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U.S. 500 MX GP

Eric Geboers had already wrapped up the world 500cc motocross championship before the series’ final race, held this year in San Bernardino, California. But Geboers still made the long trip to the U.S. because it would be his last chance to race here before retiring, and because the race was being promoted and run by Roger DeCoster, current Team Honda manager and five-time world MX champ.

Over l 7.000 fans watched Geboers battle with Kawasakimounted Johnny O’Mara. who got the holeshot and proceeded to dice with Geboers throughout the first moto. But Geboers finally found an opening and moved into the lead on the eighth lap. holding the advantage to the finish.

A poor second-moto start put Geboers in mid-pack after the first lap, but he quickly worked up to the second spot behind second-moto winner Rick Johnson, who was making a comeback ride after being out most of the season with injuries. Jeff > Matiasevich. riding his first big race on a 500cc bike, led the early stages of moto two before tiring and drifting back to fourth place. Geboer's 12 placings topped Johnson's 3-1 finishes, allowing the two-time 500cc champ to retire from his last GP race with the overall Win. Johnson got second overall, England’s Kurt Nicoll claimed third, Matiasevich was fourth and O'Mara fifth.

Baby John pulls it off

To call the 250cc world roadracing championship chase high drama would be an understatement. Going into the last race held at Phillips Island, Australia, American John Kocinski trailed Spaniard Carlos Cadus by five points. To take the championship, Yamaha-mounted Kocinski had to win, and Honda rider Cardus had to finish third or lower.

For this race, Honda rushed its whole team and almost anybody else riding a Honda to Australia for a week of testing in an effort to pack the field ahead of Kocinski. But it was to no avail. From the start of practice, Kocinski was fastest, followed by Honda-mounted Helmut Bradl.

“You wouldn't have believed the race John rode,” said team manager Kenny Roberts. “Bradl rode around doing 1:37 laps all race with Kocinski right behind him. Then John passed him and ripped off a couple of :36s. He was awesome.” Kocinski finished his season in high fashion, and though he has made a few enemies among the riders, the European fans seem to love the outspoken American.

In the race, Cardus never quite got up to speed, and was circulating in fifth place before a broken shift lever forced him to retire to the pits, where he pounded his machine with his fists in frustration. But in all likelihood, Kocinski will be riding a 500 Yamaha next season, leaving Cardus at least one more shot at a 250 title. 0