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/1483620
ally started after the conclusion of the Grand Nationals, so that the flat track riders might have a chance to compete. In fact, Grand National stars David Aldana and Jim Rice were named as part of BSA's factory motocross team who would participate in the Trans-AMA Series. At LaRue, Ronnie Rall (CZ), Aldana and Dick Mann, who rode a Husqvarna, were the big name Grand National riders to make the main. Oddly, the factory Suzuki squad did not show up to the opener in LaRue. It seems that Sylvain Geboers (apparently with the factory's knowledge) had signed a contract with Dye to race the Inter-Am. Suzuki was not thrilled when they learned of this contract and the factory was zuki. Those teams were report- edly asked to pay $15,000 per manufacturer (over $110,000 in today's dollars) just to enter the Inter-Am Se- ries. And it was with that opening, the AMA's Russ March decided to work a deal to bring over the BSA and Suzuki teams and hast- ily assemble the eight-race schedule that ran throughout October and November of 1970.The series was first an- nounced in late July, but the schedule was not released until just barely over two weeks from the first race! So last minute were the final plans, that Cycle News announced the series in its October 6 issue, with the opening round in LaRue hap- pening on October 11th! With many of the established European stars already com- mitted to the Inter-Am, the Trans-AMA would not boast the sheer star power of Dye's series. The AMA also devised a very odd points structure that heavily favored consistency over winning. As an example: First place awarded 300 points, while second earned 295 and third 290. Half of the events, the riders would be on 250cc bikes and the other half they would race Open-class machinery. A minimum purse of $3000 was to be awarded, with the overall win- ner at each event earning $800. The series opened in LaRue and then on consecutive weekends travel to Unadilla, New York; Del- CN III ARCHIVES P118 ally started after the conclusion of the Grand Nationals, so that zuki. Those teams were report edly asked to pay $15,000 per manufacturer (over $110,000 in deal to bring over the BSA and Suzuki teams and hast- ily assemble the eight-race schedule that ran throughout October and November of 1970.The series was first an- nounced in late July, but the schedule was not released until just barely over two weeks from the first race! So last minute Cycle announced the series in its October 6 issue, with the opening round in LaRue hap- With many of the established (Above) LaRue Trans-AMA support race winner Brad Lackey was pictured on the cover of Cycle News. (Top right) A buck got you what would turn out to be a very valuable program to collectors today. ta Motorsports Park in Toledo, Ohio; Franklin, Georgia; Dallas International Motor Speedway in Lewisville, Texas; Saddle- back Park in Orange, California; Carlsbad Raceway (California) and ending on November 29 in Puyallup Raceway Park in Wash- ington. The AMA was so invested in the AMA Grand National Cham- pionships and the stars of that series, the news releases about the Trans-AMA pointed out that that championship was intention-