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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126419
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Kavlnov and Semmerw lead on the opening lap of the second moto, but
Huaqvarna's Haken Carlqvlst (29) is already setting up to reel them in.
World Championship
250cc MX Series:
Round8
Carlqvist
blazes on in
France
By Jack,Burnicle
'LAVAUR, FRANCE, JUNE 17
Beneath the appropriately fierce sunshine of southern France,
Husqvarna's Hakan Carlqvist
blazed his way to a pair of
brilliant wins in the French 250cc MX
GP. His double wins .consolidated his
already tightening iron grip on this
year's title race.
His leading challenger and indeed
the only other man who can now take
the championship, England's Neil
Hudson, was sidelined in the first molO
with a broken front wheel. indicative
of the fast, punishing race conditions
induced by a hot, windy day,
American riders Jim Pomeroy and
Jim Turner did not contest the event.
Pomeroy was in Belgium awaiting his
new SWM ride as a member of Joel
Robert's team after his amicable- spl;t
with Bultaco, Turner. meanwhile, was
undergoing treatment fora severely
sprained wrist sustained in the Polish
250cc round, in which he crashed
hard. To make matters worse, he had
blown the motor in-his Dodge van
prior to the Polish event.
1978 250cc World Champion Gennady Moiseev slid down. the table after retiring early in both mOlOS.
Carlqvist emerged from the swirling·
dust of the first bend in moto one
ahead of Hudson, Jean-Claude
Laquaye (SWM), Vladimir Kavinov
(KTM), and Rolf Dieffenbach (Uni
Trak Kawasaki), leavingJaroslav Falta
(Cl), Fernando Munoz (Montesa) and
Michele Margorotto (Moiltesa) in
trouble after the Spanish champion
had -been hit from behind.
Hudson clung on to the speeding
Carlqvist as they opened up a gap over
the rrst' of the field, but after 20
minutes he slowed dramatically when
the Maico's front wheel began to disin-
tegrate, leaving Carlqvist an unchallenged
victOry:
Dieffenbach's
\ Kawasaki had shed its chain, and
Kavinov should have inherited second
place upon Hudson's unfortunate
demise, but the sturdy little Russian
fell and was repassed by Laquaye, The
big Belgian then fended off the KTM
until his front wheel collapsed six laps
from horne, just as the same fate befell
Rob Hooper (Majco), after a long,
dusty pursuit had carried him past
Dutch number two Benny Wilken
(Maico) into a threatemng ninth spot,
Kavinov briefly led the second moto
away from Semmens, Carlqvist, Dieffenbach and Antonia Elias (Bultaco),
as Van Velthoven and Erik Sundstrom
(Husqvarna) assumed the role of first
turn victims,
On the second lap Carlqvist and
Dieffenbach carne hurtling by, while
Hudson, having' lost precious time at
the slart taming a rearing Maico, was
wor.king hard to squeeze past
Laquaye,
Falta pulled out, exhausted by the
first race effort whic.h had carried him
through from dead last to 13th place
as Nellie closed gradually on a
desparate struggle between Semmens
and Kavinov which ended suddenly
when Semmens dropped the Maico in
a slow, awkward hairpin, aggravated a
thumb injury sustained in Poland the
preceding weekend. and had to retire.
Hudson took up the challenge and
stead;ly wore down Kavinov, eventually outwitting the Russian at the
end of the main straight to resounding
cheers·from the typically volatile French crowd.
The four leaders maintained formation during the closing laps, but
not so far behined them the unquenchable Suzuki finally caught Laquaye
and drovenambuoyantly under him 10
claim a spirited fifth place, while
Alborghetti threw the KTM past a
tiring Boven as they entered the final
lap to score his best overall result of
the senes.
•
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'Results
1. Haken Carlqvilt (Husl 1·'; 2. Vladmir Kavinov
IKTMI 2-4; 3. Ro~ Dieffenbach IKIWI '-2; 4. GeorQ8
Job< ISuzl 3·'; 5. Neil Hudson IMail '-3; 6. Del B,un
(Apr14-'; 7. JlIlIk V.n V_oven (KTMI 5-'; 8. T..ao
Suzuki (Aprl '·5; 9. Ivan Alborgetti (KTMI 7·9; 10. Van
0.. Ven (MaiI1D-7; 11. Vaughn Semmens IMail6-'I;
12. Jean Claud. Laquaye ISWMI ·-5; 13. Eric Sundstrom IHus) 8-'; 14. Tony Elias (Bull '-8; 15. Benny
Wilken IMaiIg.·; 16. Raymond Boven IHusl '·10.
'Dono,.. placing OU1Bide top 10
World ChampOlship Point SUWldinga: 1. Hokan
CB