Superbowl of Motocross
Superbowl Of Motocross
Marty Tripes Proves It Again. He’s Unbeatable Under The Lights In Front Of A Home Town Crowd.
Night motocross may not be what purists have in mind, but 40,000 fans got behind the concept in Los Angeles and cheered young Marty Tripes (Honda) (Photo 1) to victory for the second consecutive year.
Tripes began the evening by attacking the course, not merely riding around. He powered around Brad Lackey (Kawasaki), who was subsequently center punched in the first turn, and never released his stranglehold on the opposition.
Tripes was no doubt pumped. He had the course dialed. And, he had the crowd. So, when the flag fell for the second moto, no one was surprised to see Marty head the pack.
At this point, the Inter-Ama could have become a parade. But it didn’t. Tripes fell and half the pack passed him. He seemed like a write-off but fought back, lead briefly, then was beaten to the flag by charging Jaroslav Falta (C-Z).
By the time the last moto arrived, the crowd was in a frenzy. Tripes was leading, but Falta, Antonin Baborovsky (C-Z) and Jim Pomeroy (Bultaco) were still in the hunt!
Tripes had to take 2nd to win and knowing this, he again charged into the lead. He pulled away from Falta and Baborovsky and probably would have won the moto had Pomeroy not pressed so hard. Near the end, Tripes slowed with a broken frame and was passed by Pomeroy, who ended up 2nd overall.
Tripes won, but high flying Jim Pomeroy (Photo 2) convinced the crowd that his Grand Prix International Motocross win was no fluke. Pomeroy passes with ease and rides with a degree of maturity that far surpasses his years. Pomeroy also handles trophy girls in a manner which far surpasses his years— take note Marty Tripes.
Antonin Baborovsky, (No. 9) (Photo 3) a C-Z factory rider from Czechoslovakia, was the highest placing foreign rider at the Coliseum. Here he passes Jim West (Husqvarna) on his way to 3rd overall.
Baborovsky’s teammate Jaroslav Falta (C-Z No. 11) (Photo 4) was impressive in the early stages and looked like he would be tough to beat. He pressured Tripes constantly in the first moto and led a good deal of the second, finally outpacing Marty at the flag.
More than anything else, Superbowl promoter Mike Goodwin wanted to create a good show. For one thing he kept the program moving with a 500cc support class (won by Robert Plumb on a Maico) and with a sidehack demonstration (Photo 5).
And, he did everything he could to keep the artificial Coliseum course from being labeled a TT. There was a mud hole, particularly treacherous for sidehackers. Then, there was a spectacular uphill and downhill built over the seats at the parastyle end of the stadium. And, of course, there were numerous bumps, jumps and the like.
In the West, night motocross must be labeled a success. As for Easterners, they’ll have the opportunity to pass judgment when Superbowl East debuts at John F. Kennedy Stadium, Sept. 28.
