The World '70 Motocross Grand Prix

[charleselan]

I count myself privileged to have seen all those guys race Mikael, even if it was usually only once per year at the British GP's (250 & 500cc). Roger De Coster was super smooth and quick, but for me Joel Robert and Sylvain Geboers (to an extent) were instantly brilliant whereas De Coster developed. Heikki Mikkola worked at his career, was super fit, used his vast experience and still retained the speed at 33 years of age to become the great champion.

I have seen all of the greats from the 1950's through to Carla in the 1980's and everyone of them had something special.

Although Jeff Smith was never one of my favourites he was incredible from a very young age in the 1950's and finally became a double 500cc WC in the mid 1960's. He was a master tactician and superbly physically fit, as well as being exceptional in mechanical engineering.

[charleselan]

Last night I sat down and watched a superb YouTube film about the career of the great Joel Robert. Wonderful memories were ignited after seeing this and the contemporary interview with Joel and his great friend and rival the equally great Torsten Hallman. I did not grasp in the film that Joel had passed away and this morning while trying to find the film to link here I came across the sad news that he had died in January of this year.

Apparently he had been fighting diabetes for over 10 years and just before Christmas had part of his leg amputated but had been released from hospital and was in the process of emigrating to the USA to become curator of a motocross museum there. As I have mentioned above I think that Joel was one go the greatest natural talents to grace motocross, a true genius on a motorcycle.

While reading this I also came across the news that Stefan Everts the multiple world champion had also been seriously ill at the same time and at one period was on the critical list with malaria, he I believe is now on the road to recovery. Very disappointed to see that none of this had been available on mainstream motor sport news channels.

Anyway here as a way of tribute is the excellent film on Joel.

[mikael]

JC
Thanks a lot for your post. I'll be looking forward to watching the Joel Robert portrait during a "relaxing moment" (here at the home office - the shutdown of the country goes on and on ... )
Best regards
Mikael

[charleselan]

Mar 10, 2021 12:42:17 GMT mikael said:

JC
Thanks a lot for your post. I'll be looking forward to watching the Joel Robert portrait during a "relaxing moment" (here at the home office - the shutdown of the country goes on and on ... )
Best regards
Mikael

You are welcome Mikael, it is well worth a look as Joel was such a character as well as an outstanding talent. Of course you are still in "lock down" in Denmark, one hopes these dark days come to an end, or at least some form of normality return to everyday life.

Returning to this film I was mildly amused at the pronunciation of the manufacturer CZ. I have always known it to be said as "Cee Zed" whereas the Americans use the term "Cee Zee". The same was true of the Datsun 240Z, in the Uk it was "240 Zed" whereas in America it was "240 Zee".

[mikael]

Ref.: the Joël Robert documentary: a very good portrait of Joël Robert's full and rich life, centered around motocross.

One thing that I find a bit intriguing, and the film didn't give an answer to (unless I missed it), is why Robert decided to remain in the 250cc class for his entire career. Perhaps he just felt most comfortable on a 250cc, and uncomfortable on a 500cc? (Certainly those three sizes of motorcycles felt very different. Coming from a nimble 125cc, a 250cc felt like a "rocket", and a 500cc was an outright "monster".)

His contemporary, Sylvain Geboers, likewise stayed loyal to the 250cc class. However, most of the other motocross greats eventually moved "up" to the 500cc, once they had proven themselves in the 250cc class. Eric Geboers, the younger brother to Sylvain, became World Champion in all three classes: 125cc (two times), 250cc (one time), 500cc (two times).

[charleselan]

Mar 14, 2021 9:50:47 GMT mikael said:

Ref.: the Joël Robert documentary: a very good portrait of Joël Robert's full and rich life, centered around motocross.

One thing that I find a bit intriguing, and the film didn't give an answer to (unless I missed it), is why Robert decided to remain in the 250cc class for his entire career. Perhaps he just felt most comfortable on a 250cc, and uncomfortable on a 500cc? (Certainly those three sizes of motorcycles felt very different. Coming from a nimble 125cc, a 250cc felt like a "rocket", and a 500cc was an outright "monster".)

His contemporary, Sylvain Geboers, likewise stayed loyal to the 250cc class. However, most of the other motocross greats eventually moved "up" to the 500cc, once they had proven themselves in the 250cc class. Eric Geboers, the younger brother to Sylvain, became World Champion in all three classes: 125cc (two times), 250cc (one time), 500cc (two times).

