TEN
YEARS
AGO
Daytona was the big news for this
week. The 200 saw Giacomo Agostini
on a Yamaha set a new record at 105
mph, and become $14.960 richer for
his winning efforts. Kenny Roberts
was a distant second, and Hurley
Wilvert's Kawasaki finished third.
Rounding out the top five were the
Yamahas of Don Castro and Finland's Teuvo Lansivuori. "Ago" then
lost his bike to Patrick Pons, who
picked it up for $5000 by the claiming
rule.
The day before, Castro won his firstever road race in the 250cc Junior/
Expert Combined event. Roberts was
right behind Castro, with Gary Nixon
in third position. The entire top 20
positions were filled by Yamahas. with
pilots such as Steve Baker (fourth),
Gary Fisher (fifth), and Wes Cooley
(13th) doing the riding.
In the Junior race, Pat Hennen led a
Yamaha sweep of the top three places.
Pee Wee Gleason got caught up in
traffic and couldn't catch Hennen so
he settled for second. The first Harley
in the results was ridden by Hank
Scott, in fourth. Following Scott to
the checkered was Wes Cooley, on a
Yamaha.
Skip Aksland entered the ovice race,
only to finish second. John Volkman
was the winner of this Daytona Speed
Week event. One Edwin Singleton
was the sixth-place finisher.
The final three nights of Daytona
Short Track racing were some of the
best. Guy McClure was a double
winner, by taking the victories in
both the Thursday and Saturday night
races. McClure could finish no better
than ninth on Friday. where another
Bultaco rider, Roger Crump, was the
winner. Following Crump across the
line were Yamaha riders Jay Springsteen, who was a first-year Expert, and
Hank Scott. Riding the only Honda
in the race was Mike "Coon Ass"
Gerald, who finished in fourth. Corky
Keener's Yamaha wa fifth.
The first of a two-part Supercross
Series was held at Daytona. In the
250cc aClion, the 25,000 spectators
saw Pierre Karsmakers (Yam) taste
the champagne, while second-place
finisher Buck Murphy (Pen) and Rich
Thorwaldson ( uz) looked on. Belgian
Roger DeCoster took his Suzuki to
the 500cccIass win. Rex Staten, sporting a new factory Honda ride, was
second, with Gary Semics third on a
new 360 GP Husqvarna. Tony DiStefano made a flashy appearance to
land a factory CZ ride.
More thunder ~
Morelightening!
~
....-4
A storm is about to engulf the moto- .
cross tracks of America. And Can-Am
