Remembering Marty Moates
By TMX Archives on 3rd Jun 10
THE top home-grown rider in this year's US GP Zach Osborne won the Moates Cup and a $5,000 prize.
The award has been initiated in honour of Marty Moates, the first American to win the Carlsbad 500 GP back in 1980, who passed away 18-months ago.
Instigator of the idea was Glen Helen GP press atache, Scott Cox: I felt that, with the return of GP racing to Southern California, there should be some recognition of Marty's historic win.
I put up the first $1,000 myself and appealed for further donations online. Within a couple of days we had sufficient donations for this year and Lucas Oil have already confirmed that they will donate for the next two-years.
Doug Dubach rode a parade lap in the interval on a 1984 YZ500 in original LOP colours, which actually belonged to Marty, and Doug rode in identical gear. Rick Johnson, who donated his 1983 Tokyo SX cup for the purpose, presented the trophy.
The award will go to the American rider who achieves the highest overall finish in either the MX1 or MX2 class, actual points scoring will only be taken into account in case of a tie.
Chuck Sun raced with an emotive side plate in the Vets; Marty Moates was the Carlsbad GP winner in 1980, Danny Magoo' Chandler won the race 1982 and Chuck himself was winner in 1981.
Chuck is determined to race one final season in the World Vets next year: I'll be 54 in September, so I only get one more chance before I reach the age limit. I really want to come back to race again in Europe next year.
The picture shows supporters of the newly instigated Marty Moates Trophy pose with the trophy and cheque for $5,000