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/126414
(Abovel U.S. team captain Bruce Penhall is flanked by Bobby Schwartz (Ieftl and Kelly Moran. (Below left) Bruce Penhall slides to the inside of John TItman and Gordon Kennett. (Belowlln a tough battle.l\!loran (right! beat England's Gordon Kennett. British World Cup Qualifier Americans transfer to the semi By John Hipkiss Photos by Barry Briggs and Hipkiss READING, ENGLAND, MAY 20 On a rain-soaked track, Bruce Penhall and his California crew steered the United States into the World Team Cup Semi-final, (to be held .in Sweden on June 14) showing gritty determination in treacherous conditions. They swept into the Intercontinental stage of the competition along with the winners of the round, New Zealand who 24 scored a total of SO points to America's 26. Had it not been for an engine failure by Kelly Moran and a tape exclusion by Steve Gresham the result could have been revened, but as the top two teams go through to the next round, the primary goal was in qualifying. Ivan Mauger returned to Interna· tional duty to lead his squad after previously being threatened with a ban if he did not ride for his coumry. As the meeting came to the close, there was a very dejected· looking English team who totalled only 22 points. All of the to-called famous five suffered mechanical problems. The final nail in the coffin came in heat 15 when Hulls' young viking, Kelly Moran fought a hard four lapl to keep world Number Two Gordon Kennett at bay. Kelly won this heat and received a well deserved reception from -his teammates in the pits. Top rider for the Americans, was first time British league rider Bobby Schwanz who raced forcefully for eight points. "BoogaIoo," commenting on the atrocious conditions said in one race he used four tear-offs in just the fint lap and got so filled·in he just had to guess when to turn.left. Bobby's captain and league teammate, Bruce Penhall missed his previous night's meeting through an upset stomach, and still looking very pale, managed five points from his first two rides. Though he failed to score in his next race and finished lying under the safety fence in his final race, the U.S. team was already through. The fourth team member was 24· year-old Steve Gresham, who raced to a heat one win to set the pattern for the rest of the Yanks. Gresham finished on six points and young Moran 9D seven. Resefve Dennis SigalOll who ~nly arrived minutes before the fint heat was not called on to ride.. America, who just misled out qulifying last year, did it this year .without the services of world Number Three, Scott Autry. who seems to be involved in a pertonaI batde with the AMA. A F t pity ~t a rider of Scott's ability should be left out of his country's SUCCCllS becaUR he un his views on his controlling body ... England's dismal performance continues from the World Team Cup Final last year, when they finished IIeCOtId behind shock winner Denmark in Lanc!shut, Germany. They never .1ooIr.ed like finishing in the .top two in this round and after the ~eeting there seemed some very long and unhappy faces in the British camp. . The last place goes to the 1976 winnen, Australia, who scored 18 points. The next round .is in Sweden where USA must finish in the top two again, which would take them to the final at White City England on September 16. This year could see the Yanb qualifying for the· fint time into the - World Team Cup Final since the competition started 19 yean ago. • R.sults 1. _ _ 30 lMIld\ ShimI", _ _ _ 9, Lorry IIaoo 7 Cltlb 3, ..... _ . . . . . -cld_ridll.l . 2. USA.: 2II 1.1CoIIr-" 7, S - GNoI.-n I. 5, ...... liigoIae . . . . . - cId_ridll.l 3. Englond: 22 ......... to-. .'-ap 8. MIIcalm SinIna-. O. Clardlln lC8nnoII I. .... c.Iino 6, _ . ......,Sc:M.-tz ... 4J 4.-.18 . . ,. . . .J,,.,. lI'Ne.-7 J, ~5, OJ