1973 world motocross championship

Jacky Vimond is a French former professional motocross racer. SWEDEN HAD MANY GREAT RACERS. The 1979 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 23rd F.I.M. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. I won the second moto, so I won the overall with a 2-1. Choice of a season : I started to be curious about it because my father brought me to the races. Pomeroy fought equipment and team troubles and finished outside the top 15 or 20 at some races. Once the Bing carburetor is well flooded with its tickler device, starting the VR is a three-kick affair, at most. 1967 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. SuperMotocross Playoff 2 - Chicagoland Speedway . Motorcycle racing was a family affair for the Pomeroys. 1985 1993 WHAT HAPPENED TO SWEDISH GP RIDERS? Belgium ( Jaak Van Velthoven, Sylvain Geboers, Raymond Heeren, Roger Decoster) 2. I wanted to. Bottom end power of the new Replica is strong, but the 246cc powerplant really comes on in the mid-range and top end. DID YOU HAVE ANY MAJOR WINS ON THE MONTESA? SuperMotocross World Championship; Motocross . [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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Born November 16, 1952 in Sunnyside, Washington, Jim Pomeroy was blessed with a number of factors that contributed to his success. In November of 1970, Pomeroy finally turned 18 and was able to participate in AMA pro races. [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. 1994 [7] His victory also marked the first Grand Prix victory for the Bultaco factory. YOU WON YOUR. [2] Suzuki had already developed and built their race bikes so, there was no time to build new bikes. 2003 I was getting older. While Jims top-20 overall finishes may not have been notable, his riding style was attracting notice. 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship Motocross Championship Jim Pomeroy amb Oriol Puig Bult (dreta) just desprs que l'americ guanys la primera mnega del GP d'Espanya de 250cc de 1973 (8 d'abril al Circuit del Valls) [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. 2014 ke Jonsson is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. WAS TORSTEN HALLMAN STILL RACING WHEN YOU STARTED? A week after his Hangtown victory, Smith got a call from Honda asking him to join the team as a factory rider in 1974. DID IT EVER BREAK DOWN? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Yes, the Monoshock system started the whole suspension revolution because everybody eventually went to a single shock. [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. I have been married for 47 years, and I have two daughters and four grandchildren, so I am happy. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. Mild steel is used elsewhere. 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. Pomeroy led the Trans-AMA series for a number of races. 1965 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. Air intake is located up high under the seat. It was in the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1972. 2002 FIM Motocross World Championship; Monster Energy Cup; Motocross of Nations; [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 rear unit is a highly polished alloy, conical in shape and strong, as well as light. 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. $1.1 million will be added to the existing prize money already available in each respective championship. Here you find a plastic air box complete with a genuine U.S. Filtron foam element; no more of that paper stuff to throw away. Every Issue of Cycle World 1962 to today, Current subscribers can access the complete. The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. 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. We were pleased to note, however, that our VR broke tradition. Featured FIM Motocross World Championship Results and News But that was in part because the bigger tracks out westSaddleback, Livermore, Puyallupwere part of the still mighty Trans-AMA. The 1973 C4 500 Moto-Cross was essentially an iteration of the bikes from earlier years containing some incremental upgrades. In 1974, Pomeroy started his year in the United States by winning the first indoor Supercross race held at the Houston Astrodome. [2] Bauer then took control of the championship by winning 5 out of the next 6 motos. 1987 1975 The Pomeroy family competed at just about any local motorcycle event, including field meets. 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. In 1973, Bultaco's Jim Pomeroy was invited to Spain to race for Bultaco in the FIM 250cc World Championship. I did two years with Husqvarna. YOU WERE YAMAHAS FIRST WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPION. 2018 The outdoor nationals went much better for him and he finished the 250cc nationals ranked fifth. 1974 And. You have family, but you are never home. In the Trans-AMA series Pomeroy recorded a number of very strong third and fourth overalls at the start of the series. The Sint Anthonis track was composed of deep sand which robbed engines of power and increased fuel consumption. There was a huge change in the 500 class involving the defending champion. Yes, I had an injury while practicing. Noyce was the 1979 500cc motocross world champion. This is a video done by Yamaha to publicize their 1983 Grand Prix Motocross season BEFORE TALKING ABOUT MONTESA, YOU HAD A BAD INJURY IN 1974, DIDNT YOU? This exposes the filter and also the rubber strap holding the rear of the tank in place. This is because of the weight reducing effort; turn down the diameter of the fork legs and the casting becomes rather thin. If youd like to read more about this motorcycle or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Mecum. I raced the 1969 Trans-AMA, but I was not that fit. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championshipwas the 17th F.I.M.Motocross RacingWorld Championship season. 1963 1952 I was very skeptical, because it was a completely new system. Sweden needs to have somebody up there. This is not at all unusual for a production shock absorber, however, and only the most aggressive racers will find fault with them. He finished second at the Los Angeles Coliseum race as well as recording top-five or top-10 finishes at the other summer events. His year included a victory at Belgium and a number of second and third place finishes. Factory Yamaha wanted to use it in the first Grand Prix of 1973. The Monoshock was one of the biggest advancements ever in motocross history. 1973 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Zoar Motor Park - 500MX Results. He died August 6, 2006, in a Jeep crash in Washington. The injury prevented him competing in the early rounds of the Trans-AMA. It was hugely successful. He continued to be involved in the sport through his motocross school. It was fantastic! We had to start from scratch again. 2013 Narrower engine cases permit ideal foot control locations, as well. 1957 1998 I was just a little boy and looking at this new sport called motocross. 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 1999 - 2023 MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc. 2012 He promptly went out and won the Spanish GP, becoming the first American to ever. 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. Yamaha already had the #1 plate there with Gary Jones, but then during the off-season a new entity entered the arena: Team Honda. I was going slowly in practice, and I had a small crash. 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. But his result in the World Championship helped Pomeroy win the Motorcyclist magazine Man of the Year award for 1976. 1970 (Belgium and Czechoslovakia). He quickly discovered that he could win. I broke my leg in Holland. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO RETIRE? I had a good career, good friends and good family, and being with Yamaha was a very exciting time. The 1972 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 16th F.I.M. 1968 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. Now there are thin, flexible plastic fenders (manufactured by A&A in California and >. Clearly Jim Pomeroy was capable of winning against the best riders in the world. When Yamaha pulled out of racing at the end of the 1975 season, Hakan spent two years at Montesa before returning to Husqvarna. The 1976 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 20th F.I.M. Summary 500cc championship Roger De Costerwon his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzukiahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Articles that Ben has written have been covered onCNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine,Road & Track Magazine,the official Pinterest blog, theofficialeBay Motorsblog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more. 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. But you can be assured that the stainless steel spokes will have a difficult time pulling themselves loose. He won the Western Canadian Championship, the Manitoba Championship as well as several regional championships. 1977 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 competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1974 to 1988. But Lackey was determined to chase his dream of a world. When we have a World Championship event in Sweden at Uddevalla and no Swedish riders near the front, it is bad for the public. When you are the World Champion, everybody goes after you and tries to follow your lines. Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. 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. It weighed in at 234 lbs, just 7 lbs more than the CZ 350 MX, and it produced 47 hp a solid figure for the day. It was not so bad; the bike was good. I was running second in the 1968 250 World Championship. Racing in Europe had long been a dream for Pomeroy. Silodrome was founded in 2010 as a website dedicated to Gasoline Culture and all it entails - We write about modern cars, classic cars, motorcycles, racing, gear, gadgets, clothing, boats, planes, airships and the occasional submarine.Read more Silodrome 2023. all rights reserved. I started racing motocross in 1963 as a Junior rider, and I was a factory rider three years after I started racing. I was fifth overall in 1977 in the 500 class on the Montesa. 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. 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 The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. Hkan Carlqvist was a Swedish professional motocross racer. