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/126404
.... I-< 0.. <: Mickey Pizzitola simply out-classed his competition in the GNC Finals. (Above) Jim Vaughn tore up"t he Open class from the first turn to.the finish. (Below) An unorthodox entry stays with the pack_ (Bottom) "Flyin" Bryan Taylor. true to the predictions. was the hottest Mini Sr. GNC International Finals Texan Pizzitola takes two at the 'Dome By Mike Reilly Photos by David Douglass HO USTON , TX , MAR. 18 What critics said could never be done has, for the third straight year, proven them wrong. The Grand National Championship concluded their most successful season ever with tonight's finale in the Houston Astrodome. The greatest show on earth for grassroots motocrossers was again spectacular. but tonight the GNC 14 d irec tors brought it several steps closer to becoming the u ltimate motocross challenge anywhere. Fourteen classes and over 1400 of th e fin est ride rs from No rth America challenged each other on th e tricky Supercross track trying to win a Grand National Championship title . The entire 1979 Regional Championship Series around th e country and the 'Dome Finals were generously sponsored b y Bosch Spark Plugs, H i-Point Accessories, Howard Racing and Scott USA. All four offe red contingency awards. The entire rewards for the night 'S winners totalled close to $20 ,000 with top 10 trophi es for all classes , the first three positions towering over six feet tall and a $3 ,000 Expert cash fund. Special appearances from the " On An y Sunday II" film crew , motocross media , Yamaha and Suzuki competition directors, the Wheelie King, Doug Domokas and announcer La rry Huffman ca lling the Grand Finales made tonight's championships a memorable evening for all in attendance. But the objective of the GNC was to provide _ ftrst class competition for their riders and crown 14 Grand National Champions. Twenty-four of the fastest in the . country sa t on the line for each finale event - only the top 10 received the rewards - and only one of the 24 became the Grand National Champion for 1979. Mickey Pizzito la from Houston, TX made GNC history tonight as the first Expert rider in the three-year history of the event to win two Grand National Championsh ips. Mickey, sponsored by the Howard ' Racing Team made it look eas y in both events, leading from the first tum to the checkered flag . Admitting later that things had never worked so well, Pizzitola was nevertheless involved in two dramatic contests as he powered a Kawasaki to victory over Todd Young from Louisiana in the 125cc race and a Honda to stop the challenge from Mike Tripes of California in the 250cc event. • At the start of the 125cc Expert class Pizzitola led Darryl Heisler, Rickey Palmer, Todd Young and Mike Clements. By the third lap Pizzitola had escaped with a three-second - advantage and Young, from Homer, LA on It Suzuki. moVed -to second ~