I would suggest that the reason Joël concentrated on the 250 class was more to do with contractual obligations from the manufacturers that employed him. He did ride the bigger machines in non championship meetings and successfully so this would probably indicate that it was lead by the manufacturers interest. Torsten Hallman was also in a similar position like Joël and Sylvain Geboers.

Interestingly Mikael both rode large 500 cc four stroke bikes early in their careers, there is a brief shot of Joël on a BSA Goldstar in the film. Also the first time I came across Sylvain was in his first season of world championship racing and he contested the 500cc class on a red Matchless Metisse and he was very impressive on it at Hawkstone Park.

Dave Bickers also had the distinction of being a 250 specialist which was also somewhat false as he also rode a BSA Goldstar in his early years before concentrating on the factory Greeves 250 machines. However during this time he made occasional appearances on the works Matchless in the 500cc class; later in his career Dave Bickers when riding for CZ rode both 250 and 360cc machines.

Returning to Joël Robert it is a shame that he did not contest the 500cc class as he would have been a formidable rider in that class. In the film I think he mentions entering some end of season 500cc WC rounds to support Roger de Coster in his championship challenge.

[mikael]

Some time ago I came across the footage posted below. When occasionally watching contemporary motocross, I agree (with ref. to earlier discussions) that it often has become too much of a "pop show".

But here is an exemption; this is simply outstanding! Even if you're not really interested in motocross, this is - I believe - motorsport at its very best.

In the early 1980's, the level of American National motocross was, in fact, higher than the level in the World Championship series - believe it or not. The "proof" is that, in Motocross des Nations (500cc) as well as in Trophee des Nations (250cc), the Americans were head and shoulders above the rest of the World. The same was seen when American riders made guest appearances in in motocross GP's. Looking at the footage below, I somehow have the feeling that this might be the case also now, in the 21st century.

[mikael]

I cannot resist showing this photo, which I was very happy to find. This is probably the most famous (or infamous!) section of any European motocross track: the crazily steep climb/downfall (depending on which direction is used) in Bielstein, Germany (which probably is more famous for the shock absorber manufacturer located in that town).

The photo is from the "Motocross des Nations" race, (1981) (The World Championship for National teams in the premier (largest engine) category; in 1981, 500cc.)

The climb is really "crazy" You have to be determined and approach with "full throttle" through the preceding corner; otherwise, you'll never get up. And to stall midway up ... better not to think about it ...

[René]

Jun 19, 2023 17:55:22 GMT mikael said:

The climb is really "crazy" You have to be determined and approach with "full throttle" through the preceding corner; otherwise, you'll never get up. And to stall midway up ... better not to think about it ...

That is insane! 

[mikael]

I was never a fan of "show" motorcycling, like "show jumps" etc. But the photos below have nothing to do with that; they are from the 1984 British 500 cc motocross Grand Prix (the premier class) - so the way the great Georges Jobé (1961–2012) negotiated that particular jump was not done for show - it was done for speed only. In the words of British top-rider (of that period) Rob Andrews:

"This Nick Haskell photo of Georges Jobe jumping over the head of Andre Malherbe is arguably one of the greatest GP photographs of all time.

"Taken at the British 500 Grand Prix in 1984, Jobe’s amazing pass in front of electrified crowds immortalised the Belgian, and equally secured a place in history for the obstacle itself.

"The Hawkstone double jump was never conceived as such. Riders used to race down from the famous bombhole and head full bore for the finish, with only a flat out ski jump, known for many years as the ‘Girling Leap’, to interrupt their progress. As suspension improved and speeds rose, the Salop club needed to slow the riders down and so built two huge mounds, with a deep chasm in between.

"I think the jump had been in existence for a while before anybody really considered having a go at the two. As a potential double it was way bigger than anything seen before on the GP circuit, and was a difficult obstacle to judge. The approach was blind, with no view of the second jump and no indication therefore of how fast and how far you needed to jump. The straight before was rough and rutted, as was all of Hawkstone, and the back side to the jump was steep and a tiny target. Overjumping wasn’t really a good idea either as it would mean flat landing from a huge height. All in all a nasty, scary obstacle.

