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This is not at all unusual for a production shock absorber, however, and only the most aggressive racers will find fault with them. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. It was the only time that I was blood tested. He would win the first 250cc Grand Prix he ever entered, the season-opening Spanish GP, aboard a Bultaco, also Americas first-ever GP win. Eventually, I became a factory rider for Husqvarna together with Hallman, Ake Jonsson, Bengt Aberg and Arne Kring. 2014 Check out all the exclusive content this month, Recapping the Second Year of AMA Pro Motocross in America: 1973, yesterdays introduction, which you can dive into if you missed. This, coupled with the new right side case, makes the engine unit narrower by some three inches. I remember the first time I tested the Monoshock, it was on a little track in Belgium. The 1976 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 20th F.I.M. Winning soon became second nature. Air intake is located up high under the seat. Brad would travel back to America when he could during the summer and ended up winning two nationals (Lake Whitney in Texas and Motocross West in Louisiana). His year included a victory at Belgium and a number of second and third place finishes. FIM Motocross World Championship is the premier championship of motocross racing, organized by the Fdration Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), divided into two distinct classes: MXGP and MX2. 1959 I was going slowly in practice, and I had a small crash. History [ edit] The 1971 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 15th F.I.M. DID YOU RETURN LATER IN THE SERIES? Hallman was six years older than I, and he was finishing up his motocross career when I began. Since this extra width really wasnt necessary or desirable on the new machine, a new cover was designed. [2] [3], Going into the final race of the season at Sint Anthonis, Holland, Bauer was still holding the points lead but, the Suzukis were showing improvement. YOU WON YOUR 1973 250 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ON A YAMAHA. He won a total of 50 Grand Prix races over his career, a record which stood for nearly 30 years. [1] Pierre Karsmakers from the Netherlands dominated the 1973 500cc national championship, winning seven of 12 AMA Nationals and claimed 17 victories in 36 races overall. Then I almost won all the other motos that season on the Monoshock. 2013 Hakan Andersson raced the 1973 Trans-AMA series, finishing sixth while rehabbing from a back injury. He did return to record a number of top-ten finishes in the later rounds. 2003 (The first 250cc round was still won by a Sweden-made Husqvarna, ridden by Bob Grossi.). Rather than casting a lip on each side of the hub to serve as an attachment point for the spokes, Montesa runs the spokes directly into the side portion of the hub, a method weve never seen used. In 1973, Pomeroy signed a support rider contract to race for a local Bultaco dealer. I was in last place, and if I would have had one more lap, I would have won. [2] De Coster then took one of their tanks and drove two and a half hours to have the tank modified to increase its volume. You have family, but you are never home. (It should be mentioned that Lackey and Pomeroy followed globetrotters U.S. pioneers like Bud Ekins, Stu Peters, John DeSoto, Bill Silevrthorne, Billy Clements, Mark Blackwell and more across the Atlantic Ocean to learn from the Europeans, but they never had the success that would visit both Pomeroy and future 500c world champ Brad Lackey.). He again battled equipment failures and finished third in the last round and was fourth overall and top American for the series. * The first rider to win his debut World GP MX race (Spain 1973) These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Cross was yet to come. [2] Bauer then took control of the championship by winning 5 out of the next 6 motos. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. In my day, we had full 40-man gates at every race. JAMES STEWART WOULD DEFINITELY WIN RIDERS REACT TO 31 WHOOPS AT OAKLAND, FACTORY BIKES UP CLOSE // 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS, ITS PROBABLY BETTER I DONT HOLESHOT A 450 MAIN , WATCH: 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS PRESS DAY RAW, BEST IN THE PITS VIDEO // 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS, MXA TEAM TESTED: WORKS CONNECTION PRO LAUNCH, MXA TEAM TESTED: ONEAL HARDWEAR AIR GEAR, THE ARAI STORY: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE EGG & YOUR HEAD. Right. Roger De Coster won his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzuki ahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. 