to go to Eu rope nd race real motocross whether there s any money in it for me or not. 1 grew nto the sport believing certain ideals. 'd rather quit racing if 1 ca n't fight he cha nges it's undergoing or go race omewhere else where it's still the arne ," . • In '79, The World's Fastest Big Bike Gets Even Faster 450Malco Ma!mumll Maico's undisputed domination of the Open Class in the first year of the Magnum continues for another year. In 1979, new porting unleashes more of the Magnum engine in both the 450 Magnum II and the slightly less awesome 400 Magnum II. There's a number of important refinements in the '79 Magnums that deliver more raw power and not at the expense of Maico famous stability and handling. It' s another example of how Maico - year after year - builds on its success. And the bigger the bike, the more you need Maico 's handcrafted workmanship to come through with the performance you want. The big bore Magnums for '79 are better than ever . . . better than last year . , . better than any other bike you 'll line up against in this country during the '79 season. Get to your Maico dealer fast and see the bike that'll rule the Open Class again in '79. He's well-stocked with the big Maicos - but 'they're going fast. MAlCO: 1256 Progres Rd.. Suffolk, VA 234J.t - Rt. 1. Box 211. Atbxh, 1160002 - ., 110 E. Santa Am. Ave., 8urt:Ieril. CA 91502 - CanzKllt.64 HellIyRd., Bolton.0nL ~ ~~ ~ ©N ~ tH)usqvarna '79's NOW IN STOCK '79 250 and 390 CRS IN STOCK · 250 * 400 * 450 390 DRS ready for the trail! • 60 day warranty • •C ~ ~C Come by and check our accessories department and excellent service department . .;;:.,. . SOUTH CITY CYCLES Th e Racers Store ,' 511 Mayfair Avenue. South San Francisco. 415-583·3519 Store Hours: M-F 10-6 Thurs. till 8 Sat. till 4 Visa • MaslOfcharge