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►For the first time in four years, the
home-court advantage didn't pay off for American World-Class 500cc motocrossers.
Americans had a string going in the 19805: Marty Moates made history by winning
in 1980, Chuck Sun took the trophy in 1981, and Danny Chandler fought hard for
his in 1982. Just by the tiniest margin did Team Yamaha's Broc Glover miss the
fourth American win in four years. Tied with Swedish star Hakan Carlqvist
(Glover had a second/first, Carla a first/second), Broc lost in an elapsed-time
tie breaker. By less than four seconds.
Defending USGP champion Chandler looked set to repeat his 1982 performance.
Easily the fastest in timed practice, he out-rode Carlqvist, Englishman Graham
Noyce and Glover. Starting the first moto from the pole position, Chandler led
the pack out of turn one but unexpectedly surrendered the lead; he coasted to a
stop in front of the mechanics' area and discovered a big pre-race mistake: his
fuel petcock hadn't been turned on. Carlqvist grabbed the lead and kept it for
the rest of the moto. Glover trailed in second, while Chandler charged to third
from the back of the pack despite getting off twice.
In a display of raw talent,
reigning 500cc World Champion Brad Lackey placed a remarkable fifth in the first
moto and finished fifth overall. Without a factory ride this year, Lackey raced
his first '83 GP aboard a stock-and-standard Yamaha YZ490K. Set up and supplied
by Yamaha's Competition Support Services, Lackey's USGP mount ran with few
tuning changes; the machinery at local club races often looks better.
Chandler's luck never improved.
In the second moto he fell into a multi-hike first-turn pileup that sidelined
him. Carlqvist took temporary command up front, dogged by Glover, Suzuki's Alan
King and Kawasaki-mounted Kent Howerton. Broc elbowed past Carlqvist, and
moments later King pushed the Swede back to third. With 10 minutes remaining,
King's rear shock began to fade. Shock trouble had dropped the big Suzuki rider
to fourth place in the first moto, and it cost him again in the second.
Carlqvist passed King, and it was a whole new race. Assuming
that Glover and Carlqvist held their positions, each would finish the
day with a first-place and a second-place. In AMA-sanctioned motocross,
the overall win goes to the rider who places higher in the second moto.
The USGP, however, runs under World Championship rules; the rider who
wins his moto in the shortest elapsed time gets the big prize. To win
overall, Broc needed to beat Carlqvist's first-moto time—on a track that
was now rougher, even treacherous in parts.► |
Competition 