"At the ’84 British GP a team of three American riders came over, sponsored by French clothing and accessory firm Motocross Marketing. Eric McKenna, Eric Eaton and Phil Larson were all riding Honda’s I believe. The exact details seem to have been lost in the cloudiness of time, but one of these guys was the first to attempt and clear the jump, and Phil Larson can be seen executing the deed comfortably in the photos on the right.

"Georges Jobe was soon to follow, and subsequently several other riders had a crack, with differering levels of success. Eric Geboers was the most noticeable casualty, when he overjumped, flat landed it and broke his tib/fib in the resulting impact!

"David Thorpe attempted it too, casing it hard. He chose to not jump it again, but still went on to win both motos!

"Jobe meanwhile, jumped confidently and consistently, and used the jump on and off throughout the races, passing Belgian championship rival Malherbe in moto 2.

"In the twelve months or so following the GP a few other domestic riders successfully cleared the Hawkstone double. Scotsman Paul Chiappa was the first Brit I believe, as well as Scott Gardner. However, following pressure from the ACU and FIM, who had implemented a blanket ban on double jumps on safety grounds, Hawkstone’s most famous obstacle was converted into a tabletop soon after.

"The collection of photos are courtesy of various members of the UK based MXTrax vintage forum who collectively brought this historic moment back to life recently with these never-before-seen snapshots from those who were there and witnessed it first hand. Thanks guys.

Rob Andrews"

Source:

www.motorsportretro.com/2009/09/georges-jobe-and-the-hawkstone-double/

The mentioned American rider Phil Larson taking the double-jump in the same way:

[Carl]

Thanks, Mikael, for the great photographs.  What an incredible moment at Hawkstone!  The wide-open eyes and mouths of everyone in the crowd display pure astonishment...

I looked through this relatively small motocross category and John Charles mentions Hawkstone once or twice, declaring a preference for more level and fast sweeping turns on grass.  By the mid-70s, John's interest had shifted more to cars and road racing and he probably never witnessed the double-jump.

                                                            

This is the photograph posted by John showing our young friend and his parents at the 1967 British Motocross GP from Farleigh Castle near Trowbridge in Wiltshire.  John is easy to recognize despite a luxurious head of hair, surrounded by attractive women with his parents at far right. 

 

[mikael]

Mar 30, 2024 17:43:37 GMT Carl said:

I looked through this relatively small motocross category and John Charles mentions Hawkstone once or twice, declaring a preference for more level and fast sweeping turns on grass.  By the mid-70s, John's interest had shifted more to cars and road racing and he probably never witnessed the double-jump.

Thank you for your comment, Carl :-)

JC was probably right in his point of view that motocross - just like cars - had its golden years around 1970, before the appearance of the long-travel suspension systems. With short-travel suspension, the tracks simply needed to be more level. The long-travel suspension systems initiated a vicious circle: because of improved traction, the motorcycles were much harder on the circuits, creating "washboards", which in turn made long-travel suspension systems absolutely necessary.

Heikki Mikkola and Roger de Coster, early 1970s, still with moderate-travel suspension.

[Carl]

Mikael,

             Thank you for your knowledgeable explanation!  Do the the cascading changes to motocross that followed the development of long-travel suspension fall into the law of unintended consequences?  

Cheers, Carl     

[mikael]

Mar 31, 2024 16:09:59 GMT Carl said:

Do the the cascading changes to motocross that followed the development of long-travel suspension fall into the law of unintended consequences? 

Carl,

yes, one could probably draw some parallels between the wings of formula cars and the long-travel suspension of motocross motorcycles. Both increased the speed dramatically, but with a number of drawbacks. Yet, both of them stayed, 50+ years now for the wings, and 40+ years for the suspension.

Cheers,

M.

"Washboard" surface conditions by an amateur motocross race in 1982

[Carl]

It's interesting how a perceived advancement can detract from the sport. Except for the ponderous, truly dangerous late 60's wings in Formula One, I've always liked the simple downforce a wing provides. The step too far was the venturi tunnels sealed with skirts at Lotus, although I still admire the genius of the Lotus 78 and, my favorite of all time, the gorgeous Lotus 79.

That led to a brief period of almost no suspension travel in F1 and Chapman to the Lotus 80. That misguidance reminds me of the current designated genius, Adrian Newey, whose aerodynamic insights have eliminated close pursuit. Well done...?

Washboards belong in laundry rooms and country jug-bands.