Not so the Cappra. Yes, we raced against each other all throughout my career. 1989 1980 But his result in the World Championship helped Pomeroy win the Motorcyclist magazine Man of the Year award for 1976. Cycle News delivers the latest FIM Motocross World Championship results and news with feature coverage of every race. In 1975, Pomeroy had a strong year in the World Championships, finishing seventh overall. IS IT TRUE THAT YOU WERE WINNING SO CONVINCINGLY IN 1973 THAT YOU WERE PROTESTEDNOT YOUR BIKE, BUT YOU? Frame flex can be a big headache when it occurs, but Montesas stout design allows for none of that. They did everything possible for me in the years I was a factory rider. 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. It was completely different. He finished the year on a high note by becoming the first non-World Champion to win the Trophies des Nations. His first AMA pro race was a Trans-AMA 250cc support race at Puyallup, Washington, where he finished sixth overall. Aside from the tall seat height mentioned earlier, there is nothing in the Montesas makeup to interfere with that all-important rider-to-machine relationship. The ultimate goal of the entire excercise was to put to use the information gained in competition and manufacture a production model similar to the machine Vehkonen rode. It is natural to want to stop. Jim Pomeroy is responsible for a number of firsts in motocross during the 1970s. I have been married for 47 years, and I have two daughters and four grandchildren, so I am happy. 1. 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. This would finally get sorted out for 1974, but the AMA still felt that their domestic series still needed the tie-in to the two international tours that predated it. For me, it started back in 1957. 2010 He won a total of 50 Grand Prix races over his career, a record which stood for nearly 30 years. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1984. Brimming with confidence, Pomeroy arrived at the first race of the 1973 season, the Spanish 250cc Grand Prix. Zoar Motor Park Springville, NY US . Montesa used this outer case on its Cappra MXers as well. Support for the seat and rear fender is made up of a triangulation of bracing and small diameter framework. But when the oil crisis came, they decided to stop all racing after 1975. I raced the 1969 Trans-AMA, but I was not that fit. Nineteen-seventy-three would see some the same fairly confusing format, though Edison Dyes Inter-Am Series was beginning to fade a bit. 2003 So in 1980, he decided he had reached that point and retired from professional motocross racing. Itwould remain one of hisfavorite go to bikesfor off-road riding,, This is a Hildebrand & Wolfmller Motorcycle from 1894, a bike that carries the distinction of being the first production motorcycle in history. Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. 1995 2017 Pomeroy finished the year with a seventh overall in the world championship. "1973 500cc motocross world championship final standings", "1973 500cc motocross world championship", "Jim Pomeroy at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame", "1973 500cc motocross world championship race results", "1973 250cc motocross world championship race results", "1973 250cc motocross world championship final standings", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1973_FIM_Motocross_World_Championship&oldid=1134032698, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 18:01. And he kept on winning in flat track, motocross, hillclimb and even snowmobiles. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Basically, though, that is where early Montesa heritage ends. Yes. CZ motocross bikes were famous for their handling, offering razor sharp responsiveness and that was said to require an experienced rider to fully exploit. Georges Job was a Belgian professional motocross racer. I won there, so it was good! 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. As a result, Suzuki resorted to adding ballast to the bikes. 1964 That is why I had a chance to sign with Yamaha in 1973. It was in France, with a very nice track but very dusty. Clearly Jim Pomeroy was capable of winning against the best riders in the world. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. DID YOU HAVE ANY MAJOR WINS ON THE MONTESA? (Jims factory bike was delayed in shipping from Europe.) DIDNT YOU RACE THE TRANS-AMA RACES IN 1969? The injury prevented him competing in the early rounds of the Trans-AMA. Meanwhile, the Inter-Am series was starting to fade away, as it was down to five races in '73 and the title was won by Finland's Heikki Mikkola. Vimond is notable for being the first French competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship. 1965 It was hugely successful. WAS TORSTEN HALLMAN STILL RACING WHEN YOU STARTED? CZ motorcycles still enjoy a cult following around the world, in general terms theyre not as famous as the bikes made by Husqvarna or the Japanese manufacturers during the same era, but theyre arguably more successful. The Spanish GP in 1973 will always be known as the first GP victory by an American rider. When you are the World Champion, everybody goes after you and tries to follow your lines. At the 1977 Motocross Des Nations in Cognac, France, I won the first moto and finished third in the second moto. Since this extra width really wasnt necessary or desirable on the new machine, a new cover was designed. