Continental Report
CONTINENTAL REPORT
B. R. NICHOLLS
WHAT NOW?
Three world championship titles depend on the final points races of 1968. And, the 500 motocross crown also depended on the last event, contested in Switzerland, and in which Paul Friedrichs became the first man to win three titles and, for good measure, three consecutive championships. Friedrichs is an East German, and he accomplished the feat riding a Czechoslovakian CZ, just three days before that country was invaded.
At the time of this writing, the outcome of this damnable Russian intervention can't be known, but it does appear as if motorcycling may be the poorer for the absence of Czech machinery and competitors. There is not a more popular man in road racing than veteran Franta Stastny, and few factory race mechanics are as happy and anxious to help the press as Jawa and CZ. Equally popular on the motocross side is another veteran, Vlastimil Valek. One wonders if they will be seen racing in 1969. Stastny said at the Ulster Grand Prix how pleased he is with the 350-cc fourcylinder two-stroke Jawa racer, which he had ridden into 2nd place at Dundrod, before two separate plug changes dropped him down the field. Nevertheless, he finished 4th with the machine handling really well on the bumpy, difficult course. He was all set for a good run at Monza, the very fast Italian grand prix circuit, and spoke with great enthusiasm about a new frame and streamlining for an overbored version, 49.5 by 47.8 cc to give a capacity of 377 cc to be used in the 1969 500 cc-races.
With CZ already holding the 500 motocross title, the firm obviously wants the 250 for the publicity value of a double championship win. Leaders in this two-horse race are Torsten Hallman (Husqvarna) and Joel Robert (CZ) both of whom have 52 points, but with a rider's best seven rides to count in the championship, Robert is sitting pretty in the knowledge that all the pressure is on Hallman. The Swede must win the last round to take the title; even if Robert fails to score and Hallman finishes 2nd, it will not be good enough, because, with five wins each, Robert has four 2nds to Hallman's two. The title will be decided at the final round in Austria. For that meeting, both Husqvarna and CZ are expected to bring in riders from the 500 class to try and clinch the title for their respective marques. This is a matter of gamesmanship that seems unfair because the battle has been between the same group of contestants all season. However, such is the "anti-East" feeling at the moment that a rider such as Friedrichs may not be wanted in Austria. The FIM would be wise to step in and insure that the title is fairly fought out by those who had pursued the crown all season, for though no one can catch the two leaders, Geboers, Konecny - a doubtful Czech starter - and Bickers still are engaged in the fight for the next three places.
Two other motocross events that will be hit unless things are settled quickly are the two team events for the 500-cc Moto Cross des Nations to be contested in Russia, and the 250 Trophee des Nations, in Switzerland. The Russians may find that no one is prepared to make the trip deep into the Ukraine, while the Swedish Sports Federation already has stated that it will not compete against the countries involved in the rape of Czechoslovakia. This can only mean that the Swedes will remain out of the contest, assuming it is run.
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This leaves the world speedway final in doubt as it is due to be held in Gothenburg. The Trophee event would be a mockery without the Czechs, who have a strong team, so that should be canceled.
As already mentioned, Friedrichs is world 500-cc motocross champion by the narrow margin of one point over John Banks. They came to the final round in Luxembourg with Banks leading Friedrichs by 38 points to 34, and both needing a win to clinch the title. Ake Jonsson was in with a slender chance, too, for if Banks and Friedrichs failed to score, and he won, then the title would go to Sweden. But, in the first leg, Bengt Aberg (Husqvarna) was the winner from Friedrichs and Banks. In the second, Vic Eastwood (Husqvarna) was 1st, having been sidelined in the first leg. Friedrichs was once again 2nd to insure the title was his. Banks' last hope had disappeared when his chain came off.
A notable feature of the event was Jeff Smith's retirement from the hurly burly of world motocross title chasing. Twice champion, in 1964 and 1965, he has passed on a wealth of knowledge and experience to Banks. This has made Banks a world class rider in his first season. It may well be that if Banks had been accompanied by a factory mechanic, he would have won this year, so it will be interesting to see what happens in 1969, and whether BSA will market the highly successful four-stroke motocross model.
The situation in the 250 championship could have been resolved at the British round. If Hallman had won, he would have clinched the title again, but it was not to be. Surprise of the meeting was the riding of Malcolm Davis on the works AJS. In both races, Davis forced his way to the front, showing superior speed over the works CZ and Husqvarna machines, only to retire twice, the first time when the plug terminal came away from the insulation, and the second when a wire came adrift. With Davis out of the way Robert stormed to victory in both legs, with Hallman gaining two 2nd places, still plagued by his back injury, which he sustained in the first round in Spain. The chance of a layoff between now and the deciding round in a couple of months' time should see the Swede fully fit for the final winner-take-all battle. Dave Bickers (CZ) beat similarly mounted Karei Konecny, the young Czech rider who has impressed many this season as a potential champion. Best of the British machinery was the 5 th place Greeves ridden by Bryan Wade.
Two Edison Dye-sponsored Americans rode Husqvarna machines, but did not figure in the results. Both aged 26, Bill Thomas and Bill Silverthorne rode last fall against the Europeans in the U. S. Over here they have found the courses present as much a problem as the competitors. They appear unfamiliar with grassy slopes, adverse cambers and rushing in and out of trees. They do, however, recognize the need for superb physical fitness, for which they train three or four mornings a week. They also like to get in an hour's hard riding a day, if possible, to condition them for the two races of 40 min. that usually comprise a grand prix meeting. In the crowded British meet, Silverthorne finished 16th overall, but Thomas retired in the second leg. Their stint in Europe will have made them far better riders than when they left home, but poorer ones, a state of affairs that would have been much worse had it not been for the sponsorship of Edison Dye.
