Inter-Am Opener Pepperell
inter-am opener pepperell
INTER-AM motocross is underway once more, and the competition is furious. Most likely the Europeans will dominate the 13-leg series. They are the cream of the motocross crop. Both world champions—Joel Robert and Bengt Aberg—are competing.
But the Americans, seasoned by last year’s inaugural Inter-Am series, are rising to the challenge. In the first leg at Pepperell, Massachusetts, they made a nice dent in the top 10 places.
The atmosphere was quite European, not only because of the foreign riders. The size of the crowd approached that of a Continental event. More than 10,000 spectators paid their $4 to get in, an attendance that surpasses the draw at most AMA nationals. Thengeneral appearance approached that of the smart looking fans who attend GP races overseas. Big-time motocross as seen at Pepperell seems to attract many non-motorcyclists, which is beneficial to all enthusiasts. It broadens the base of favorable public opinion.
To make the logistics of machine transportation easier for the foreign competitors, the series championship is in the big 500-cc class only, rather than both 250 and 500. Even so, some of the riders entered 250s at Pepperell and did fairly well—notably Dick Mann and Bob Thompson on Ossas, and Joe Bolger on a superlight Bultaco Pursang.
Sweden’s Arne Kring, part of the large Husqvarna factory team, was overall winner at Pepperell, with a 1st and two 2nds in the three heats. His teammate Bengt Aberg, 500-cc world champion, stole a 1st place from him in the second heat, but dropped to 6th in the overall results due to a fall in the first heat. Along with Gunnar Lindstrom, who was forced to retire with a knee injury, they were Husqvarna’s most aggressive riders. Teammate Torsten Hallman, by way of contrast, looked quite conservative and off-song; but the former world champion placed 4th overall with consistent riding, gaining 9th, 6th and 6th in the heats.
CZ’s Dave Bickers, who is somewhat the English counterpart in appearance and action to the AMA’s Roger “Mr.
Business” Reiman, pulled off a 2nd overall, faring much better than Belgian teammates Joel Robert and Roger de Coster. Robert, looking tubby from between-season excesses, was going quite fast, as was de Coster, but both men were hit by flying stones, and Robert suffered mechanical problems. Joel’s best position was a 3rd place in the second heat.
The Greeves contingent, represented by Vic Allan of Scotland, and Californian ace Gary Bailey, had split luck also. Allan, recognizable by his tartan painted helmet and a murky brogue, took his 380-cc Griffon to 3rd overall, but Bailey, plagued by the nails coming through the soles of his new motocross boots, had to slow severely in the latter heats, pulling him down to 11th.
CZ rider Barry Higgins, one of the top riders in New England, put on a fabulous show of forceful riding in all three heats to gain 5th overall, the highest American placing. Also in the top 10: professional AMA star Dick Mann, 8th on a 250-cc Ossa; Bob Thompson, New York, 9th (250 Ossa); and Ron Jeckel, New York, 10th, on a Bultaco 360. [O]
OVERALL PLACINGS
FIRST HE A T
1. Arne Kring; 2. Chris Hammargren, Sweden (Husqvarna); 3. Roger de Coster, Belgium (CZ); 4. Ake Johnsson, Sweden (Maico); 5. Gunnar Lindstrom, Sweden (Husqvarna); 6. Dave Bickers.
SECOND HEAT
1. Bengt Aberg; 2. Arne Kring; 3. Joel Robert; 4. Vic Allan; 5. Dave Bickers; 6. Torsten Hallman.
THIRD HE A T
1. Ake Johnsson; 2. Dave Bickers; 3. Bengt Aberg; 4. Arne Kring; 5. Vic Allan; 6. Torsten Hallman.
