1990 [2] Suzuki had already developed and built their race bikes so, there was no time to build new bikes. A 3.00-21 on the front has the same wraparound effect, but the footprint is different. Uddevalla is a beautiful track with big mountains and a lot of scenery. Race duration is 30 minutes plus two laps per race. Cycle News delivers the latest FIM Motocross World Championship results and news with feature coverage of every race. He died August 6, 2006, in a Jeep crash in Washington. The 250 class would be 12 outdoor nationals plus five Inter-Am rounds. It had been Pomeroys plan for many years to retire from racing before it had put too much strain on his body. Montesa was in Spain, and it was far away from where I lived. [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. ARE YOU RETIRED? He promptly went out and won the Spanish GP, becoming the first American to ever. After winning the championship, Kawasaki wanted Lackey to stay in the United States to wear the number-one late and defend his title. Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. [2] [3] [4], Most of the Western European riders boycotted the Austrian 500cc round due to heavy snow on the track. The motorcycle you see here in the crate is a 1973 CZ Coffin Tank 400cc motocross racer, that odd nickname comes from its unusual fuel tank design, its angular shape was considered to look a little like a coffin and it gained a reputation for bruising delicate parts of male riders anatomy. SuperMotocross World Championship; Motocross . He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships. I was running second in the 1968 250 World Championship. In 1974, Pomeroy started his year in the United States by winning the first indoor Supercross race held at the Houston Astrodome. 1971 Yesterday we kicked off our countdown by explaining the situation leading up to 1972, the first year for the AMA Pro Motocross Series. 1973 Alabama International Speedway 500MX AMA Pro Motocross Championship Results. Men's Team - September 1973. Gone is the bulbous upswept pipe, the alloy fenders, and large hubs; even the cases are new. There was a huge change in the 500 class involving the defending champion. 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. 1973 Race Results and Points Standings. Husqvarna believed in me because I had such a good 1968until I broke my leg. As a result, Suzuki resorted to adding ballast to the bikes. I was second in the 1972 250 World Motocross Championship, but I was good beginning in 1968. That changed the whole sport. And, it is dangerousvery dangerousbut the racers are fantastic riders. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. In 1987, Pomeroy was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a crash that left him with permanent damage to his back. It was not so bad; the bike was good. The U.S. market was still taking shape, and the AMA Motocross tour was growing rapidly, especially in one area of the country. Motocross Racing World Championship season. 2010 Though similar in appearance to previous Cappras, nothing is shared. 1958 I was in last place, and if I would have had one more lap, I would have won. He was also selected by Motorcyclist magazine as a MX All Star for 1973. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Karsmakers won the first race he enteredthe Daytona MX openerover Suzukis Mike Runyard, Lackey, and Husqvarnas Mike Hartwig. Yes, we raced against each other all throughout my career. Motorcycle racing was a family affair for the Pomeroys. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990, winning five world championships in eleven years. [2][3][4], Most of the Western European riders boycotted the Austrian 500cc round due to heavy snow on the track. 2022 RED BULL STRAIGHT RHYTHM PRACTICE RAW, THIS WEEK IN MXA: FIM WORLD SUPERCROSS HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS, THIS WEEK IN MXA: AVERAGE RIDERS SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF RIDING A. The Spanish GP in 1973 will always be known as the first GP victory by an American rider. He would crest the top of the hill, land partway down slope, shift up two gears and pin the throttle wide open. You can clearly see Gary Jones sporting the #1 plate on the AMA pro debut of the 250cc Elsinore. Since our test machine was one of the first models brought into the country, it was fitted with a cylinder barrel and head utilizing the old Montesa style finning. 1991 Hakan Andersson was not an unknown when he won the 1973 250 World Championship. Then I got a very bad infection in the leg. 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. Jim Pomeroy was an American professional motocross racer. The 1971 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 15th F.I.M. In 1973, Pomeroy signed a support rider contract to race for a local Bultaco dealer. CZs motocross dominance peaked in the mid-to-late 1960s with the companys six back to back Grand Prix world championship wins. For myself, Yamaha was a very nice factory ride. Amazingly, the Husqvarna 125CR, now known as the TC125, is still in the Husqvarna lineup. 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. 1989 1972 This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 07:22. Finally, there would be a night-time Trans-AMA promoter by Mike Goodwin inside John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. I had a good career, good friends and good family, and being with Yamaha was a very exciting time. Job is notable for being a five-time FIM motocross world champion and a nine-time Belgian motocross national champion. [2] A Suzuki engineer calculated that their bike's gas tanks did not have sufficient capacity to finish the race. 