Crossed Up

CROSSED UP

FERNANDO BELAIR

The World Championships in all three motocross classes have been decided. Roger DeCoster took the 500cc title for an unprecendented fourth time, although his dream of four straight titles was thwarted last year by Heikki Mikkola. In the 250 class, Harry Everts took his Puch to first overall after trailing Suzuki's Willi Bauer for most of the season. Everts is only 22 years old and some people have already tagged him as the next Joel Robert. The 125 class was decided very early. Gaston Rahier clearly dominated the season, clinching the title for Suzuki with four G.P.s still to be run. It is noteworthy that all three Champions are Belgians. Also, with a little more luck in the 250 class, Suzuki might have had a 125, 250, 500 sweep. That would have been a history-making first.

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Rumors are flying every which way about Heikki Mikkola and who he will be riding for next season. Honda has reportedly offered him a great deal of money, but, so we hear, has Yamaha. Husqvarna cannot compete on a salary level with the giant Japanese firms, but is relying on factory loyalty to keep the Flying Finn in its camp.

Meanwhile, sources over here have indicated that if Heikki does leave Husqvarna, the factory will field an all-American motocross team next year. The members? Brad Lackey and Kent Howerton.

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The new Honda 125 Elsinore may be a works bike replica (without the unobtanium, of course). Then again, it might not. We hear things that keep trickling out, but Honda itself is staying mum. Suzuki is also rumored to have oneupped its own 125 RM and to have a Gaston Rahier Replica—complete with six-speed transmission (Gaston’s machine only has a five)—waiting for the new model year. If so, then Honda had better come out with an RC-type Elsie or it can count on a bunch fewer victories for the average Honda owner.

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The World Trials Championship is tightening up. In fact, it’s in a dead heat at the moment. With one round left, Martin Lampkin and Malcolm Rathmell are tied for the lead. Finland’s Yrjo Vesterinen is in 3rd, hot on the heels of the leading duo. The final rounds in W. Germany and Czechoslovakia are going to be the deciders. Montesa is banking heavily on Rathmell. Martin Lampkin has already delivered one world title to Bultaco (1973) and would certainly like to add at least a few more, starting with another this year. Vesterinen could spoil things for Montesa with high placings in the final rounds should things go poorly for the leaders. Either way, the odds are stacked in Bultaco’s favor. It should be interesting.

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Jammin’ Jimmy Weinert is again the 500cc National Champion. The final event was quite a battle, since Steve Stackable was within seven spokes of taking the title when a wheel collapsed on the final lap of the first moto. Stack was running 2nd. He won the second moto. Weinert ran hard all day and finished with just enough points to capture the crown, this time for Yamaha. There was talk that some riders had conspired to block Pierre Karsmakers in order for Weinert to win. Pierre even protested to the AMA, but his protest did no good. The crown belongs to the Jammer.

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Honda just captured the U.S. National Trials Championship, thanks to Marland Whaley eking out a slim victory over Yamaha’s Don Sweet. Whaley, riding one of the $18,000 magnesium and titanium RTL300 works bikes, took the title after a grueling nine-event season. Hopefully, we will have the complete story next month, along with competitors’ observations on the events, organization, and each other. Stay tuned.

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One new machine that may be in the works for next year is a cantilevered six-speed 125 Bultaco Pursang. We can understand the change to a six-speed for the little Bui, but we wonder why the change to a cantilever when the Pursangs with the forward-mounted shocks are such sweet-handling machines. Oh well, maybe that part of the rumor isn’t true. We’ll see soon enough. ra