1970 Inter-AM Motocross Series

The 1970 Inter-AM motocross series was the 4th edition of the international racing series established by the American distributor for Husqvarna Motorcycles Edison Dye, as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States.[1] 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.[2]

Maico factory team rider Åke Jonsson won the series with seven victories to finish ahead of Husqvarna teammates Bengt Åberg and Christer Hammargren in second and third places.[3][4] Åberg was filmed while competing in the final round of the series at Saddleback Park as part of the 1971 Bruce Brown motorcycle documentary film, On Any Sunday.[5] The film's success was credited with helping to spark an explosive growth in American motorcycle sales numbers as the baby boomer generation came of age.[6]

1970 Inter-AM rounds

Round Date Location Overall Winner Top American
1 4 October Elkhorn, Wisconsin Åke Jonsson John DeSoto
2 11 October Pepperell, Massachusetts Arne Kring ?
3 18 October Linnville, Ohio Åke Jonsson Robert Taylor
4 25 October Dixie, Texas Bengt Åberg Bob Grossi
5 1 November Los Angeles, California Åke Jonsson ?
6 8 November Sacramento, California Åke Jonsson Bob Grossi
7 15 November Phoenix, Arizona Bengt Åberg Robert Taylor
8 22 November Salem, Oregon Åke Jonsson Robert Leach
9 29 November San Francisco, California Åke Jonsson ?
10 6 December Irving, California Åke Jonsson ?
Sources:[4]

1970 Inter-AM final standings

Pos Rider Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Åke Jonsson Maico 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1
2 Bengt Åberg Husqvarna 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2
3 Christer Hammargren Husqvarna 4 4 3 4 3
4 Willy Bauer Maico 6 4 4 5 4 3 3 7 6
5 Sylvain Geboers Suzuki 3 3 4
6 Torsten Hallman Husqvarna 5 3 6 5
7 Arne Kring Husqvarna 1 2
8 Miroslav Halm ČZ 4 5
9 Otakar Toman ČZ 3 5
10 John DeSoto ČZ 5 7
11 Dave Bickers ČZ 7 6 6
12 Jaques Vernier ČZ 5 6
Sources:[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Edison Dye at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  2. ^ "Motocross History". themotocrossvault.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Trippe, Gavin (March 1, 1971). "AKE! AKE! AKE!". Cycle World. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "1970 Inter-AM results". akejonsson.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "The Lives They Lived". racerxonline.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  6. ^ "Between the Motos". racerxonline.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.