2023 - Motocross Action Magazine. Then I got a very bad infection in the leg. He did manage to record a number of top-10 moto finishes when the Bultaco or Beta held together. Suzuki's defense of the 500cc world championship was dealt a setback when, the FIM announced a new motorcycle minimum weight limit of 209 pounds just before the start of the season. The 1972 World Motocross Championship series was the first. In the first moto after the start, I crashed. The Yamaha factory was very happy, and I was happy, too! In their first official motocross program they hired Gary Jones and his brother Dewayne, as well as still-16-year-old Marty Tripes, to race their new lightweight motocross model, the CR250M Elsinore. For 73 the series that really started it all in 1967 was down to just five races, though they did decide to include Mike Goodwins Superbowl of Motocross for the 73 Inter-Am tour, which meant it would also be part of the 73 AMA National Motocross Championship. We had our own World Motocross track in my hometown of Uddevalla. 2012 It was hugely successful. 1947, Copyright Info Mdia Conseil 2007-2022 - All rights reserved, France (romain Febvre, Gautier Paulin, C 20, Netherlands (coldenhoff Glenn, Jeffrey, Herlings Vlaanderen, Info Mdia Conseil : 419 Rue Lemelin, St-Franois QC G0A3S0, Canada. 1973 Alabama International Speedway 500MX AMA Pro Motocross Championship Results. 1957 In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. I had a good career, good friends and good family, and being with Yamaha was a very exciting time. As a result, Suzuki resorted to adding ballast to the bikes. Despite having little sleep, De Coster scored two fourth-place finishes while Bauer suffered a mechanical failure handing De Coster his third consecutive 500cc world championship. YOU CAME ON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RADAR IN 1972. All four of the major Japanese brandsHonda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzukihad full factory efforts, with Honda coming on strong in '73 with the release of its Elsinore. Motocross Racing World Championship season. But he remained active doing motocross schools at various vintage or regional club events throughout the West. HAKAN, TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN MOTOCROSS IN SWEDEN. As a pre-teen competing against men, he always seemed to finish in the first non-trophy position. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1960 to 1976 when the sport experienced a surge in popularity worldwide. Above Image: This is a 250ccversion of the 1973 Coffin Tank CZ, it gives a good idea of what the motorcycle in the crate would look like once assembled. 1983 1960 Then I quit. 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship ** 1973 Motocross World Championship ** 1973 Motocross World Championship ** Previous: 1972: The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. DID SUCCESS COME QUICKLY FOR YOU? The 250 class would be 12 outdoor nationals plus five Inter-Am rounds. When the Inter-Am Series started up, the Americans were suddenly joined by some of the top 250cc riders in the world, on break from the 250 Grand Prix tour. Starting with his first bike, a Yamaguchi 55, and progressing through a Yamaha 80, 100 and then DT1 250, young Jim raced flat track, hillclimbs, motocross and hare scrambles events. I have been married for 47 years, and I have two daughters and four grandchildren, so I am happy. Georges Job was a Belgian professional motocross racer. They clocked up seven world titles and also took the Motocross of Nations title back in 1975, before eventually bowing out of the world stage in 1985. For myself, Yamaha was a very nice factory ride. 1948 That is why they checked me, but it was nothing. Although Pomeroy was back racing for the World MX Championship, Bultaco was unable to match the money and technology the Japanese manufacturers were putting into their World MX Championship efforts. . Born November 16, 1952 in Sunnyside, Washington, Jim Pomeroy was blessed with a number of factors that contributed to his success. The championship wasn't decided until the final race in the Netherlands, when Bauer suffered a mechanical breakdown, losing the championship to De Coster by two points. Most riders will feel right at home on this new model. The kick starter mechanism is conveniently mounted on the right hand side, which most American riders prefer. The two-ring piston assembly now has an enlarged window area on its rear skirt, and transfer ports have been enlarged as well. Series highlights included a second at Buchanan, Michigan. In 1979, Pomeroy wanted to return to the World Championships in Europe. There were 30,000 spectators in the grandstands. The 1972 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 