International Moto-Cross Opener
INTERNATIONAL MOTO-CROSS OPENER
GAVIN TRIPPE
THE 1966 EUROPEAN MOTO CROSS SEASON has started. Every year the first big event is the International 500 race held at St. Anthonis in Holland. Usually it is cold and wet but this year that strange ball of fire hung in a clear blue sky all day. Everyone was amazed but it had a good effect on the riders for there was first class racing and the Dutchmen flocked to the circuit in droves.
As usual in Holland the circuit is on an area of deep, shifting sand, making a track of ever-changing ruts and backbreaking scallops. Nowhere is there a smooth stretch where the riders can relax; thus it is the survival of the fittest.
Most of this year’s contenders for the 500cc World Championship were riding. Current Champion Jeff Smith arrived with his BBC TV Grandstand Trophy-winning BSA Victor, his new mount not being finished yet. He was soon besieged by people wanting to know if there was any truth to the stories in the British national newspapers the previous week to the effect that he was retiring at the end of the year. Jeff was hesitant but said he was finishing with Grand Prix racing as he was tired of the traveling involved, but if the factory were to relieve him of the responsibility of getting the machines to the GPs so he could fly, then he would probably change his mind. “Anyway,” he added, “I have not got through this season yet.”
With him were his teammates Vic Eastwood and Arthur Lampkin, Vic being the one who is contesting the rounds with Smith. Other British riders were headed by new-to-500-racing, Dave Bickers. He has always ridden Greeves 250cc bikes, winning the European Title in ’60 and ’61 and coming in third last year. This year he has signed up with the Czechoslovakian CZ team to contest the 500 Championship, on one of their new 360cc two-strokes, together with Chris Horsfield who last year was on works Matchless. Also on the powerful CZ team and riding at St. Anthonis was Swedish champion Rolf Tibblin. Rolf, who won the world title in ’62 and ’63, is a strong favorite for the title this year, but the fourth member of team CZ is Russian Igor Gregoriev who is all set to take it to Russia. It is interesting to note that the Czechs are taking the responsibility of maintenance and travel of the machines from the team, leaving the riders to just get to the GPs and concentrate on the riding.
Other top Swedes were veteran Ove Lundell on a home-built Hedlund and newcomer to international racing, Bengt Aberg. This 21-year-old Stockholm boy has shot to the top in just over a year and is tipped as a future champ. He was riding a Matchless Metisse. Completing the Swedish contingent was ex-250cc champion Torsten Hallman on a 400cc Husqvarna. Completing the graded list was ’64 250 champion Joel Robert from Belgium, who was on a 360 CZ.
Getting down to the serious business of racing, it was Dave Bickers who caused all the eyebrow raising. Of the three thirty-minute legs he won two, fluffing the first one due to a rear brake anchor arm coming adrift. He stormed off in the first race, but had to stop and try to cure his brake troubles, so it was Joel Robert who took advantage and whipped into the first corner a stitch in front of Dutchman Ton Van Heugten on a 360 CZ. The rest followed in a bunch which included Swed ish new boy Bengt Aberg. Tibblin, East wood, Haliman and Sten Lundin on a private BSA Victor. Jeff Smith had missed the gate and was way back sweating it out with Horsfield. While Robert whizzed his way out in front, Tibblin was busy trying to stave off a determined attack from his fellow countryman Bengt Aberg, who was slinging his Metisse about like a 250.
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Meanwhile, Smith was quietly wheedling his way through the field hut on the fourth lap fate struck a blow. Ove Lundell went into the fence in front of him, bounced back on the course and hit Jeff's bike. Smith managed to get going again but the Swede was taken to the hospital with a concussion and a broken arm.
Up in front again and Aberg was first to go out with a carburetor dangling from one stud. Van Heugten then became de energized and dropped back, so slot one went to Robert from Tibblin and Haliman. Persistent Smith finished next in front of Van Heugten, while Horsfield dropped into sixth pla\ce, catching up after his motor stalled early in the race.
Leg two and there seemed no stopping the flying Robert as he zoomed round on the first lap ahead of a bunch containing Tibblin, Van Heugten, Bickers and Aberg. Bickers thought otherwise, however. Every lap he grabbed another place until on the fourth lap he flew past a surprised Robert. The Belgian was not the only one in for a shock. As Dave took Joe, the crowd was craning forward and jumping backwards at the crucial moment. Everyone, that is, ex cept a certain Dutch gentleman who was looking the other way. He collected a CZ clutch lever as Dave sped on his way.
Behind this pair came a lonesome Tib bun trailing Horsfield behind him, Smith catching this pair at half distance after overcoming the handicap of an oiled plug on the first bend. Also joining the band at this stage came Smith's teammate Vic Eastwood, who had cured his first race gearbox troubles. Thus they circulated to the end, Bickers winning from Robert. Tibblin, Horsfield, Smith and Eastwood.
Smith led off, but Bickers soon squirted past to canter home first. Jeff was fol lowed by Robert, then Horsfield and Tib bun. The overall results were worked out. The huge crowd surged forward against the rostrum, while policemen on horses tried to keep them under control as Robert, Tibblin and Smith came to collect their laurels.
Although Dave Bickers was not up there, he must have been feeling very pleased with himself, for with the first round of the Championship only three weeks away, he had shown the opposition that he means business this year. The resultant battles, 14 in all, should prove very interesting if this meeting is anything to go by.
