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Cycle News 1981 07 08

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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500cc World Championship MX Series: Round six Brad's back! By Bob Gould ROlERIEULLES, FRANCE, JUNE 14 • Californian Brad Lackey won overall victory from Britain's' Graham Noyce at the French round of the 500cc World Championship. In front of a 24,OOO-strong crowd and French spansors Pemod, Lackey rode two well calculated second place motos to take his first overall win so far this year. • As the gate started to drop, Lackey was already halfway over it. French Champion Jean-Jacques Bruno also got a good start, but as they ~ntered the first bend, Bruno was gomg too fast to stop and he overshot, leaving Lackey to head the pack. Italian Franco Picco held second; Malherbe and Noyce settled in third and fourth. Bruno lost nine places after his mistake but quickly started to move back up the field. Hakan Carlqvist and Gerrit Wolsink both crashed on lap two, and soon they pulled out being too far down in the field. The Honda duo meant business and both fired by Picco. After 10 minutes Malherbe slipped into first spot, and one lap later, Noyce demoted Lackey to third. The challenge was on; "Rolls" Noyce was trying hard to take the prescnt World Champion, and for three laps they battled it out. Noyce knew he could pass Malherbe but was just waiting for his chance. Nearly.20 mintues had gone, and they were Slde by side over the far part of the course. Noyce's chance came and he took MaIberbe. Andre tried to regain the lead. As Noyce recalls: "I heard Malhcrbe right beside me then his bike started revving really hard, and I knew his throttle was jamming. I could not believe it." Malherbe halted two laps later. After stopping then restarting m 24th, the World Champ had no choice but retire. Lackey was now back in second place. Dutchman Gerard Rond had fought his way through from seventh to third. Further down the field, Marty Tripes had been pulling his way up from a bad start and was in cl~ combat with Dave Thropc and Ludwig Rienbold. Thorpe stalled his Kawasaki in a tight left-bander ~aving ~cnb?ld and Tripes to pass eastly. Tnpcs tned to get by the KTM rider though time had run out, and he had to settle for seventh place. Bruno had climbed back up to fourth after passing Jaak Van Velthoven in fifth. Britain's young Davc Thorpe in his fITSt ever 500cc GP restarted after stalling in ninth and managc4 to hold on to collect his first painu. Irishman Laurence Spence came home 10th. The track had to be watered after each race, but the heat was drying it aImoIt immediately. So with amelitioal a little dusty in certain parts, the second moto started with Carlqvist getting the holeshot with Brad settling into' third spot. Noyce had been forced into the straw balcs, and as he turned the bend three more fallen riders made him lay down his Honda to avoid them which put Noyce right at the back. As they came around to finish the first lap, Carla had already pulled out a lead from fellow Swede Conny Carlsson. Lackey was in third, Malhcrbe came around in seventh and Noyce was well down in 25th. Brad soon demoted Carlsson to third. With the race now in the 20th minute, JukU Sintonen held fourth until the stonning World Champion came through. Andre Vromans, who finished eighth in the first moto after a bad start, had been following Ma1hcrbe the whole race. He also took the Finn and settled into fifth. The fastcst man on the track had to be Noyce who was eating his way throul{h, already in eighth after passing Van den Brocck and Velthoven. Thirty minutcs had gone. Noyce had moved up two more spots taking Sintoncn and Rond. Malherbe knew Noyce was coming, and he put the pressure on Carlsson. Passing him, Malhcrbe headed after Lackey. With just three laps to the finish flag, Carlsson made a mistake and befor recovering, Vromans and Noyce were already through. As they started the last lap, Malhcrbe was right with Brad. Vromans' gear box was sounding bad, and he was easy bait for Noyce. At the finish, Carla CI'OlIlIcd the line with ease. Brad held off Malherbe right to the f)a~; Noyce probably rnde the race of his life to come home fourth. Vromans kept going to finish fifth. Marty Tripes had once again had a bad start but he could only manage 12th just missing points. Bruno could not delight his home crowd in the second moto after pulling out with engine problems. • LOUDON NATIONAL RICHICHI'S SWITCH TO HOT U .COMES THROUGH LOUD'N CLEAR. Nick Richichi exploded the myth that all spark plugs are created equal when he won the Accel Formula One Laconia Classic Race. The night before the big day, the rising rookie had switched from another brand to NO Hot U's. Then went on to not only win his heat and the pole position, but the main 47-lap event, as well. So the next time you need the spark to win, remember the '81 Loudon roadrace. Where, overnight, Richichi found his first National win. And at last, a brand of plugs that really comes through. @1981 Nlppondenso"of los Angeles. Inc. Results FIRST MOTO: 1. G

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