1970 Trans-AMA motocross series

The 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series was an international race series established by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States.[1][2] The motocross series was an invitational based on a combined 250 and 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring some of the top competitors from the Motocross World Championships racing against the top American riders.[3]

The success of the Inter-AM Motocross Series, promoted by the American importer of Husqvarna Motorcycles Edison Dye, prompted the AMA to take advantage of the sport's surging popularity by promoting their own motocross series, which they called the Trans-AMA series.[3] While most of the established European competitors continued to race in the 1970 Inter-AM Motocross Series, the AMA negotiated a deal to bring over the BSA and Suzuki factory racing teams to compete in an eight-race series that ran throughout October and November of 1970.[3] The series took place after the conclusion of the AMA Grand National Championship and several dirt track racers such as David Aldana, Dick Mann and Jim Rice would participate in the series.[3]

The AMA adopted an odd points scoring structure that heavily favored consistency over winning, with first-place being awarded 300 points, while second-place earned 295 points and third-place 290 points.[3] Despite six consecutive victories by Joël Robert (Suzuki), due to the odd points structure, BSA factory rider Dave Nicoll claimed the series championship without winning a single event by scoring points in every round.[3] With his victory at the first round in La Rue, Ohio, Jeff Smith became the first rider in history to win an AMA-sanctioned professional motocross event.[3] As a result of his being the highest placed American rider at fourth overall, Dick Burleson, was crowned the first-ever AMA Motocross National Champion.[3]

1970 Trans-AMA rounds

Round Date Location Overall Winner Top American
1 11 October La Rue, Ohio Jeff Smith Bob Thompson
2 18 October New Berlin, New York Jeff Smith Peter Lamppu
3 25 October Delta, Ohio Joël Robert Brad Lackey
4 1 November Franklin, Georgia Joël Robert Jimmy Weinert
5 8 November Lewisville, Texas Joël Robert Brad Lackey
6 15 November Irvine, California Joël Robert Billy Clements
7 22 November Carlsbad Raceway Joël Robert Gary Bailey
8 29 November Puyallup, Washington Joël Robert Sonny DeFeo
Sources:[1][2][4]

1970 Trans-AMA final standings

Pos Rider Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pts
1 Dave Nicoll BSA 3 4 2 3 6 6 6 5 4,550
2 John Banks BSA 4 3 4 2 4 4 8 4 4,535
3 Jeff Smith BSA 1 1 3 6 3 3 3 4,515
4 Dick Burleson Husqvarna 8 8 10 8 9 3,925
5 Bryan Kenney Husqvarna 7 7 9 9 9 3,760
6 Gunnar Lindström Husqvarna 2 6 5 5 5 2 3,675
7 Joël Robert Suzuki 1 1 1 1 1 1 3,590
8 Olle Petterson Suzuki 7 4 2 2 4 10 3,360
9 Keith Hickman BSA 2 5 5 3 7 6 3,350
10 Sonny DeFeo ČZ 8 9 7 3,345
- Malcolm Davis AJS 2 8 -
- Bob Thompson Ossa 5 6 -
- Jimmy Weinert ČZ 6 9 7 -
- Peter Lamppu Montesa 5 10 -
- Brad Lackey ČZ 8 7 -
- Billy Clements Husqvarna 7 -
- Gary Harris Husqvarna 8 -
- David Aldana BSA 9 -
- Gary Bailey Greeves 9 -
- Wyman Priddy Bultaco 10 -
- Ron Keyes ČZ 10 -
- Doug Rodrigues ČZ 10 -
- Tom Rapp Bultaco 10 -
- Jim O'Neal ČZ 10 -
Sources only document the points awarded to the first ten competitors.

Sources:[1][2][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Youngblood, Ed (December 1970). "Trans-AMA: A Pilot Program For International Activity". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Youngblood, Ed (January 1971). "Burleson, Nicoll Champions Of AMA's Pilot Project For International Activity". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Archives Column: 1970 LaRue Trans-AMA". cyclenews.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Trans-AMA Motocross Records, American Motorcyclist, January 1975, Vol. 29, No. 1, ISSN 0277-9358
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.