1976 Trans-Ama Wrap-Up

1976 TRANS-AMA WRAP-UP

Most of the battles were ours, but THEY won the war.

COMPETITION

FERNANDO BELAIR

The handwriting is on the wall. For years and years the American motocross riders have been used as mere fillers in a program of battling foreigners in the annual Trans-AMA series. Although beaten again this year by the Europeans, who still show more consistently, Ame rican riders took six, that's right six, out of the 10 events.

The series opener belonged to Jim Pomeroy and was followed immediately by a Jim Weinert victory in the second event. Four-time World Champion and defending Trans-AMA victor Roger DeCoster finally started getting it to gether by the third round, thereby cap turing the overall win. But our boys weren't ready to give up yet. Marty Smith blasted to an overall at Omaha, Nebraska. Then, DeCoster and his Suzuki teammate, Pennsylvanian Tony DiStefano, divided the last five; two for Roger, three for Tony. That included a double moto sweep for Tony at the series finale at Saddleback Park.

Although he won only four events, DeCoster still stole the show. Whenever an American won, Roger was usually right behind in 2nd or 3rd, piling up points. His consistency is what saved the series for him. Had Roger not won any at all, but rather finished as far back as 3rd in the four events he actually did win, he still would have seized overall (Continued on page 49) honors. Even so, it was delightful to see the Americans pile up more victories than the Euros for a change.

TRANS-AMA RESULTS

Continued from page 45

The 250cc Support class was owned by Can-Am's Jimmy Ellis. While the Connecticut youngster dominated the racing, his teammates Mike Runyard and Buck Murphy were involved in a battle with Honda's Rich Eierstedt for 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Runyard finally came out on top, with Eierstedt spacing Murphy back to 4th.

Coincidentally, both class winners, DeCoster and Ellis, were injured before the end of the series. Roger unloaded when a triple clamp on his Works RN370 Suzuki broke while tapped out in fifth. He landed on his face, suffering some pretty serious lacerations. His hurts kept Roger out of the results at Livermore, where the accident occurred, and also prevented him from riding at Saddleback.

Ellis high-sided while leading the first Support moto at Saddleback, dislocating his shoulder and putting him out of the fray.

Fans in 10 locations across the country saw this group of International and National riders compete for the series title. While the Europeans have traditionally dominated, the much tighter competition this year had everyone going WFO. That's the way spectators like to see their racing...with all the stops pulled out and ON THE GASI0