16th F.I.M. 1991 Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Unable to ride Pro in the United States, due to the AMA age requirement of 18, Pomeroy headed up to Canada where the age requirement was only 16. Finally, there would be a night-time Trans-AMA promoter by Mike Goodwin inside John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. Jim Pomeroy was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1974 to 1988. A YouTube video to a young Scott Wallenberg's Super 8mm footage from the 1973 Daytona event You can clearly see Gary Jones sporting the #1 plate on the AMA pro debut of the 250cc Elsinore. After winning the championship, Kawasaki wanted Lackey to stay in the United States to wear the number-one late and defend his title. 1951 MONTESAS MAIN emphasis the last few years has been centered around trials machines, and its success in this field is well-known. (Belgium and Czechoslovakia). The VR is virtually a totally new design, with very little carryover from earlier models. Now there are thin, flexible plastic fenders (manufactured by A&A in California and >. Roger De Coster won his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzuki ahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. Motocross Racing World Championship season.1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. ke Jonsson is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. His strong results continued in the 250 outdoor nationals and he finished the 250cc series ranked third. His record of first includes: * The first American to win an FIM World Championship MX Event (Spain 1973) As in the 1973 season, after the season-ending 500cc race on September 9, American riders competing for the AMA national championship continued to accumulate points counting towards the national championship while they competed in the 1973 Trans-AMA motocross series which began on September 23rd and hosted visiting European riders from the WHAT WAS IT LIKE RIDING FOR A JAPANESE BRAND? The Spanish GP in 1973 will always be known as the first GP victory by an American rider. The championship wasn't decided until the final race in the Netherlands, when Bauer suffered a mechanical breakdown, losing the championship to De Coster by two points. Yes, we raced against each other all throughout my career. Perhaps it had something to do with all the former firearms engineers now designing engines but for some reason the motorcycles built by CZ took off like a shot, enjoying significant popularity in Czechoslovakia and across Europe, at one time after World War II it was the second biggest motorcycle manufacturer on the Continent. Pomeroy grew up immersed in motorcycling and racing. The Wide World of Motocross - 1973 Rich Korb 254 subscribers Subscribe 247 Share 36K views 6 years ago Back in high school (1973) I had watched Bruce Brown's movie - On Any Sunday. Montesa has relocated the shift lever to the left side of the machine, since > regulations for the 1974 U.S. market require it-quite a departure for long time Montesa riders. As Brad Lackey watched Pomeroy on a practice lap, he thought there was no way he was going to make the corner. The Monoshock was one of the biggest advancements ever in motocross history. The sport of motocross experienced explosive growth in 1973 and motorcycle manufacturers sought to capitalize on the expanding market with all four Japanese manufacturers fielding factory-backed teams alongside their European counterparts. I was very skeptical, because it was a completely new system. Bob Grossi (66) on a Husqvarna 125CR aces out Bruce McDougal (33) for the holeshot that the 1973. Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. Out on the track the height doesnt seem to affect handling, thanks to a low center of gravity. Yamaha was the first factory to recognize that increasing rear-wheel travel would allow you to go faster over the bumps and jump higher. To think it is 42 years ago that a young American by the name of Jim Pomeroy captured his and Americas first ever GP victory. Its not everyday you get the chance to buy an unridden CZ Coffin Tank 400cc motocross racer, particularly not one still sitting in its factory crate draped in waxed paper showing its age like a true time-capsule. The motorcycle factories of Japan were realizing that the vast U.S. market offered a huge new group of buyers, as motocross in America was growing rapidly, spurred on in large part by the 1971 Bruce Brown film On Any Sunday. [2] European motorcycle manufacturers competing in the championship complained to the FIM that Suzuki was spending millions of dollars to build lightweight motorcycles that the smaller European manufacturers found impossible to compete with. The Vehkonen Replica: A Proven Performer