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. 1975 Torsten Hallman was happy. This, coupled with the new right side case, makes the engine unit narrower by some three inches. We have done many World Championship events there over the years. When we have a World Championship event in Sweden at Uddevalla and no Swedish riders near the front, it is bad for the public. 1969 The engine is supported at three points, which should prolong the life of mounting brackets. The series runs 18 events with two races per class at each round. Vimond is notable for being the first French competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship. 1980 tall should be warned, however. 1994 We had to start from scratch again. Johnny O'Mara won his first AMA National in 1981, then also joined Team USA with his Honda teammates. Yes, that was my first trip to America. The rear unit is a highly polished alloy, conical in shape and strong, as well as light. The VR rates more than respectably in this all-important category. Right. FIM minimum weight requirements have put the lid on extremes in the pound removal department, but Montesa was heavy enough last year to warrant a substantial reduction. Recently, however, some of this emphasis has been shifted toward motocross competition, and the results have been gratifying, to say the least. In the World Championship, he battled equipment failures to finish the year a disappointing 14th. Racing in Europe had long been a dream for Pomeroy. [2] He then drove back in time for the race. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1974 to 1988. I got a better offer from Husqvarna, and I was Swedish and lived not too far from the Husky factory. His record of first includes: In 1973, Bultaco's Jim Pomeroy was invited to Spain to race for Bultaco in the FIM 250cc World Championship. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Tomorrow, well bring you 1974 and the introduction of a whole new class for 125s, a whole new series in the AMA Yamaha Super-Series of Stadium Motocross, and a whole new superstar by the name of Marty Smith. It has been a long time for me, and I would like to continue for as long as I can. 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. History [ edit] We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Monoshock was one of the biggest advancements ever in motocross history. Suddenly, I had no bike. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I had to move to Spain to race for Montesa. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Contact Us, The Brockhouse Corgi: A Folding Motorcycle Based On A Design For WWII Commandos, MV Agusta Superveloce Ago: Proceeds Go To UNICEF Ukraine Emergency Fund, Steve McQueens 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross Is For Sale, The Worlds First Production Motorcycle: The 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmller, The Distinguished Gentlemans Ride: A Decade of Dapper, The Ducati 750SS The Bike That Saved Ducati, Railroad Spike Knives by Canadian Bladesmith Graeson Fehr $66.83 USD Each. Yes, I am an old man. [7] His victory also marked the first Grand Prix victory for the Bultaco factory. Mikkola would end up winning the Inter-Am Series on his Husqvarna and then head back to Europe with the Czech riders in tow. In fact, Montesa recommends that the reservoirs be replenished after each moto. 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. Starting with a third overall at the season opener, Pomeroy finished with seven top-10 places in the eight-round series. [2] [3] To make matters worse, Maico and Yamaha had developed new rear suspensions with longer travel which helped transfer power to the rear wheel over rough terrain. [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. 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. Not so the Cappra. Jim, his younger brother Ron, sister Debbie and mother were all involved in motorcycling. Nothing is on the machine that shouldnt be, unlike a few models of the past. In the 250 class there was a different kind of shake up. Montesas new fuel petcock design is a simple device which made us wonder why no one has thought of it before. ke Jonsson is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. I waited until the third Grand Prix in Belgium. Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers. 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. [6] The new suspension design would go on to revolutionize the sport. Its simple, efficient, and apparently foolproof. 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. Expect to do some touch-up work to keep them looking spiffy. Then I almost won all the other motos that season on the Monoshock. A six-time world champion, Robert dominated the 250cc class for almost a decade when, he placed either first or second every year between 1964 and 1972 including, five consecutive world championships. 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. The cost of traveling, the bikes, entry fees and everything are just too much. This category has only the following subcategory. He retired after the 1979 season. The rear rubber measures out at 4.50-18, with cleats wrapping well around the outside diameter of the tire. Weak points come to light promptly, and the rider quickly learns whether or not things are working well beneath him. Okay, now lets get to the racing. 