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Roger De Coster won his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzuki ahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. The Vehkonen Replica: A Proven Performer For The Motocross War. Hkan Andersson won the 250cc world championship to give Yamaha its first motocross world championship. 2004 Unfortunately, they stopped racing in 1975. 1979 Since this extra width really wasnt necessary or desirable on the new machine, a new cover was designed. In preparing for the initial GP race, Pomeroy did a couple of international races to get some experience with European tracks and riders. WERE YOU SKEPTICAL WHEN THEY ASKED YOU TO RACE THE MONOSHOCK? Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. In the first moto after the start, I crashed. Eventually, I became a factory rider for Husqvarna together with Hallman, Ake Jonsson, Bengt Aberg and Arne Kring. 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. My handlebar broke, and I crashed in the woods section. It was the only time that I was blood tested. There were a lot of problems in the beginning with materials. Torsten Hallman was happy. Motocross Racing World Championship season. Expect to do some touch-up work to keep them looking spiffy. 2017 * The first rider to win a World MX GP on a Spanish MX bike (Bultaco) 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. shipped to Spain) and a host of other items we wouldnt normally expect from Montesa. 1962 The series runs 18 events with two races per class at each round. I thought it would grow to be something good in the future. The 1974 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 18th FIM Motocross Racing World Championship season. [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. Jonsson came close to winning the world championship title in 1968, 1970 and in 1971 when he led the championship going into the final round when, a mechanical failure ruined his bid. The year started with an overall victory at an AMA 250MX event at Saddleback Park in Irvine, California. As before, the crankshaft rides in three ball bearing main bearings and is a pressed together affair consisting of two pieces. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. They would dominate the series, with the exception of a single race, which would rattle the global motocross establishment. Carlqvist was a two-time world champion who was known for his fierce competitiveness. I am sure that it was the biggest thing ever in motocross history up to that time. Pomeroy finished the year with a seventh overall in the world championship. * The first winner of an indoor Supercross race (Houston, 1974) [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. The main reason that I did not use it in the beginning was that I was afraid it would break it and I would score no points. The kick starter mechanism is conveniently mounted on the right hand side, which most American riders prefer. In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. His first AMA pro race was a Trans-AMA 250cc support race at Puyallup, Washington, where he finished sixth overall. [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. Check out the video below and a very cool Pomeroy profile. It never did. CZ motocross bikes were famous for their handling, offering razor sharp responsiveness and that was said to require an experienced rider to fully exploit. 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 Husqvarna factory was in Sweden. The 1975 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 19th F.I.M. Yes. 1954 He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1984. In 1973, Pomeroy signed a support rider contract to race for a local Bultaco dealer. 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. (Jims factory bike was delayed in shipping from Europe.) 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. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. 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. Now, it is very big. That means that of the 1973 AMA schedule, five roundsDaytona, the LA Coliseum, Pocono, Talladega and JFK Stadiumwould be considered AMA Supercross rounds if they ran today (and thats exactly what Daytona is!). It was almost two years that I was gone from motocross. For the second year in a row, Marty Tripes (by this point in summer 17 years old), came out the winner, making him arguably the first stadium motocross specialist in history. The Spanish GP in 1973 will always be known as the first GP victory by an American rider. 1983 Yes, but my World Championship hopes were gone. It weighed in at 234 lbs, just 7 lbs more than the CZ 350 MX, and it produced 47 hp - a solid figure for the day. The two-ring piston assembly now has an enlarged window area on its rear skirt, and transfer ports have been enlarged as well. The rider many believe to be the best British motocross rider of all time, Dave Thorpe joined the British world champions with 500cc world championships in . * The first rider to win his debut World GP MX race (Spain 1973) 2001 tall should be warned, however. ARE YOU RETIRED? I was on Husqvarna until 1972. A 3.00-21 on the front has the same wraparound effect, but the footprint is different. 1976 [2] Unfortunately, these alterations threw the bikes out of balance and caused them to lose traction. History [ edit] Brimming with confidence, Pomeroy arrived at the first race of the 1973 season, the Spanish 250cc Grand Prix. I had seen all of them race at my home track, so I started riding myself. And there sits your main jet, a snap to switch. 