For The Motocross War. Contents Summary 500cc championship 250cc championship Grands Prix 500cc 250cc Final standings 500cc [1] [5] [12] 250cc [13] [14] References External links Summary 500cc championship BEFORE TALKING ABOUT MONTESA, YOU HAD A BAD INJURY IN 1974, DIDNT YOU? At first, many fellow GP riders believed Pomeroys victory was a fluke, but the 20-year-old American quickly won over the skeptics with strong finishes all season, including a second overall at the Italian GP. [5] Suzuki management's frustration at their perceived unfair treatment led to a lapse in support and, Suzuki team riders De Coster and Sylvain Geboers then took matters into their own hands by modifying their motorcycle's frames and developed new rear suspensions. Pomeroy finished the year with a seventh overall in the world championship. 1963 2011 Yes, but my World Championship hopes were gone. While Jims top-20 overall finishes may not have been notable, his riding style was attracting notice. At the 1977 Motocross Des Nations in Cognac, France, I won the first moto and finished third in the second moto. * The first American to win a moto at the U.S. 500cc GP race (Carlsbad 1977) I won there, so it was good! YOU WERE THE RIDER CHOSEN TO RACE THE FIRST MONOSHOCK? The Husqvarna factory was in Sweden. 1966 WHY DID YOU SWITCH FROM MONTESA TO HUSQVARNA? Sweden needs to have somebody up there. It is natural to want to stop. The name CZ, or more correctly Z, stands for esk Zbrojovka a Czechoslovakian company that was originally founded as a firearms manufacturer before branching out into bicycles in the years after World War I and from there into motorized bicycles, followed logically by motorcycles and scooters. I had seen all of them race at my home track, so I started riding myself. [5] As the season got underway, Yamaha's new "monoshock" rear suspension began to make an impact with Christer Hammargren winning a moto and Jaak van Velthoven taking the overall win at the Finnish Grand Prix. 2018 Later models will look considerably different, though porting and internal configurations will be the same. [2] He then drove back in time for the race. In 1978, Pomeroy struggled in the AMA Supercross series. But later in the year I was on Team Sweden, and we won the Motocross des Nations. Hubs are totally new this year, and are two of the most attractive and efficient designs weve seen. Cycle News delivers the latest FIM Motocross World Championship results and news with feature coverage of every race. We explained it all in more detail in yesterdays introduction, which you can dive into if you missed. Husqvarna believed in me because I had such a good 1968until I broke my leg. You can clearly see Gary Jones sporting the #1 plate on the AMA pro debut of the 250cc Elsinore. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Geboers' 39 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fifth overall among motocross world championship competitors. In that time, their bikes were ridden by MX legends from Joel Robert and Roger de Coster to Gaston Rahier and Guennadi Moisseev, Russia's only world mx champion. Total port area is huge compared to last years version. WHO WERE YOUR HEROES? I got slowly better and then, finally, I finished second in the 250 World Championship in 1971 and 1972. Perhaps more than any other single manufacturer it was CZ who perfected the engine type, they pioneered a slew of new technologies for two-stroke engines perhaps most famously they invented the two-stroke exhaust expansion chamber. Montesas new fuel petcock design is a simple device which made us wonder why no one has thought of it before. The 1977 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 21st F.I.M. Just 401 were made in 1974, the first year of production, as road-legal, The traditional Silodrome was a carnival sideshow attraction also called the Wall of Death." The 1973 C4 500 Moto-Cross was essentially an iteration of the bikes from earlier years containing some incremental upgrades. 1969 FIM Motocross World Championship; Monster Energy Cup; Motocross of Nations; He had very bad diabetes. Utilizing his flat track experience, he took the outside line and passed the field in the first lap. Husqvarna was very good to me, and the bikes were great, but the Japanese had new ideas and new products. Gearbox action is smooth and lever travel is short. If youd like to read more about this motorcycle or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Mecum. A four-time 500cc British national champion, Banks was twice runner-up in the 500cc motocross world championship. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. [2] De Coster won both motos of the Italian Grand Prix but, Bauer came back with a hard fought victory in Czechoslovakia, relegating De Coster to second place in both motos and took the lead in the championship points tally. [2] European motorcycle manufacturers competing in the championship complained to the FIM that Suzuki was spending millions of dollars to build lightweight motorcycles that the smaller European manufacturers found impossible to compete with. Fork bottoming was nonexistent, but an occasional superhard landing got the rear Telesco shocks to compress their full travel. DID YOU STAY INVOLVED IN MOTOCROSS? Hakan Andersson was not an unknown when he won the 1973 250 World Championship. [2] Unfortunately, these alterations threw the bikes out of balance and caused them to lose traction. 1979 [1] Although Karsmakers was a Dutch citizen, he was competing under an AMA license so, he was listed as the "Top American" finisher in the Trans-AMA series. In 1973, Bultaco's Jim Pomeroy was invited to Spain to race for Bultaco in the FIM 250cc World Championship. But when the oil crisis came, they decided to stop all racing after 1975. This move required a new connecting rod, but the rods design has not changed. The bore/stroke configuration has been revised on the new model, and measures out to 70x64mm. I grew up surrounded with motocross in my neighborhood and in my town. Hakan Andersson won the 1973 World Championship on a bike that he refused to race in the first two GPs of 1973 because he was afraid the Monoshock would break. Jol Robert was a Belgian professional motocross racer. The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. Geboers is notable for being the first motocross competitor to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc divisions. In the World Championship, he battled equipment failures to finish the year a disappointing 14th. Yes, the Monoshock system started the whole suspension revolution because everybody eventually went to a single shock. Montesa used this outer case on its Cappra MXers as well. It will be tippytoe time when youre sitting on the starting line. The engine is supported at three points, which should prolong the life of mounting brackets. Jim Pomeroy is responsible for a number of firsts in motocross during the 1970s. But Lackey was determined to chase his dream of a world. The bike wasdeveloped as an homage to Giacomo, This Husqvarna 400 Cross was bought by Steve McQueen on the 26th of August 1971. 1961 The first two champions were Yamaha rider Gary Jones in the 250 class and Kawasaki rider (and part-time CZ rider) Bad Brad Lackey in the 500 class. Frame design is new and development came about primarily through Vehkonens efforts in competition. The ball will snap into any one of three positons with a squeeze of the fingers. After dominating the 72 series Brad Lackey wanted to go to Europe in 1973 to race the FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships instead, as that was the absolute zenith of motocross at that point in time. Contents 1 Summary 1.1 500cc championship 1.2 250cc championship 2 Grands Prix 2.1 500cc 2.2 250cc 3 Final standings 3.1 500cc[1][5][12] 3.2 250cc[13][14] 4 References 5 External links Summary [ edit] 500cc championship [ edit] 1958 [6] Jim Pomeroy riding a privateer Bultaco, became the first American rider to win an overall victory in an FIM Motocross Grand Prix race when he won the season opening Spanish Grand Prix. Motorcycle racing was a family affair for the Pomeroys. Manage Settings Some motocross mounts offer a rider the most serious of challenges when it comes time for the starting routine. And there sits your main jet, a snap to switch. He passed away too early last year. But he wasnt leaving the U.S. scene completely. Hakan Andersson won the 1973 World Championship on a bike that he refused to race in the first two GPs of 1973 because he was afraid the Monoshock would break. But the brash Pomeroy made it and then he did it again the next lap, and the next. These cookies do not store any personal information. And he kept on winning in flat track, motocross, hillclimb and even snowmobiles. Pomeroy finished the AMA 250 Motocross championships ranked 10th, despite only competing in five rounds of the 15-race series. 