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. In 1975, Pomeroy had a strong year in the World Championships, finishing seventh overall. ever contested by the Spanish factory, and it came away from the 12-event grind with an impressive 4th overall finish. Summary 500cc championship Roger De Costerwon his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzukiahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. If a big rock flies your way, you could incur some damage unless you thought to install some protective plastic guards. I raced the 1969 Trans-AMA, but I was not that fit. 2023 - Motocross Action Magazine. He struggled more so on the GP tour, finishing 13th overall. HOW WAS THE CHANGE TO THE MONTESA? 2007 The Husqvarna factory was in Sweden. Pirelli of Spain developed a new motocross tire for the VR. * The first American to lead the Trans-AMA Championship (1975) In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. 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. Yes, I had an injury while practicing. I did two years with Husqvarna. Pomeroy finished the year with a seventh overall in the world championship. Manage Settings 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. The weight reduction was accomplished through judicious use of plastic and aluminum, as well as total redesign of many component parts. We were impressed with the amazing throttle response of the new Bing carburetor. 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. The new VR is the lightest production motocrosser the factory has made; and at 220 lb., its one of the lightest production 250s available. 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. Enter the Vehkonen Replica, Montesas best effort to date in a motocross mount. Bob Grossi (66) on a Husqvarna 125CR aces out Bruce McDougal (33) for the holeshot that the 1973. shipped to Spain) and a host of other items we wouldnt normally expect from Montesa. The bike wasdeveloped as an homage to Giacomo, This Husqvarna 400 Cross was bought by Steve McQueen on the 26th of August 1971. Here is something a little extra. I am sure that it was the biggest thing ever in motocross history up to that time. The companys motorcycles wonsix Grand Prix world championships from 1964 to 1969 and dominated theInternational Six Days Trial winning the event 15 times between 1947 and 1982. 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). The rod big end contains a caged roller/needle bearing, while the small end uses a loose needle arrangement. Fork bottoming was nonexistent, but an occasional superhard landing got the rear Telesco shocks to compress their full travel. Getting to the element for cleaning is no problem. Suspension components on a motocrosser come under some of the most severe treatment imaginable. 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. 1973 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Zoar Motor Park - 500MX Results. Yes, the Monoshock system started the whole suspension revolution because everybody eventually went to a single shock. 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. 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 The FIM World Motocross Championship travels the world with many of the best riders facing off to earn the title of World Champion. I wanted to. 2002 The Southeast was also anchored by Bill West's popular Winter-Am tour, which was arguably bigger than the actual national tour until the late-seventies. 1988 The Yamaha factory was very happy, and I was happy, too! 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. The other riders would come over the top cautiously and then be careful not to pick up too much speed before the tight corner at the bottom. [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. 2011 [1] Kawasaki joined the world championships with Brad Lackey in the 500cc class and Torleif Hansen in the 250cc class. A YouTube video to a young Scott Wallenberg's Super 8mm footage from the 1973 Daytona event 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. I practiced with riders in my club for many years. I broke my leg in Holland. However, Pomeroy suffered from a string of DNFs in the later rounds that hampered his final series result. I was on Husqvarna until 1972. Yes, it is true. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Pomeroy toured the United States for several years helping develop another generation of American motocross riders. 2006 Bultaco quickly signed him to a new contract to compete in the World Championships. 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. 2012 His father, Don Pomeroy, was a very successful racer in the late 1950s and 60s. Clearly Jim Pomeroy was capable of winning against the best riders in the world. SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final Revised Schedule: SuperMotocross Playoff 1 - zMAX Dragway - September 9, 2023. 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. I think I would have been World Champion in 1968 if I hadnt broken my leg. Yes, I did the first Supercross ever. WERE YOU SKEPTICAL WHEN THEY ASKED YOU TO RACE THE MONOSHOCK? 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. Factory Yamaha wanted to use it in the first Grand Prix of 1973. 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. On a club level, yes. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO RETIRE? 1954 1993 [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. I remember the first time I tested the Monoshock, it was on a little track in Belgium. We explained it all in more detail in yesterdays introduction, which you can dive into if you missed. Now he would be Kawasakis first entry on the 500cc Grand Prix tour. I enjoy my current involvement with the motocross club at Uddevalla, and I dont know that I will ever leave that. So in 1980, he decided he had reached that point and retired from professional motocross racing. 