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 1963 Suspension components on a motocrosser come under some of the most severe treatment imaginable. It had been Pomeroys plan for many years to retire from racing before it had put too much strain on his body. The Husqvarna factory was in Sweden. Most Spanish machines have a tendency to leak oil from the fork seals, and Montesa is no exception. Watanabe is notable for being the first and only Japanese competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship. YOU WON YOUR. Husqvarna was very good to me, and the bikes were great, but the Japanese had new ideas and new products. Motocross Racing World Championship season. 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. Hallman was six years older than I, and he was finishing up his motocross career when I began. In 1972, Pomeroy rode the AMA 250 and 500cc MX Nationals and Trans-AMA events as a privateer on a Bultaco. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. And you might notice that the first AMA National on the '73 schedule took place at a place that's now regarded as the oldest AMA Supercross of all, at the venerable Daytona International Speedway. His strong results continued in the 250 outdoor nationals and he finished the 250cc series ranked third. The 1972 World Motocross Championship series was the first. To remove the tank completely from that point, you simply pull the retaining bolt out of the front portion of the unit. Eventually, I became a factory rider for Husqvarna together with Hallman, Ake Jonsson, Bengt Aberg and Arne Kring. He was my mentor in the beginning, and I looked up to him. John Banks is a British former professional motocross racer. The outdoor nationals went much better for him and he finished the 250cc nationals ranked fifth. History [ edit] Geboers' 39 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fifth overall among motocross world championship competitors. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. And speaking of epic careers, Yamaha's Broc Glover overcame his defeat the year before to Barnett in the 125 class to take the 500cc title outdoors, winning all but two nationals in the series. Mild steel is used elsewhere. A fine nylon screen around the main jet not only keeps foreign matter from clogging up the works, but also prevents fuel surging. 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] [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. In 1974, 75 and 76, Pomeroy continued to compete in the World Championships in Europe. WHAT WAS IT LIKE RIDING FOR A JAPANESE BRAND? I started racing motocross in 1963 as a Junior rider, and I was a factory rider three years after I started racing. After winning the 1972 250cc national championship on a Yamaha, Gary Jones was hired by Honda to help develop their new Honda CR250M motocross bike for the 1973 season. That is the main thing. But Lackey was determined to chase his dream of a world. 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. 1991 Enter the Vehkonen Replica, Montesas best effort to date in a motocross mount. Gusseting is provided in all the critical areas as well. 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. My heroes were Bill Nilsson, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin, Torsten Hallman and Jeff Smith (who was from England). I got slowly better and then, finally, I finished second in the 250 World Championship in 1971 and 1972. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Motocross and Supercross are two different sports; there is too much jumping in Supercross. "1973 500cc motocross world championship final standings", "1973 500cc motocross world championship", "Jim Pomeroy at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame", "1973 500cc motocross world championship race results", "1973 250cc motocross world championship race results", "1973 250cc motocross world championship final standings". If a big rock flies your way, you could incur some damage unless you thought to install some protective plastic guards. Continue with Recommended Cookies. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. 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. 