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/143888
asm, but not quite sure where to start. Over the years, the factory competition has created professional enduro riders, but enduro competition will never be a spectator sport and, therefore, will never attract the big dollar professional promoters. This is often frustrating for the professional riders because they suffer when local clubs host anything less than the ideal event. John is quick to point out, though, that this is the way the sport will stay: "The enduros are put on by local fun-type people... they're not getting paid for it, they're (often) losing money at it." However, for all its peculiarities, Martin remains dedicated to the sport of enduro. He speaks about the sport as one who knows: "Enduros are definitely dangerous. It takes a certain kind of guy to figure out what is around the next corner. The winner is the guy who goes fastest most of the time, not just part of the time." When asked who his most respected rivals were, Martin immediately answered: "The senior rid,ers, age 45-50. They have sorted their skill levels and they ride for the sport only. They are just neat people. As far as the AA riders go, I wouldn't want to single any out. They are all in the running or they wouldn't be AA riders." In July, with the season half over, Martin was wisely thinking about the second half. He was running six miles every morning, riding every day and lifting weights every night; with a track record like his, he could feel optimistic about the rest of the year. "I feel I'm on top of a big falling stick now, but enduro is a funny sport. I feel faster when I make mistakes and I remember one time at the Black Coal National in Indiana. I had a horrible day. I got back to the van, loaded everything up and left right away. Later, Ifoundoutl (won) the overall." John was right. Enduro is a funny sport and things did pick up for him during the second half of the season. In August, Martin took eighth overall at the Speedsville National enduro in New York. Next. Martin went to Moorestown, Michigan, and placed second overall at the Jackpine National, repeating that performance two weeks later at the Rattlesnake 100 National in Iowa. Unfortunately for John, Husqvarna's Terry Cunningham had sewn up the National Championship, but that didn't stop Martin from finishing the season in style. He went on to win the Black Coal National in Indiana, repeating that overall finish at the Spring Creek National hare scrambles the following weekI Actually, there was still one more enduro to be run in Cadiz, Kentucky, but John's season was through. We caught up with John as he was on his way to Canada and he explained that he was on the road visiting dealers and promoting Can-Am sales. As John was fifth in the National standings, and within five points of third we had to ask why he was sitting out the last round. His reply, "First is all that counts." Martin will be riding the Illinios Cross Country Championship as his last major 1982 event, but he will be trying to count two National Championships in 1983. John plans to ride all of the National enduros as well as all the National hare scrambles. At this point, John's biggest concern is probably that of trying to start the next season as big as he finished this one. This will be his number one goal and in 1983 he'll have a little extra support at it. John will finish this year with an even bigger start in December when he joins hands in marriage with his fiance Greta Radtke. Good luck to you both, John and Greta. • ---------------------------------------------------------------~----------------------_. THE ROSE CLASSIC INVITATIONAL ET RACE I ' $120,000.00 TOTAL PURSE $ 50,000.00 WINNER $ 20,000.00' Runner-Up $ 6,500.00 Semi Finalists (2) $ 2,500.00 Quarter Finalists (4) $ 750.00 9th - 16th Finishers $, 500.00 17th - 32nd Finishers $ 10,000.00 Lowest E.T. $ 3,000.00 2nd Lowest E.T. 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