Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Trans-USA MX Champion Dave Hollis , . . "I'd like to see the fac~tories back in the AMA races, but if .they're going to keep. having series like this I could be. another Mark Barnett.'" By Tom Mueller The 1982 National MX season started out normally, but it sure didn't end that way. Through the 125, 250 and 500cc Nationals and the Supercross Series, top factory riders on their megabuck machines dominated, as usual. But when · the T ran~- USA .MX SenesrolIed around drastic changes oc- 6 curred. Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda pulled their factory bike .riders out of the series. Kawasaki didn't have any works riders there either; what was left was a group of riders on production machinery, primarily from the eastern U.S., who wanted to compete and felt good about finally having a chance to wi·n a major AMA race and series. The racing was some of the best of this year. With equipment for the' most part equal, rider talent was all that separated the winners and losers. When it was' all over, Michigan's Dave Hollis owned the title, the 13th and last nne awarded. The Trans- U~A Series is ~ow history, and Hollis w~lI go down m. the books as the last wmner on the lIst. 1982 wasn't easy for Hollis~In '81 he rode for Yamaha's support program-production bikes, parts and travel expenses. In '82 Yamaha let him go and no one else picked him up. He rode the 250cc Nationals and-three Supercross rounds as a true privateer, buying Suzukis at cost and traveling the country courtesy of his father. He finished the 250cc Nationals 14th ranked. Things weren't going his way heading for Trans-USA; Hollis was at the end of the line, his results didn't look to draw any potential sponsors for '83. Now, with the Trans-USA title under his belt, Hollis is still asking himself the same question: Will I get some help for '83? Some have said that this year's Trans- USA title would be a hollow one, that without the top stars it means little or nothing, especially after the promoters in Colorado and California cancelled the last two rounds of the original five round series. Hollis feels otherwise. He worked hard for the title and did what he had to do to win it. After the final round at Unadilla (New York) we had an informal talk with Dave and let him tell what the whole series of events has done for him and his career. Does the Trans-USA title really mean something to you, even after some people called this year's series a joke? Yes, it does. I worked a long time to get in shape, working-out hard trying to pull off something that meant something. This series means a lot to me. I think it's still a pretty good title, even though the factories pulled out. (Billy) Liles and (Billy) Grossi were right there all the time. I had to ride very consistently (Hollis went 1-2-1 in Minnesota, 12-2-1 in Michigan and 2-6-4 in New York in the three moto per round series). Do you feel.bitter about '82? You had . no major sponsorship. and your dad paid for most everything. You had to scrimp to make it tl,rough the year, yet despite all that you took a title. I just hope I can get something out of it. My dad has put all his money into my racing, and I've been serapin' along. I haven't bought anything extra at all. I've only had four bikes all year and now my practice bike breaks down every week. I'm just glad I'm done for the year. I'm not going to ride much more this year, I'm just going to do a bunch of deer hunting. Do you deserve a ride for next year because of your Trans-USA title? I think I should get a ride next year, maybe with one of the European companies, beca'use hopefully I'd like to go to Europe in the next few years. I don't know what KTM, Husqvarna or Maico are going to do next year. I don't know if they're going to stay with the AMA or go with CMC. The most important thing is getting a ride, because it sure would take the pressure off. We've: had a bunch of good times at the Trans-USA this year. Do you think the series has been better off without the factory riders? . If everyone would have been thereon

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