THE ROAD RACERS
At the same time that Silverthorne was sweating it out under the hot sun of the British motocross, another Yank was having his best ride for quite awhile at a road race meet. The rider in question was Marty Lunde on a newly acquired Yamaha 250, who finished 6th in a 250 race at Brands Hatch. Star of the meeting, the famous Hutchinson 100, was Mike Hailwood with three wins, though Renzo Pasolini on his first-ever outing to a British short circuit must have contributed to the very large crowd or they had all come to see the Phil Read vs. Bill Ivy clash that had been given so much prominence in the press.
Enmity has grown up between the two Yamaha riders over the destination of the world 250 road race title which Ivy thought was his, as Read had the 125 crown to his credit. Read, however, stated he will ride to win the 250 races in the classics and will not obey orders to finish 2nd. It would seem there has been no love lost for some time between the two, and matters were brought to a head by Ivy's display in the Isle of Man 125 TT, where he hurtled off, intent on being the first to lap at over the ton on a 125. That he did is now history, and a fantastic achievement it was, too, but one that was within Read's capabilities, had his machine been tuned in the same manner. Having set the record on Lap 2, Ivy dawdled on Lap 3, even to the extent of stopping at one point to ask who was winning.
So it was now in black and white that riders "threw" races on team orders, and so everyone chipped in on what was basically whether a manufacturer who spends thousands of dollars on a racing program should determine race results. To Read and Ivy, however, it is now only a question of who is the better rider, and this question also brought the crowd to Brands Hatch. The 250 race provided the long awaited clash and it turned out to be the finest race seen there for a long time, with the lead changing constantly over the 12 laps and the lap and race records being broken into the bargain.
At the flag, it was Read in front, with Ivy gaining consolation from a record lap. Pasolini was a lonely 3rd.
The two sidecar races were completely dominated by Helmut Fath with his fourcylinder URS. Both his wins being made that much easier when Klaus Enders' machine suffered a broken connecting rod in the first race. It has not been a good season for the reigning world champion, as he has no hope of retaining his crown. The championship will be fought for by Fath, Auerbacher and Schauzu in the final round, at which knowledgeable observers expect to see them finish in that order. The decider will not be at Monza as originally scheduled, but at Hockenheim. Like the 250 motocross contenders it will be some time before the title is won.
READ WINS 250 TITLE
A sensational Italian Grand Prix at Monza finally settled the destination of the prized 250 world title. Phil Read won the race-and the title-while Bill Ivy's machine developed a serious misfire when he was chasing hard. He eventually finished 2nd. The result of this final race in the series put the two even on points, each having scored five wins and two seconds. But Read took the title on the basis of the rivals' aggregate times for all of the 250 championship events.
Rumors after this final round of the championships suggested that there would be no factory Yamahas for Read in 1969, but that Ivy might be supplied with machines. Even Read believes he will be "unemployed," as far as Yamaha is concerned, next year.
More startling events occurred in the 500 race—and in the two days preceding Sunday's race. Mike Hailwood was to partner Giacomo Agostini, who had already won the 350 and 500 titles, in the races for these classes. But at the Friday night team conference, MV factory chief Count Agusta told Mike that he was expected to settle for two 2nd places, behind Agostini.
At this, Hailwood stormed out of the MV camp, declaring that he always "races to win." Even a telephone call from the Count, suggesting that the two riders should claim a win apiece, failed to pacify him. Then the Benelli camp stepped in. On Saturday, the factory offered Mike bikes, and its leading rider, Renzo Pasolini, declared that the Englishman could choose any machines he wished.
By the time the deal was settled and bikes delivered to the Monza circuit, Hailwood was left with only 35 min. in which to practice. He took out Benelli's 500-cc Four, and although he never before had ridden the machine, lapped quickly, although not as fast as Agostini on the MV Three. All this drama and confusion set the excitable Italian race fans afire. Could Hailwood, the world's greatest road racer, overcome the handicap of riding a strange and largely untested machine, and beat his former teammate Agostini, on the fast and fine handling MV?
No one will know, for Mike dropped the big Benelli on the Lap 3 of the race, while lying a close 2nd to Agostini. The spill occurred in streaming rain, as Hailwood was braking for a corner. While Mike stood up unharmed, and walked back to the pits, Agostini raced on to win, with Pasolini in 2nd place. These positions were identical to the finishing order of the 350 race, which Hailwood did not contest.
Despite the frustration of the crash, the small but enthusiastic Benelli factory offered Hailwood machines for 1969. At press time, Hailwood was still undecided about his future plans.
NEW SWEDISH CIRCUIT
Sweden has been without a world classic grand prix meeting since 1961, having lost the event to Finland, where it is held on a tree-lined circuit, not exactly the most popular among competitors. Soon Sweden may be able to claim a grand prix again, as a new circuit has been built in the south of that country, at Anderstorp. Two and a half miles long, and similar to Brands Hatch, it has been built with an eye to the future, with such facilities as a landing strip, paddock restaurant and swimming pool. For 1968, meetings are restricted, but it is hoped that a full international meeting will be conducted in 1969, when the Swedish people will get the chance to see just how good their ace, Kent Andersson, is against top competition.
