Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Andre Melherbe (shown here In ectIon on Belgium'. C1tade1 circuit on the previous weekend) topped the1Ield In luxemboUrg: .. - 500cc World Championship MX Series - Final Round Malherbe wins, Lackey s'econd in Luxembourg , By Chris Myers Photo by Nick Haskell .. ELLEBRUCK, LUXEMBOURG, AUG. 12 Dutchman Gerrit Wolsink j\lSt held on to his runnerup spot in this year's 600cc World Championship MX Series at the final round in Luxembourg. th of Luxembourg city, was Malherbe The tall Dutchman crashed out of race one and started the second just five points dear of third-placed Andrew Malherbe, 10- of Belgium (Honda), with _Malherbe the early leader in this race, Wolsink knew he must fmish fourth or better if he was to retain the. runner-up position overall. • In the final event 'fourth was just whee he did crOss the line. Now he has 177 points new champion Graham Noyce (Honda) now has ·225 after fmishing founh in race one and drop·. ping out of race two.. Overall winner (on time) over the Euelbruck circuit, some 40 miles nor· who shared a win and a second place with American Brad Lackey (KaWsalti) . Lackey took- race one after relegating Malherbe to second four laps from the end. In race two, though. the Belgian took a st,n-tofinish victory and the Lackey challenge faded when he crashed eight laps from th~' end. losing valuable time. . Lackey was unable to win back the third place in tbe points table that Malherbe took in the previous round at Namur. Belgium, and now has 175 points to Malherbe's 176. N~r· . thelesa, the philosophical American can cORlOle himself m the Itnowled~ that be's waD more races - six - this year than anyone ebe, CYeD champion Noyce. Young Irishman Laurence Spence (Cotton/EMX) made the trip to tbe wooded venue without an entry and heard 'onIy on Sunday morning that toKether with Briton Pete Mathias (alia on a Cotton) tJtat he'd be able to Itart. Spence finished eighth in both races and the resultant four poims brinp 'his grand total for the year - his flJ'st GP season - to eight. Malberbe took the stan of race one from Belgian Roger DeCoster (Suzuki) and Wobinlt. Lackey quicltly established himself in fourth, but it was DeCoster who took the lead soon after on the first lap. But DeCoster was forced out on lap four with a flat front tire. That let Malherbe, through and the 22-year-old Belgian 'just pulled away to a five-secollCi VIctOry over Lackey, who'dpted fourth_ Wolsink came a real purler six laps from the flag while lying fourth, just ahead of Noyce who was p~ng the Dutchman hard. He was bruised and winded, but Itnc!w he bad'to start race. two. Reigning champ HeiUi Mikkola (Yamaha) Ita1Ied OIl lap one and finished a lowly tenth. . Race two was a Itart-to-finish victory for Malherbe: be pted fint and at tbe flag had a dear advantage ~ Lackey. . DeCoster gated behind Ma1herbe, but after bei~ palled by Wolsinit and Lackey - both desperate for points - be crashed out four ~ps from the end. ' . Noyce pullcd out after slipping off wlule holding sixth and Lackey lost his second place at the half-way stage when he, too, fell. He regained his second spot just two laps from the end. At the flag Wolsink was third and ¥iklr.ola fourth, well behind, • Results 1. A. _ LAc:tv. ~); Suz) It _ I~. l8Ilgium. ~); H. Mikkoll (FlnIInd. Yom!; e. G. Noyce 1GB. HonI9.J. _CUSA. ~); Y. v.n _ _ lBelgium. M8Il. • First ....: 1. LAc:Uy; 2. _ ; 3. Schmilz; 4.Noyce; 5. v.amr.; e. v., _1I

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