Motor-cyclists quit big race

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 24

Motor-cyclists quit big race

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) NUERBURGRING.

The world’s leading motor-cycle works teams have withdrawn from the Grand Prix of Germany in protest against alleged lack of protection on the twisting Nuerburgring track. However, the race would be held as scheduled — with only privately-entered riders — and will count as the second race of the world championships.

The walk-out — led by G. Agostini (Italy) and P. Read (Britain) and unprecedented in international motor-cycle racing, came after the riders’ demand for 5000 additional straw bales along the track.

Apparently, the demand was made too late to be met.

The race organisers had accused the riders, howput 4500 straw bales along the track earlier last week

on complaints about inadequate protection.

The race manager has accused the riders, however, of having resorted to "pure blackmail” to force the organisers into paying higher starting fees. The real issue is not protection, he says.

Racing sources said that Agostini and Read had demanded starting fees of 10.000 marks (about $4000) each — four times as much as the organisers offered under the rules of the International Motor Cycling Association. Final training was cancelled yesterday when leading contestants picketed the track. There were scuffles and angry scenes as pickets prevented private riders from going on the track.

The works teams of Yamaha, MV Augusta, Morbidelli, Harley Davidson, Suzuki and Derby have left the Nuerburgring.