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►The Czechoslovakia GP for
250cc machines opened to a distinct set of characteristics. Guenady Moiseev, the
former World Champion, moved into the 250 points lead after his double win in
Belgium. Trailing by 12 points was Bultaco-mounted World Champion Harry Everts.
Behind the Russian and Belgian came Raymond Boven, Vladimir Kavinov, Jean Paul
Mingels and Hans Maisch.
Czechoslovakia is a country where travel accommodations are
scarce. The arrival of the fourth Grand Prix of the season means that everyone
must participate to ensure a smooth event. The GP took on a military flavor with
the army and police present in huge numbers. All the hotel space for 30 miles is
reserved and all the roads are closed to traffic not traveling to the race. The
Czech spectators seem to know only one name — Jaroslav Falta. Throughout the
crowd every fan has Falta's name on his lips, forgetting Moiseev, Everts, Boven
and the young American, Marty Moates.
The track is the classic blend of European whoops and brake
bumps. Although severe hills are not present, the track itself becomes a course
of tortuous whoops before the end of the day. To the Czechs it’s perfect.
The first moto hit the turn with local favorite Frantisek
Jirka holding the lead for four laps. Behind him was the Russian berzerker
Kavinov, followed by Antonin Baborovsky and Harry Everts. Baborovsky wasted
little time. On the fourth lap he stuffed it under the Russian and Jirka to take
the lead. The Czech partisans applauded wildly as Baborovsky motored into a lead
he would never relinquish. Kavinov took second, with Everts third and Maico
Meister Hans Maisch in fourth.
Suddenly the crowd was aware of some movement in the pack.
The young American Marty Moates was coming through the pack from 34th place. In
one lap he had moved to 17th. Moates was spectacularly sideways and by the
midway point had dropped the majority of Europe's best to fall in behind Maisch
in fifth place. Crowd favorite Jaroslav Falta crashed through the fence and was
out. Later Russian points leader Moiseev joined him through the fence.
The first moto ended with Baborovsky, Kavinov (KTM), Everts,
Maisch and Ossa-mounted Marty Moates in the top five. Old-timer Miroslav Halm
showed up at the Czech GP and took his CZ to ninth in the first moto.
The second moto was another Czech runaway as the immortal
Jaroslav Falta grabbed the holeshot and disappeared from the pack. Vladimir
Kavinov was second, with Baborovsky pushing up from a bad start to take third.
From this point on it was a time race between the Russian and Babo. The
Russian's 2-2 score tied Baborovsky's 1-3, but the time difference was in the
Czech's favor. It was of course a most popular victory with the crowd. Moiseev
hurt his foot in a hard corner and dropped out with no points for the day.
The most promising rider of the GP season so far has been
Marty Moates, but the second moto was a bummer. Moates is developing a wild man
reputation far greater than the Russians', but unfortunately in one of his wild
passes in the second moto he smashed his hand into a fence post, putting him out
for the day. It is a possible broken finger, but it won't stop the crazy
American.■ |
Competition 