1984 That changed the whole sport. Wheelbase on the new VR is 56 in., which is near to, or the same as, what most of the competitive machines are using these days. Sweden needs to have somebody up there. I was running second in the 1968 250 World Championship. Based on his results on the young AMA tour, Pomeroy had accepted a ride to race in the 250cc Grand Prix Series in Europe, which at the time was much more prestigious than the infant AMA tour. Jacky Vimond is a French former professional motocross racer. Small touches such as lube nipples on the control cables and internal cable linings made from nylon give an indication as to just how much thought and planning went into this new model. [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. [8] Competitors from nine different manufacturers placed in the top ten of the 250cc championship final standings, reflecting the thriving vitality of the sport of motocross. Manage Settings The rear units also had a tendency to get fairly hot after many hard circuits around a rough course, and not work as well as when cool. It will be tippytoe time when youre sitting on the starting line. Soviet Union ( Victor Popenko, Nicolay Efimov, Anatoly Botchkov, Anatoly Mandritchenko) 4. Summary 500cc championship Roger De Costerwon his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzukiahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. The weight reduction was accomplished through judicious use of plastic and aluminum, as well as total redesign of many component parts. SWEDEN HAD MANY GREAT RACERS. I had to move to Spain to race for Montesa. Of the 684 supercross main events run from 1974 - the year the AMA Supercross Championship officially started - through March 7, 2020, only 64 riders have won. The 1972 World Motocross Championship series was the first ever contested by the Spanish factory, and it came away from the 12-event grind with an impressive 4th overall finish. Today I see GPs on TV with only 20 riders on the starting gate. [1], 1973 AMA Motocross National Championship season, "Pierre Karsmakers at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame", "Jimmy Weinert at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame", "Gary Jones at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame", "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship results", "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship overall standings", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1973_AMA_Motocross_National_Championship_season&oldid=1083460794, This page was last edited on 18 April 2022, at 23:11. DID YOU EVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO RACE A SUPERCROSS? His father, Don Pomeroy, was a very successful racer in the late 1950s and 60s. Akira Watanabe is a Japanese former professional motocross racer and team manager. Hkan Carlqvist was a Swedish professional motocross racer. 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. The joy of winning the trophy seemed to be all Jim needed to suddenly start winning the races against the older riders. Then a Czech rider, who was right behind me, rode over my back. Applying a black finish to the clutch and magneto covers is a nice touch, but after a few rides the paint gets rubbed away by the riders boots. The Sint Anthonis track was composed of deep sand which robbed engines of power and increased fuel consumption. 2011 2006 Heikki Antero Mikkola is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. The 1979 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 23rd F.I.M. April, 8th, 1973, at the "Valles" Mx track, located in Sabadell Terrassa, near Barcelona. As announced this summer, the SuperMotocross World Championship series will boast the sport's largest payout of $10 million over the course of the full season. BEFORE TALKING ABOUT MONTESA, YOU HAD A BAD INJURY IN 1974, DIDNT YOU? He quickly recorded a string of top-10 overall finishes in the early events. He would crest the top of the hill, land partway down slope, shift up two gears and pin the throttle wide open. Mikkola would end up winning the Inter-Am Series on his Husqvarna and then head back to Europe with the Czech riders in tow. 1987 Johnny O'Mara won his first AMA National in 1981, then also joined Team USA with his Honda teammates. 1966 [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. The Yamaha factory was very happy, and I was happy, too! 2007 Number four in the final standings made Montesa the highest placing European factory in the championship, a little tidbit of information that may raise a few eyebrows. 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. It was stiff, but I thought it could be something good for the future. He died August 6, 2006, in a Jeep crash in Washington. 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. The bore/stroke configuration has been revised on the new model, and measures out to 70x64mm. The two-ring piston assembly now has an enlarged window area on its rear skirt, and transfer ports have been enlarged as well. Welcome to Day 49 in our MAVTV+ 50-Day Countdown to the start of the 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, where American motocross is celebrating 50 years. I waited until the third Grand Prix in Belgium. The 1973 Superbowl of Motocross in Cycle News. With their father Don Jones as team manager, the Jones brothers set out to put Honda on the motocross map in America, and after a rough startDewayne finished sixth at Daytona but Gary failed to qualify when the clutch broke and the bike jumped the starting gate, and then his bike seized at the second round in Louisianait started coming together quickly. The previous left side cover was fairly large in order to make room for the Cota models extra flywheel. Getting to the element for cleaning is no problem. I had been second in the 250 World Championship twice, and my contract with Husqvarna was up. These cookies do not store any personal information. Motocross Racing World Championship season. 