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

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

Trans-AMA Series

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

[5] [6]

250cc

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

[5]

Final standings

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1973 Motocross Season". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Pierre Karsmakers at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship results". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Assoc, American Motorcyclist (February 1982). "Trans-AMA Motocross Records". Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  7. 1 2 "1973 AMA Motocross National Championship overall standings". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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