25 Years Ago May, 1972

25 YEARS AGO MAY, 1972

With its bright-red cover depicting a Husqvarna 400 CR and Norton's new disc-braked 750 Commando, this issue must have set a news-stand or two ablaze! Both cover-bikes were given the full road-test treatment, and both received the editorial thumbs-up. Vibration was a recurring theme, as the Husky was described as "an updated mover (and shaker) for experts only" while the Commando was commended for "brilliant acceleration hairline steering tremendous braking and having virtually no vibration"

• Elsewhere, a seven-page bonus section titled, “Color Salon: The Photographs We Couldn’t Run,” showcased four talented racing photographers’ favorite shots. Among the subjects were roadracing legends Kenny Roberts, Reg Pridmore and Kel Carruthers, along with early motocross great Gary Jones.

• On the racing front, the seasonopening AMA Grand National Cham pionship double-header inside the Houston Astrodome offered plenty of excitement. Roberts, a first-year Expert at the time, was already lay ing the groundwork toward future stardom with a convincing win in Saturday night's short-track. The man who would be king experi enced a few problems the night before, however, as he charged through the field after an early getoff to finish third in the TT. Nonethe less, the young Yamaha pilot left with the points lead in hand. A quar ter of a century later, Roberts' GP team is building its own motorcycle. Wonder if he'll leave the first round w~h the points lead this time?

Don Canet