Third Women's Mx Showdown
RACE WATCH
Third Women’s MX Showdown
FISH FRIES GRAND NATIONAL FIELD
If the annual International Women’s Motoeross Association shootout exists primarily to provide a championship forum for female riders, it’s developing a secondary effect that's likely to be more important in the long run: the deletion of the concept of "powder puff" events from the language of the sport.
This year's championships, the IWM A’s fourth, were held at Racing World, in Orange County, California, on a mansized course under a man-sized format: two 90-mile Grands Prix Saturday and four 30-minute motos Sunday. Anyone aspiring to the Grand National Championship had to complete all of these events, and about a dozen of the 75 ladies who showed up were after the national title.
You can forget the word tomboy, too. It's entirelv possible that the word feminine was invented for the likes of Madelene Almeida, the Amateur Grand Prix titlist. and she was far from being alone.
However, by far the greatest tribute to the advancement of women's motoeross was the fact that visitors were unable to distinguish them at a distance—stylewise—from male riders on adjacent courses. Finding the women’s championship layout meant asking directions.
Close-up. of course, the distinction was easy with names like Kathy, Judy or Pam lettered across the seats of nicely-filled leathers and foot-long, be-ribboned braids sticking out from under helmets. But once the starting gate fell, the names could just as easily have been Gaston. Joel or Roger.
The story of this year’s women’s Grand National was basically the story of three girls, with a strong supporting push from a fourth.
Sue Fish is an 18-year-old Yamaha factory-supported rider from Monterey Park. California. Sue wound up running the table on the rest of the girls. Not only did she successfully defend her Grand National Championship, but she copped the 125 and 250 National Championships too.
Her performance was impressive, but by no means easy.
After making a rout of the two-hour 125 and 250 Grand Prix races on a 3.5-mile course on Saturday, Sue won the first 125 moto most impressively on Sunday morning on the tough. Bosch motoeross course. But the going suddenly got very tough.
A heavy fall as they were passing a back marker ended Sue’s handlebar-rattling 250 battle with Johanna Stenerson, dropping her to 2nd place in the race and aggravating an ankle injury she’d sustained in the parade lap preceding the Grands Prix on Saturday.
Stenerson didn’t contest the Grand National, missing the 250 Grand Prix on Saturday, but was clearly the star of the pro motoeross show; winning three of the four races, including both 250 races.
The afternoon program saw her finish 2nd to Stenerson in the final 125 race, and limp home (literally) 4th in the 250 MX finale.
For Ms. Fish, the event was over just in time, because she w'as clearly on the ropes. Asked if the effort might have been a bit ambitious, she agreed, saying. “I don’t ever remember being this thrashed after a race.”
Almeida had the crowd in the palm of her hand as she swept to the Amateur National Championship. The amateur riders were required to ride just one Grand Prix on Saturday, which Almeida won.
She came back Sunday to blitz the field in the 125 MX race; and finished 2nd and 4th to Pauline Pitt’s 250 MX victories. This combination earned her a comfortable overall win and a Suzuki RM80 to boot.
The fourth lady of prominence at the event was Cary Steiner. Having advanced to the women’s pro ranks almost overnight. Cary rode well enough to finish just seven points in back of Fish in the Grand National battle.
Kasey Rogers promoted the event for the fourth time with help from Suzuki, which donated two RM80 bikes, one for National Schoolgirl Champ, Lynda Ledlow; and from Mikuni American, which provided custom curbs for all winners.
San Diego Suzuki, and Pesky’s Suzuki, of Canoga Park. California, also chipped in a new Suzuki 125 motocrosser for the Grand National Champion. Just the thing for the girl who has everything—including Yamaha factory backing.—Boh Jackson
CAMEL PRO SERIES Standings Through Syracuse Gold Cup Mile 1 Jay Springsteen, H-D............202 2 Ted Boody, H-D ....................198 3 Gary Scott, H-D, Yam ..........181 4 Ken Roberts, Yam ................179 5 Steve Eklund, H-D, Yam........153 6 Corky Keener, H-D................126 7 Mike Kidd, H-D......................116 8 Hank Scott, H-D....................106 9 Skip Aksland, Yam..................98 10 Steve Morehead, H-D..............83
