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/126417
IAboveI Molson winner M.-ty Tripes.IRight) Jim Ellis returned to competition, took fourth. Tripes heads Ronda sweep at Supereross Molson , By Marc Lechapelle MONTREAL, Q.UEBEC. JUNE 9 The stage was set for a Bob Hannah·Yamaha benefit, but instead the third Supermotocross Molson held in Montreal's Ol}'ll! ·c Stadium turned a brighter shade of red an became a Honda' jamboree as the finn's four official representatives wound up in the top four positions at the conclusion of 18 the day's racing. But Marty Tripes, his fellow riden and Honda Moton were not the only big winnen for this event. Some might say that the people behind the stage were the happiest at the success of this, the third major stadium motocross event presented outside the United States, In the fint two editions of the "Supermotocross Molson" as it is advertised in Q.uebec's french media, crowds had been relatively thin. in comparison with U.S. events. But this year, Montreal's supercross drew a crowd of ~0.100. With the quality of the rider contingent. the track, and the crowd. the Supermotocross has established its viability. Bob Hannah signed a contract at paytona March 10 with tbe Montreal organizen. which made sure that not only the best rider would be there but also that the other top contenders would drive up to have another try at taming the Hurricane. Honda decided to send to Montreal not only last year's winner Steve Wise, and Number two man Warren Reid, but also Marty Honda and Tripes. Obviously, Yamaha were going to have a serious _ shot at it. With only a few days to go before the event, Yamaha Motor Canada called Montreal to inform the organizen of Hannah's withdrawal from the event, due to his finger in· jury. The Hurricane still came to.. Montreal to meet the local press and make sure they got the story right. He explained that with only a very slight, ten·point lead over Kent Howerton, he had to take all possible precautions not to make his injury worse and see the 250 National title elude him. Seeing the almost completed course, he ex· pressed his regrets at not being able to ride in the Supennotocross Molson this year. The organizen were ready to counter the effects of Hannah's 'announcement. If Hannah was not to ride, Jim Ellis was. Montreal would be the scene of his return to competition after almost five months of bein~ out of ac· tion. Ellis would be sportmg a long scar on his left knee where he had an operltion for tom ligaments. He had a good night. placing fourth and adding one more longest jump contest win to his collection. with a leap of 87 feet. Steve Wise, Marty Tripes and Warren Reid racked up victories in their respective 10·lap qualifien. Teammate Jim Ellis came in fourth in his heat. but did it the hard way by riding back to racing speeds with his face writhing in pain from a hard fall. "I wasn't hurt, but you couldn't have told me that. My hands. my face and my legs hurt for a while, and I decided to ride on to be spared of going to the semis. It's the fint time I ever went over the ban on a Honda!" Ellis said. John Savitski, Jay Kimber, Mark Robillard, and Jim Small followed Warren Reid to the final in the fint qualifIer" The RCond qualifier' saw Many Tripes run away from Pat Moroney, Bill McLean, Ellis and Mike Boyle, right to the 6naJ'sgrid. Steve Wise put it to Kippy Pierce, David Lee Bailey, Zoli BerenyiJr. and Rick Hudson in the third heat. Kris Bigelow made his bid for a place in the 10·lap final in front of Dennis James, Kirk Bigelow, Leo D, Wilson, and Jojo Keller in the fourth and final qualifier. The semis saw Wemysa B. Scott slip into the finals, as well as Charles Desourdy. Desourdy's engine went sour and seized a few feet before the line. He nevertheless croued it in time, ahead of fast closing Wally Levy of B.C. The last spot on the starting line for the fmal,was captured by late entered Donny Hansen. The track seemed ready for the final. It had a lot of choppy stuff with short straightaways ripplmg with deep whoops. There were less jumps than before. but Steve Wise and Warren Reid, thought the layout was still great although the clayish surface had gotten them worried. Their doubts had subsided after practice. At the drop of the flag. Reid was fir· st to brake on tbe inside of the fint sweeping hairpin, Jim Ellis took the outside which made it Captain Cobalt's tum to fly off the fint double jump in command of the race. Warren Reid took back tbe lead on the RCond lap. On lap four it was Marty Tripes tum to get past Ellis and start running after Reid. On lap ten Tripes was passed by teammate Steve Wise. who was setting his sights on Reid, John Savitski had passed Bill McLean and Jay Kimber on lap three. The Pennsylvanian held a strong fifth until the twelfth lap, where he lost considerable ground and fell to ninth position. the posJUons seemed While relatively stable at the front, a very .• ,ypung rider was slicing through the pack after falling in the first tum of the race. David Lee Bailey bad come back from . . and kDifed his way to thirteenth at midpoint and ninth OD lap sixteen, which wu to be his final pomtion. Steve Wise wu 'tnlck by bad luck as his right·liele footpeg' broke off. Wise fell back, letting Many Tripes by. A few RCOncU later, fate ItJUck again· this time on Reid. He had been running the last two lap. with only third gear and a lot of clutch slipping. "My feet are very smalf, 50 we have to shorten the ,hift lever for me to reach it easily, This time, the weld .on the aluminum lever broke at the joint. I shifted the bike in third gear with my heel and hoped that the clutch would stand·the abUR. On a lot of tight par' ts, I had been using fint and second gear," Reid said. But on lap seventeen, Reid got into fint with too much ,peed and slipped, lerting Tripes by a lew RCOncUlater. Riding as stylishly and smooth as ever. Tripes rode in for the checkered ban· nero Warren Reid croued the line second. Wise third. and Jimmy Ellis next behind him. "That's right. I was depressed after the race, because I think I would have won it," said Wise. After making this third "Super· motocross Molson" a success, and after hearing top riden such as Bob Hannah. Marty Tripes, Warren Reid, Steve Wise and John Savitski make such a suggestion, Pierce Corbeil, is seriously considering making all necessary efforts to make the Supermotocross another stop for the Supe.rcross championship circuit. • R.tutts 1. Ma1v Tri_ (Hanl; 2. w_ w.".., _IHonl; 3. 5 _ IHan); 4. Jim Ellil IHanI; 5. DenniIl ".,.". I~I' 6.._ J. Moroney (HonJ; 7. Kilt< Bigelow I~); B: Kria IligeIow IVom); 9. o..id LN Illoilel' lBuIl; 10. John _ lVoml; 11. Bill Mel., (Vom); 12. Zoli Berenvi Jr. lVom); 13. Leo D. Wlioon lMoil; 14. Kirillligelow lVoml; 15. _ Robil_d lHuIl; lB. Wo/Itr Levy (~I; 17. JIm _ IVom); lB. ..., I~I; 19. B. Soon IC-Al; 20. Itic:It Hudeon lVoml; 21. Mike Ilo¥Ie (Hull; 22. Jajo ~ 1Hon1; 23. Don Hen. , IC-Al; 2<1. Kippy Pierce IC-Al; 25. Cherteo Deoourdy IC-Al. -..va K_