1975 CZs motocross dominance peaked in the mid-to-late 1960s with the companys six back to back Grand Prix world championship wins. 1968 The Brockhouse Corgi is the civilian version of the Welbike, a small folding motorcycle developed during WWII to be air-dropped behind enemy lines with, This is theveryfirstMV Agusta Superveloce Ago that wasbuilt of the 311 limited editionmotorcycles in the series. Yes, only in one moto in Yugoslavia, but that was the frame not the Monoshock. [7] His victory also marked the first Grand Prix victory for the Bultaco factory. WAS TORSTEN HALLMAN STILL RACING WHEN YOU STARTED? (This was a fact Jim Pomeroy only discovered much later as an adult.) By the early 1970s the Japanese manufacturers had begun to catch up, often by copying CZ innovations, however the company would continue to claim wins well into the 1980s. This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 07:22. It was in '73 that The Jammer, Jimmy Weinert, broke through the Europeans' stranglehold on the Trans-AMA tour with a win in the mud at Rio Bravo in Texas. He quickly discovered that he could win. And Gary Bailey is wearing a helmet cam in practice on his Bultaco, while Karsmakers rides his yellow YZ. The FIM World Motocross Championship travels the world with many of the best riders facing off to earn the title of World Champion. It would be good for the sport. The 1979 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 23rd F.I.M. Yamaha's new and innovative rear suspension with a single shock absorber made its debut at the third round in Belgium and was proven to be successful when Andersson won the overall victory. 1973 AMA Pro Motocross Championship . I am 77 now, and I have done my time. Then I think it was in September or October of 1975, they decided to stop all racing. Yes, I did the first Supercross ever. This is handled quite nicely by a new 34mm Bing carburetor, made in Spain. John Banks is a British former professional motocross racer. The AMA acknowledged Jims success by naming him to the first AMA team to attend Motocross des Nations. However, Pomeroy suffered from a string of DNFs in the later rounds that hampered his final series result. Incredibly, he won the race on a stock Bultaco borrowed from a fan at the Georgia event. CZ motocross bikes were famous for their handling, offering razor sharp responsiveness and that was said to require an experienced rider to fully exploit. 1956 1986 This category has only the following subcategory. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1973 and in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1976, before returning to compete in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1978. 1998 Campionat del Mn de motocrs 1973; 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship; Motocross-Weltmeisterschaft 1973; Wereldkampioenschap motorcross 1973; Motocross Championship; sportseizoen van een motorcrosscompetitie, Jim Pomeroy amb Oriol Puig Bult (dreta) just desprs que lameric guanys la primera mnega del GP dEspanya de 250cc de 1973 (8 d'abril al Circuit del Valls), Motocross World Championship in the 1970s, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:1973_Motocross_World_Championship&oldid=730850060, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Pomeroy fought equipment and team troubles and finished outside the top 15 or 20 at some races. The new VR is the lightest production motocrosser the factory has made; and at 220 lb., its one of the lightest production 250s available. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Originally, I asked for a new contract for 1976, and it was no problem. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. tall should be warned, however. [2][3] The Suzuki management felt they were being unjustly treated by the FIM and were slow to react to developments by the other manufacturers. Then a Czech rider, who was right behind me, rode over my back. $1.1 million will be added to the existing prize money already available in each respective championship. Pomeroy returned to the United States in the summer of 1973 to compete in several Inter-AMA series. On the one hand motorcycles are built to be ridden, but on the other hand its so unusual to see a bike like this still in its crate it may be worth preserving just like this in a museum. He would crest the top of the hill, land partway down slope, shift up two gears and pin the throttle wide open. Kawasakis Jammin Jimmy Weinert would win the muddy Rio Bravo MX Park round outside Houston, Texas, marking the first time in 500cc Trans-AMA racing an American had ever won. Narrower engine cases permit ideal foot control locations, as well. Basically, though, that is where early Montesa heritage ends. The U.S. market was still taking shape, and the AMA Motocross tour was growing rapidly, especially in one area of the country. On a club level, yes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. WHAT HAPPENED TO SWEDISH GP RIDERS? As far as the 500cc Trans-AMA Series goes, it was still 11-rounds strong, which meant that the 73 AMA National Championships for 500s would include the 12 outdoor nationals for 250/500 classes, plus the 11 Trans-AMA rounds. 1976 Gary Jones would give Honda its first major motocross win at round three, held at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, Florida, with Tripes finishing second.