1990 As for the 250 AMA title, that had ended back in early September with the last stand-alone 250/500 AMA National outside New Orleans, and Gary Jones was again the champion, but this time he was on a Honda. 1959 Yes, I am an old man. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We were impressed with the amazing throttle response of the new Bing carburetor. The VR is virtually a totally new design, with very little carryover from earlier models. 1955 But he wasnt leaving the U.S. scene completely. In preparing for the initial GP race, Pomeroy did a couple of international races to get some experience with European tracks and riders. I practiced with riders in my club for many years. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Pomeroy regrouped and raced the final portion of the World Championship for an Italian manufacturer, Beta. Like Pomeroys earlier 250 GP win, Jones win in the previous years Boise, Idaho Inter-Am, and even Gary Baileys 1969 win in the Firecracker International at Saddleback Park against the visiting Europeans, Weinerts win was another major milestone in the Americans quest to catch up with the European masters. The VR is slim enough to allow a rider to shift his weight back and forth, and what is probably the longest seat on any racer lets him sit precisely where he wants. Heres some vintage home-movie footage from the 73 Daytona Motocross shot by Wally Wallenberg: A round would also be held on the infields of Pocono International Speedway in New York, and again at Alabama International Raceway in Talladega. 1962 YOU WERE THE RIDER CHOSEN TO RACE THE FIRST MONOSHOCK? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The rod big end contains a caged roller/needle bearing, while the small end uses a loose needle arrangement. 1994 2019 In the Trans-AMA series Pomeroy recorded a number of very strong third and fourth overalls at the start of the series. [2] Suzuki had already developed and built their race bikes so, there was no time to build new bikes. [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. It has been a long time for me, and I would like to continue for as long as I can. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers. Torsten Hallman was happy. Infront Moto Racing is the company that manages the exclusive television, marketing and promotional world wide rights of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FIM Motocross of Nations, the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, the FIM Veteran's Motocross World Cup, the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, the FIM Snowcross World Gone is the bulbous upswept pipe, the alloy fenders, and large hubs; even the cases are new. A journeyman from the Netherlands, Yamaha had decided to hire Karsmakers as something of a ringer, bringing him over to the states to help develop their program here. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. The rear rubber measures out at 4.50-18, with cleats wrapping well around the outside diameter of the tire. 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 Motocross World Championship. (This was a fact Jim Pomeroy only discovered much later as an adult.) While Lackey was splitting his time and focus, Pierre Karsmakers was firmly committed to his move to America. The Trans-AMA Series would end with Adolf Weil, the German veteran, taking the biggest championship of his esteemed career, but it was Pierre Karsmakers who would win the grueling 23-race 1973 AMA 500 National Motocross Championship. 1948 1979 proved to be a very difficult year. 1976 2022 Yes, the Monoshock system started the whole suspension revolution because everybody eventually went to a single shock. Pomeroy led the Trans-AMA series for a number of races. Pomeroy finished the AMA 250 Motocross championships ranked 10th, despite only competing in five rounds of the 15-race series. Originally, he planned to race for KTM, but on a stopover during the return trip from meeting with KTM, he was persuaded to rejoin Bultaco. The series runs 18 events with two races per class at each round. 2023 - Motocross Action Magazine. Out on the track the height doesnt seem to affect handling, thanks to a low center of gravity. Later models will look considerably different, though porting and internal configurations will be the same. 1979 Motocross Season. CZ was one of the most successful motocross and enduro motorcycle manufacturers in the world in the 1950s and 1960s. The 1977 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 21st F.I.M. 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. Clutch pull is on the heavy side, but once underway, the rider can ignore the clutch during shifts if he so prefers. WHO WERE YOUR HEROES? I was just a little boy and looking at this new sport called motocross. The 1976 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 20th F.I.M. 