Saddleback Trans-Ama Finale

SADDLEBACK TRANS-AMA FINALE

AKE ÜBER ALLES, TRIPES SHOCKS AND SIDECARS DELIGHT

AKE JONSSON swept the 1972 Trans-AMA series with an unprecedented nine straight wins. He pulverized the opposition at Saddleback with wins in all three 30-minute motos, taking home the lion's share of the $16,000 purse. He had mathematically sewed up the Trans-AMA series win weeks earlier, but he didn't disappoint the 22,000 spectators. His incredibly smooth style makes it seem as though he's hardly working.

I N SPITE of a knee injury halfway through the Trans-AMA series, Su zuki's Roger DeCoster, 1972 500 Motocross World Champion, rode consistently enough to finish the series in 2nd place behind Jonsso very stylish rider, DeCoster ne fails to please the spectators with his displays of bravado and spirited rid ing. He finished 4th overall at Saddle back.

M IKE RUNYARD (43) and Robert Brown lead Taichi Yoshimura on the two stroke Honda, bored out to 251cc to make it eligible to run in the 500 International. A former Suzuki works rider in Japan, Yoshimura has ridden in Europe and is spectacular to watch.

I 1ANS MAISCH (20) leads Bengt Aberg through the whoop-de-dos, but Bengt beat Hans into 2nd place at Saddleback behind Ake Jonsson. Bengt's Husq varna teammate Heikki Mikkola fi nally finished 3rd in the Trans-AMA results, although missing the last races after Puyallup, Wash., because his van was broken into and his motorcycle stolen.

C ZECHOSLOVAKIAN C-Z rider Mirislav Haim slides, feet-up, through one of Sad dleback's many turns. HaIm's 7th place finish at Saddleback netted him 10th position for the Trans-AMA series. He is one of the more relaxed looking riders on a motocross course, rarely getting out of shape or falling down.

M ARTY TRIPES, who started the Trans-AMA series on a factory Yamaha, finished as first American at Saddleback on a C-Z. Plenty of concentration and steady riding enabled the 17-year-old to outlast several Europeans and the rest of the Americans. His style is uncannily conservative; he never ap pears to be in a hurry.

fl EX STATEN (C-Z) has been plagued with DNFs through out the Trans-AMA series. His wins in both motos of the 250 Support Class gave him overall vic tory which was long overdue. His form is progressing very well and he is looking forward to riding the Trans-AMA series again next year.

A NEW TWIST to U.S. moto cross racing is the sidecar class. Lorenz and Samuel Hai ler of Switzerland powered their Honda/Wasp outfit to victory in both motos with apparent ease, although the rig broke down and wasn't able to complete the victory lap. The European dominance of the sidecar exhibition race clearly showed how much of a head start they have on the Americans who ventured into the fray.

MERICAN CHAMPION Brad Lackey was the leading Amer ican rider in the Trans-AMA series with a 6th place finish. No other American finished in the top 10! Brad was second American -isher at Saddleback on his Kaw i behind Marty Tripes (C-Z). It would have been practically impossible to improve his position in the Trans AMA standings at Saddleback, and he had already won the title of first American earlier in the series. Brad was riding well, but with reservation, figuring that a respectable finish would be better than not finishing at

LTHOUGH SHOWING flashes of brilliance in the early minutes of the three 30-minute motos, American Jim Pomeroy appeared to tire and was only able to place 12th overall at Saddleback. His machine is a proto type Bultaco which showed a good turn of speed and appeared to handle well.

TRANS-AMA RESULTS

500 INTERNATIONAL

250 SUPPORT CLASS

SIDECAR EXHIBITION

TRANS-AMA OPEN CLASS TOP TEN