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. The Trans-AMA race Pomeroy competed in was held at Boise, Idaho. Motocross Racing World Championship season. DID YOU RACE AGAINST BENGT ABERG? 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. * The first non-world champion to win the Trophies des-Nations event (1974). [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. 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. [1][4] He did so successfully to win his second consecutive 250cc national title. The 1972 World Motocross Championship series was the first. They did everything possible for me in the years I was a factory rider. April, 8th, 1973, at the Valles Mx track, located in Sabadell Terrassa, near Barcelona. He was named Belgian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1992. 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] He was a four-time World Champion. (Belgium and Czechoslovakia). Jim Pomeroy is responsible for a number of firsts in motocross during the 1970s. 2016 Yamaha was the first factory to recognize that increasing rear-wheel travel would allow you to go faster over the bumps and jump higher. 2021 John Banks is a British former professional motocross racer. DIDNT YOU RACE THE TRANS-AMA RACES IN 1969? The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. In 1957 the Motocross World Championships were born and an all-new 250cc racing division was created to accommodate the purpose-built racing machines. 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. He did manage to record a number of top-10 moto finishes when the Bultaco or Beta held together. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This move required a new connecting rod, but the rods design has not changed. Nineteen-seventy-three would see some the same fairly confusing format, though Edison Dyes Inter-Am Series was beginning to fade a bit. MXA INTERVIEW: HAKAN ANDERSSON ON MONOSHOCKS, MXGP & SUPERCROSS. In the United States, Pomeroy had an outstanding Trans-AMA series. 1959 I was getting older. Yes, only in one moto in Yugoslavia, but that was the frame not the Monoshock. Pomeroy fought equipment and team troubles and finished outside the top 15 or 20 at some races. That is why they checked me, but it was nothing. The ball will snap into any one of three positons with a squeeze of the fingers. YOU WON YOUR 1973 250 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ON A YAMAHA. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. * The first American to lead the World MX Championship (Spain 1973) He had finished second on a Husqvarna behind Joel Robert in 1971 and 1972. Jacky Vimond is a French former professional motocross racer. Here, Hakan is chased by Tim Hart (2) and Adolf Weil (8). "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. A week after his Hangtown victory, Smith got a call from Honda asking him to join the team as a factory rider in 1974. 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 Pomeroy returned to the United States in the summer of 1973 to compete in several Inter-AMA series. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championshipwas the 17th F.I.M.Motocross RacingWorld Championship season. 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. Georges Job was a Belgian professional motocross racer. 2001 Winning soon became second nature. You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". In 1978, Pomeroy struggled in the AMA Supercross series. I was going slowly in practice, and I had a small crash. And there sits your main jet, a snap to switch. His record of first includes: * The first American to win an FIM World Championship MX Event (Spain 1973) For many years the company was building both on and off-road competition bikes as a way of advertising its regular production motorcycles. 1964 Belgium ( Jaak Van Velthoven, Sylvain Geboers, Raymond Heeren, Roger Decoster) 2. Motocross Racing World Championship season. 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. But you can be assured that the stainless steel spokes will have a difficult time pulling themselves loose. 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. WAS TORSTEN HALLMAN STILL RACING WHEN YOU STARTED? He had very bad diabetes. It was fantastic! 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. He quickly discovered that he could win. 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. But that was in part because the bigger tracks out westSaddleback, Livermore, Puyallupwere part of the still mighty Trans-AMA. 1974 But when the oil crisis came, they decided to stop all racing after 1975. But his result in the World Championship helped Pomeroy win the Motorcyclist magazine Man of the Year award for 1976. My heroes were Bill Nilsson, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin, Torsten Hallman and Jeff Smith (who was from England). He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1982. Later models will look considerably different, though porting and internal configurations will be the same. [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. Pomeroy finished the AMA 250 Motocross championships ranked 10th, despite only competing in five rounds of the 15-race series. 1949 1978 1973 AMA Pro Motocross Championship . Although the company did achieve some signifiant results on the asphalt with its technically sophisticated engines, the place where it really dominated was on the dirt. The Cross was yet to come. 1955 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.