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. 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. A YouTube video to a young Scott Wallenberg's Super 8mm footage from the 1973 Daytona event [2] Unfortunately, these alterations threw the bikes out of balance and caused them to lose traction. Once the Bing carburetor is well flooded with its tickler device, starting the VR is a three-kick affair, at most. We had our own World Motocross track in my hometown of Uddevalla. 1996 He had finished second on a Husqvarna behind Joel Robert in 1971 and 1972. DID YOU RACE AGAINST BENGT ABERG? As it turns out, only one of the tracks on the '73 schedule remained on the schedule today, as you will soon read. YOU WERE YAMAHAS FIRST WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPION. Hakan Andersson raced the 1973 Trans-AMA series, finishing sixth while rehabbing from a back injury. You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". 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. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Also, Torsten Hallman, who had tested it before me, said that I should use it in the first Grand Prix, but I was not ready. It never did. One year later, Daytona would be off the outdoor national schedule, but it would be part of a new deal called the AMA Yamaha Super Series. Series highlights included a second at Buchanan, Michigan. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. In 1978, Pomeroy struggled in the AMA Supercross series. Graham Noyce would be Great Britain's next world champion when he won the 1979 500cc world championship and two years later Neil Hudson joined him with the 1981 250cc world championship. In 1977 Pomeroy switched from his traditional Bultaco brand bike to join Hondas factory race team. I did two years with Husqvarna. All this changed one day when Don Pomeroy decided to secretly buy his son a trophy to make up for Jim consistently almost winning a trophy. 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. I could not see anything. It never did. FIM Motocross World Championship; Monster Energy Cup; Motocross of Nations; Now he would be Kawasakis first entry on the 500cc Grand Prix tour. Karsmakers would go on to win four of the first five rounds and was never really challenged, at least not until after Lackey was on a plane to Europe after winning the second round. All Rights Reserved. Bob Hannah kept rolling right into 1979 on his Yamahas, winning another AMA Supercross title as well as another AMA Motocross title. Job is notable for being a five-time FIM motocross world champion and a nine-time Belgian motocross national champion. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990, winning five world championships in eleven years. 1993 Also arriving in the states for a racing holiday were Finlands Heikki Mikkola and Czech CZ heroes Jaroslav Falta and Antonin Barbarovsky. I have been around there forever, and I am still involved because I love motocross racing. Hakan Andersson was not an unknown when he won the 1973 250 World Championship. SuperMotocross World Championship; Motocross . Men's Team - September 1973. 1950 He finished second at the Los Angeles Coliseum race as well as recording top-five or top-10 finishes at the other summer events. When Yamaha pulled out of racing at the end of the 1975 season, Hakan spent two years at Montesa before returning to Husqvarna. SWEDES DOMINATED IN YOUR DAY, BUT YOU DONT SEE THAT TODAY. This category has only the following subcategory. Pomeroy grew up immersed in motorcycling and racing. Bottom end power of the new Replica is strong, but the 246cc powerplant really comes on in the mid-range and top end. 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. In my day, we had full 40-man gates at every race. Smith's first major victory came aboard a Swedish-made Monark at the Hangtown Motocross Classic near Sacramento in 1973, one year before the wildly popular West Coast race became an AMA National. 1978 Expect to do some touch-up work to keep them looking spiffy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racings Jeremy Martin got his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 250MX Championship campaign off to a, 450 / 250 Press Conference 2023 Anaheim 1 SX, 250 and 450 Main Events 2023 Anaheim 1 SX, Chad Reed Injury Update from Cardiff, Wales British GP, Results: 2022 FIM SX World Championship Rd 1 British GP, Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing Starts 250 Pro Motocross Season with Double Podium, Ferrandis Scores Maiden 450 Pro Motocross Victory at Season Opener, GEICO Continues as Official Insurance Provider of MX Nationals, BARCIA GETS BACK IN THE MIX WITH A FOURTH-PLACE FINISH IN ATLANTA. Front forks are new and damping characteristics are excellent. (The first 250cc round was still won by a Sweden-made Husqvarna, ridden by Bob Grossi.). The year started with an overall victory at an AMA 250MX event at Saddleback Park in Irvine, California.