On This Day In Moto: October 14

On This Day in Moto October 14

October 14, 2018 10:00am
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October 14

1979

At the Trans-USA held at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, Team Yamaha's Mike Bell gets his first win in the once-prominent international tour. Unfortunately, the tour was already down to basically one international rider, Team Honda's Andre Malherbe, a future three-time FIM 500cc World Champion, and he went home before Road Atlanta. Bell's moto scores were 1-2, with Suzuki's Darrell Shultz second with 3-1 moto finishes. Third overall went to Kent Howerton, the series points leader.

In the "National" Support class Honda-backed Jimmy Ellis took the win with Yamaha's Donnie Cantaloupi second and Husqvarna rider Ron Sun third. 

Yamaha's Mike Bell won the last two rounds of the '79 Trans-USA Series.  
Yamaha's Mike Bell won the last two rounds of the '79 Trans-USA Series.  

That same weekend on the other side of the country, the 1979 AMA Amateur National Championships were happening in Plymouth, California's Hangtown track. The Cycle News headline summed up the event as "Michigan Introduces Motocross  Mafia" as two of the four classes were won by riders from that state, and a total of seven riders landed top-five overall finishes between the four classes.

Mark Hicks claimed the 250cc class while future factory rider Denny Bentley was the 125cc class winner. The 100cc class went to North Carolina Yamaha rider Todd Harrell. The only title to stay on the West Coast was the 500cc title won by California's own Eric McKenna after a close battle with Michigan's Alan King.

How competitive was the 500cc class? Two of the top four finishers would go on to win AMA Pro Motocross Nationals in King and fourth-place Kenny Keylon of Florida, and finishing in between those two in third was Maryland's Glenn Taylor.  

Maico win add for 500cc frontrunners in the AMA Amateur National Championships Eric McKenna, Alan King and Glenn Taylor, plus Enduro rider Don Sanford. 
Maico win add for 500cc frontrunners in the AMA Amateur National Championships Eric McKenna, Alan King and Glenn Taylor, plus Enduro rider Don Sanford. 
And here's a Bosch Spark Plugs ad for McKenna's win.
And here's a Bosch Spark Plugs ad for McKenna's win.

2017

Monster Energy and Feld Motor Sports gave away $1 million to Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin, who swept all three main events and the huge bonus at the 2017 Monster Energy Cup. Musquin topped Rockstar Husqvarna's Jason Anderson in all three motos to earn the massive prize. Anderson's teammate Dean Wilson finished third overall.