1970 Trans-AMA motocross series

International motocross series February 2025 The 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series was an international race series established by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States.https://books.google.com/books?id=O_kDAAAAMBAJ&q=keith+hickman+greeves&pg=PA12 Trans-AMA: A Pilot Program For International Activity Youngblood, Ed December 1970 American Motorcyclist 29 July 2012 https://books.google.com/books?id=EvYDAAAAMBAJ&q=burleson+nicoll+american+motorcyclist&pg=PA8 Burleson, Nicoll Champions Of AMA's Pilot Project For International Activity Youngblood, Ed January 1971 American Motorcyclist 29 July 2012 The motocross series was an invitational based on a combined 250 and 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring some of the top competitors from the Motocross World Championships racing against the top American riders.https://www.cyclenews.com/2022/11/article/archives-column-1970-larue-trans-ama/ Archives Column: 1970 LaRue Trans-AMA cyclenews.com 2025-11-06 The success of the Inter-AM Motocross Series, promoted by the American importer of Husqvarna Motorcycles Edison Dye, prompted the AMA to take advantage of the sport's surging popularity by promoting their own motocross series, which they called the Trans-AMA series. While most of the established European competitors continued to race in the 1970 Inter-AM Motocross Series, the AMA negotiated a deal to bring over the BSA and Suzuki factory racing teams to compete in an eight-race series that ran throughout October and November of 1970. The series took place after the conclusion of the AMA Grand National Championship and several dirt track racers such as David Aldana, Dick Mann and Jim Rice would participate in the series. The AMA adopted an odd points scoring structure that heavily favored consistency over winning, with first-place being awarded 300 points, while second-place earned 295 points and third-place 290 points. Despite six consecutive victories by Joël Robert (Suzuki), due to the odd points structure, BSA factory rider Dave Nicoll claimed the series championship without winning a single event by scoring points in every round. With his victory at the first round in La Rue, Ohio, Jeff Smith became the first rider in history to win an AMA-sanctioned professional motocross event. As a result of his being the highest placed American rider at fourth overall, Dick Burleson, was crowned the first-ever AMA Motocross National Champion. 1970 Trans-AMA rounds RoundDateLocationOverall WinnerTop American 1 11 October La Rue, Ohio UK Jeff Smith Bob Thompson 2 18 October New Berlin, New York UK Jeff Smith Peter Lamppu 3 25 October Delta, Ohio BEL Joël Robert Brad Lackey 4 1 November Franklin, Georgia BEL Joël Robert Jimmy Weinert 5 8 November Lewisville, Texas BEL Joël Robert Brad Lackey 6 15 November Irvine, California BEL Joël Robert Billy Clements 7 22 November Carlsbad Raceway BEL Joël Robert Gary Bailey 8 29 November Puyallup, Washington BEL Joël Robert Sonny DeFeoSources:Trans-AMA Motocross Records, American Motorcyclist, January 1975, Vol. 29, No. 1, 0277-9358March 1971 Jeff Smith Finds The Result Impressive American Motorcyclist Association 49 1970 Trans-AMA final standings Pos Rider Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pts 1 UK Dave Nicoll BSA 3 4 2 3 6 6 6 5 4,550 2 UK John Banks BSA 4 3 4 2 4 4 8 4 4,535 3 UK Jeff Smith BSA 1 1 3 6 3 3 3 4,515 4 USA Dick Burleson Husqvarna 8 8 10 8 9 3,925 5 USA Bryan Kenney Husqvarna 7 7 9 9 9 3,760 6 SWE Gunnar Lindström Husqvarna 2 6 5 5 5 2 3,675 7 BEL Joël Robert Suzuki 1 1 1 1 1 1 3,590 8 SWE Olle Petterson Suzuki 7 4 2 2 4 10 3,360 9 UK Keith Hickman BSA 2 5 5 3 7 6 3,350 10 USA Sonny DeFeo ČZ 8 9 7 3,345 - UK Malcolm Davis AJS 2 8 - - USA Bob Thompson Ossa 5 6 - - USA Jimmy Weinert ČZ 6 9 7 - - USA Peter Lamppu Montesa 5 10 - - USA Brad Lackey ČZ 8 7 - - USA Billy Clements Husqvarna 7 - - USA Gary Harris Husqvarna 8 - - USA David Aldana BSA 9 - - USA Gary Bailey Greeves 9 - - USA Wyman Priddy Bultaco 10 - - CAN Ron Keyes ČZ 10 - - USA Doug Rodrigues ČZ 10 - - USA Tom Rapp Bultaco 10 - - USA Jim O'Neal ČZ 10 -Sources only document the points awarded to the first ten competitors. Sources: See also List of Trans-AMA motocross champions 1970 FIM Motocross World Championship 1970 Inter-AM Motocross Series References External links Cycle News: 1970 LaRue Trans-AMA American Motorcyclist, December 1970 American Motorcyclist, January 1971 Trans-AMA motocross series AMA Motocross Championship Season Category:Trans-AMA motocross series