1973 AMA Motocross National Championship season

The 1973 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 2nd AMA Motocross National Championship season.

1973 AMA Motocross Championship season
Previous: 1972 Next: 1974

Summary

The sport of motocross experienced explosive growth in 1973 and motorcycle manufacturers sought to capitalize on the expanding market with all four Japanese manufacturers fielding factory-backed teams alongside their European counterparts.[1] Pierre Karsmakers from the Netherlands dominated the 1973 500cc national championship, winning seven of 12 AMA Nationals and claimed 17 victories in 36 races overall.[1][2] Karsmakers is credited with helping raise the level of American motocross by stressing the importance of physical fitness and machine preparation.[2] 1973 marked a turning point in American motocross when Jimmy Weinert became the first American rider to defeat the then-dominant European riders in the Trans-AMA Motocross Series at Lake Whitney Ranch in Texas.[1][3] His victory showed that the level of American motocross had begun to compare with the level of European motocross.[3]

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.[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.

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.[1][4] He did so successfully to win his second consecutive 250cc national title.[1]

Nationals

500cc
Round Date Location Winner Team Report
1 March 10 Daytona International Speedway Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
2 May 6 Opelousas, Louisiana Mike Hartwig Husqvarna Report
3 May 13 Hialeah, Florida Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
4 May 20 Olive Branch, Michigan Mike Runyard Suzuki Report
5 June 2 Atlanta, Georgia Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
6 June 10 Adelphi, Ohio Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
7 June 17 Lake Whitney Ranch, Texas Brad Lackey Kawasaki Report
8 August 12 Lake Whitney Ranch, Texas Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
9 August 18 Pocono, Pennsylvania Mike Runyard Suzuki Report
10 August 26 Sligo, Kentucky Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
11 September 1 Alabama International Motor Speedway Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
12 September 9 New Orleans, Louisiana Brad Lackey Kawasaki Report

Trans-AMA Series
Round Date Location Top American Team Report
13 September 23 Springville, New York Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
14 September 28 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
15 October 7 Lexington, Ohio Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
16 October 14 Washington, Indiana Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki Report
17 October 21 Atlanta, Georgia Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
18 October 28 Orlando, Florida Brad Lackey Kawasaki Report
19 November 4 Houston, Texas Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki Report
20 November 11 Phoenix, Arizona Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
21 November 18 Puyallup, Washington Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
22 November 25 Livermore, California Rich Thorwaldson Suzuki Report
23 December 2 Orange, California Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report

[5] [6]

250cc
Round Date Location Winner Team Report
1 March 10 Daytona International Speedway Bob Grossi Husqvarna Report
2 May 6 Opelousas, Louisiana Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki Report
3 May 13 Hialeah, Florida Gary Jones Honda Report
4 May 20 Olive Branch, Michigan Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki Report
5 June 2 Atlanta, Georgia Marty Tripes Honda Report
6 June 10 Adelphi, Ohio Gary Jones Honda Report
7 June 17 Lake Whitney Ranch, Texas Gary Jones Honda Report
8 July 1 Tooele, Utah Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
9 July 6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Marty Tripes Honda Report
10 July 15 Baldwin, Kansas Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
11 July 22 Delta, Ohio John DeSoto ČZ Report
12 July 29 Unadilla, New York Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha Report
13 August 12 Lake Whitney Ranch, Texas Tim Hart Yamaha Report
14 August 18 Pocono, Pennsylvania Rich Thorwaldson Suzuki Report
15 August 26 Sligo, Kentucky Gary Jones Honda Report
16 September 1 Alabama International Motor Speedway Gary Jones Honda Report
17 September 9 New Orleans, Louisiana Gary Jones Honda Report

[5]

Final standings

References
  1. "1973 Motocross Season". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  2. "Pierre Karsmakers at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  3. "Jimmy Weinert at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  4. "Gary Jones at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship results". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. "Trans-AMA Motocross Records". Google Books. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  7. "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship overall standings". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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