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. The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. All the other factories had already signed their riders for 1976. Check out the location of the first five rounds, as well as the last three: all in the Southeast. Akira Watanabe is a Japanese former professional motocross racer and team manager. The Yamaha factory was very happy, and I was happy, too! I could not see anything. He was named Belgian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1992. 2016 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. 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. SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final Revised Schedule: SuperMotocross Playoff 1 - zMAX Dragway - September 9, 2023. The weight reduction was accomplished through judicious use of plastic and aluminum, as well as total redesign of many component parts. Some motocross mounts offer a rider the most serious of challenges when it comes time for the starting routine. 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. [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. 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. Today I see GPs on TV with only 20 riders on the starting gate. Perhaps the rubber covers over the fork sliders keep much of the harmful grit from damaging the seals. Sweden had won many times before me being on the team. Clutch pull is on the heavy side, but once underway, the rider can ignore the clutch during shifts if he so prefers. 2020 2015 Geboers is notable for being the first motocross competitor to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc divisions. We had a lot of good races between us. [1] Kawasaki joined the world championships with Brad Lackey in the 500cc class and Torleif Hansen in the 250cc class. 1964 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. He would crest the top of the hill, land partway down slope, shift up two gears and pin the throttle wide open. That is why they checked me, but it was nothing. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. As it turns out, only one of the tracks on the '73 schedule remained on the schedule today, as you will soon read. 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] 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. 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. 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. The rear rubber measures out at 4.50-18, with cleats wrapping well around the outside diameter of the tire. His strong results continued in the 250 outdoor nationals and he finished the 250cc series ranked third. MXA INTERVIEW: HAKAN ANDERSSON ON MONOSHOCKS, MXGP & SUPERCROSS. Its nice to know that changing the main jet is easy. Yes, I did the first Supercross ever. (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.). Here, Hakan is chased by Tim Hart (2) and Adolf Weil (8). I am 77 now, and I have done my time. And, it is dangerousvery dangerousbut the racers are fantastic riders. 1999 In fact, Montesa recommends that the reservoirs be replenished after each moto. 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. CZ was one of the most successful motocross and enduro motorcycle manufacturers in the world in the 1950s and 1960s. The track included a 450-foot downhill. He did return to record a number of top-ten finishes in the later rounds. Unfortunately, he injured his knee at the Puyallup round and did not complete the balance of the series. Not so the Cappra. HOW WAS THE CHANGE TO THE MONTESA? Here is something a little extra. 1978 It was completely different. He also finished well in the fall Trans-AMA series. In 1957 the Motocross World Championships were born and an all-new 250cc racing division was created to accommodate the purpose-built racing machines. 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.. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1960 to 1976 when the sport experienced a surge in popularity worldwide. 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. * The first American to lead the World MX Championship (Spain 1973) 1948 2010 In 1972, Pomeroy rode the AMA 250 and 500cc MX Nationals and Trans-AMA events as a privateer on a Bultaco. Motocross Racing World Championship season. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Husqvarna believed in me because I had such a good 1968until I broke my leg. In my day, we had full 40-man gates at every race. 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. Out on the track the height doesnt seem to affect handling, thanks to a low center of gravity. Hallman was six years older than I, and he was finishing up his motocross career when I began. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. At the front, the hub is positioned centrally, and is pseudo conical, with a novel spoke arrangement. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 1973 Race Results and Points Standings. 1988 The ball will snap into any one of three positons with a squeeze of the fingers. For many years the company was building both on and off-road competition bikes as a way of advertising its regular production motorcycles. That was my last race with the Spanish factory, and then I changed to Husqvarna in 1978. 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.