25 Years Ago October, 1975

25 YEARS AGO OCTOBER, 1975

World's First Test: Shocking new fourstroke from Yamaha!" screamed this month's cover blurb. Yamaha's answer to Honda's popular XR series, the TT500C even won editors' hearts. "We liked the machine so much that one staffer has already put one on order," read the conclusion. "As a general all-purpose offroad recreation machine, you just can't do better."

• In addition to having three road tests and an installment of the “Trials Notebook,” this issue focused heavily on competition, the motocross coverage alone spanning 18 pages. An MX trilogy, “Three of the damndest motocrosses in the U.S. this year!” was first out of the gate. Leading the way was Marty Smith, whose dominant performances in the 125cc World Cup at Mid-Ohio netted him top billing in the story-not to mention a couple of spectacular photographs. Deeper in, the section took the form of a photo collage with long captions giving both the 500cc U.S. Grand Prix at Carlsbad, California, and the 250cc Superbowl their due. At Carlsbad, Gerrit Wolsink and Roger DeCoster made it a one-two Suzuki punch, while Can-Am’s Jimmy Ellis was the class act inside the Los Angeles Coliseum.

• Motocross even permeated

“Slipstream.” The photograph showed (yet another) hapless racer being pitched over the handlebars. Number 13 was painted on his bike’s numberplates and his helmet. Talk about pressing your luck...

Don Canet