Cycle World Grand Prix

Cycle World Grand Prix

Suzuki Sweeps Trans-AMA Finale: Geboers 1st Overall In Series.

BOB ATKINSON

Most of the 33,500 motocross fans crowded around Saddleback Park's hilly course focused their attention on World Champions Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert. They were battling it out for the third 1-2 Suzuki finish of the season. But, behind these superstars, something more significant was taking place. Suzuki-mounted Sylvain Geboers was motoring into 3rd place for the day, giving him more than enough points for the overall Trans-AMA victory.

Actually, Geboers (No. 8) has been in contention all season. He began by winning the first two events, held at Carlsbad, Calif, and Boise, Idaho. Consistent high placings followed. Then, with the series more than half over, Geboers grabbed another victory at Orlando, Fla. Afterwards, only Adolf Weil (Maico) remained within striking distance.

Unlike Geboers, DeCoster (No. 23) and Robert (No. 15) had difficulty getting it together in the early rounds. Mediocre finishes for both seemed the rule. Finally, Robert got a 2nd at St. Peters, Mo., which seemed to break the ice. A week later, DeCoster won the Tulsa, Okla. Trans-AMA, with Robert 2nd. And, the week after that, Robert, DeCoster and Geboers finished in that order for Suzuki's first, but not last, Trans-AMA sweep.

World Champions 1DeCoster And Robert Duel; DeCoster Emerges The Victor.

Robert won the first mo to handily. Fans expected it. But Roger DeCoster didn't and proved as much in the second moto. Robert led team mate Sy/vain Geboers, Dave Bickers (CZ), Gaston Rahier (CZ), and De Coster in the opening laps. Roger was pushing hard and soon closed on 2nd-place Geboers. He hounded Sylvain for a time, got by, and closed on the seemingly invincible Robert. Then the impossible happened. Robert was balked by a slower rider. DeCoster passed and pulled away for the win.

The third moto promised to be even better. With one win apiece, both world champions would be go ing all out. DeCoster did so from the start, but Robert got away slowly and had to settle for 3rd behind series winner Geboers.

didn't field any Trans-AMA winners this series, but Gaston Rahier (No. 26) of France and Dave Bickers consistently kept the marque in the Top 10. Of the two, Rahier faired somewhat better, ending up 8th over all. He seems to perform better than most in the mud and consequently turned in his best performances at rain-soaked Elkhorn, Wis. and at Una dilla, N. Y.

Bickers, who finished the series in 10th, was most impressive at Saddle back. His polished technique earned him two 5ths and a 6th place in the three motos, for 5th overall.

do/f Well (Maico) earned a u nique distinction at Saddleback. He was the only non-Suzuki rider to crack the Top Three, and that was in the first moto. He took the lead at the start and was doing a good job of ho/ding Robert back in the turns. Robert had a horsepower advantage though, and passed easily on the long, uphill straight. DeCoster got by as well, but in a turn, leaving Well 3rd. His only consolation for a day of frustration was finishing the series in 2nd overall.

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ndy Roberton didn't crack the Top Five until the last moto, but even so, was Husqvarna's highest p/ace finisher at the end of the day. In that last moto, DeCoster led from the start, but a stubborn Roberton held onto 2nd for several laps. He seemed to tire quicker than the Bel glans though, and at the half, Ge boers eased by in a turn. Still, it looked like an easy 3rd for the Englishman, but Joel Robert, making up for lost time, stormed by just before the finish.

Blackwell Edges Out Lackey For Top American Honors.

Ihe battle for top American was close. Super close. Prior to the CYCLE WORLD GP, both Brad Lackey (CZ) and Mark Blackwe/l (Husqvarna, No. 62) had finished highest American four times. Lackey had a slight point advantage going into the finale, but his advantage didn `t last long.

In the 2nd moto, ignition failure held him to 23rd. Still, Black well had to finish 7th in the final moto to win, and it looked chancy as he had failed to better 9th all day. But, when the last moto ended, he was 7th, none theless. As for the final tally-it was Black well 604, Lackey 603.

V Werner Schutz (Maico) of West Germany, with two wins and a 2nd, won the 250 support c/ass, but not without some stiff opposition from Gary Chap/in (Maico), Doug Grant (A is, No. 46), and Tom Rapp (Bul taco). Chap/in (No. 49) was in top form and cha//enged Schutz (No. 30) severa/ times in the opening stages of both the first and second motos. Unfortunately, mechanica/ prob/ems s/owed him both times.

Tom Rapp was the only rider able to beat Schutz, and he did it in the final moto. Schutz, Chaplin, and Rapp all got good starts, but Chaplin crashed on the tricky downhill pictured at the right. Soon after, Rapp passed Schutz and opened up a considerable lead, which he held to the flag.

Tim Hart (Maico), who earned enough points to win the series the week before, finished 4th after dropping out of one moto with mechanical problems.

RESULT