Company messages

Nach dem Bau der ersten 5 Versuchsmaschinen mit Sachs-Motoren (100ccm und 125ccm) für Mazzilli selbst und enge Freunde. Der Erfolg bei Rennen führt zur Entscheidung für eine ersten Serie von ca. 90 Maschinen.
Der Tuner und Rennfahrer Enzo Simonini beginnt mit dem Bau kompletter Motorräder unter der Marke Simonini Moto. Der Sitz des Unternehmens war in Torre Maina, nahe Maranello/Modena.
Jacques Boudet, der französische Importeur für AJS-Motorräder und Präsident des Molo Club Rouergat, sowie sein Bruder Henry gründen zusammen mit den erfolgreichen Rennfahrer-Brüder Gilles und Denise Portal die Firma Motos Boudet-Portal, kurz BP. Das Ziel ist ein französisches Geländemotorrad zu bauen.
Toni Stöckelmeier aus Aschaffenburg vertreibt ebenfalls wie Staab KTM in Deutschland. Die Gebiete werden aufgeteilt.
Suzuki is now going all out: for the 1970 season, they have also signed the two leaders of the world championship, Joel Robert and Sylvain Geboers.
Jan Witteven begins his career at Fichtel & Sachs as a design engineer for two-stroke engines (50 to 250 cm³).
Aspes names its models after legendary "Indian names" that have become part of the brand's identity:

  • Navaho (50 cm³): The iconic moped, which in various versions (e.g., RCR) with Minarelli P6 engines became the dream of many young people.
  • Apache (125 cm³): The first large cross model (1970). The prototype (Sachs): At the 1971 Milan Motor Show, Aspes actually presented a 125cc cross bike with a Sachs engine (the then brand-new 1251/6B). This was an attempt to rely on the proven German engine in order to be internationally competitive. To the surprise of experts, the Apache 125 went into production in 1972 not with the Sachs engine, but with the Maico engine. Maico was chosen because this engine was considered the most powerful and "high-revving" 125cc engine at the time.
  • Hopi (125 cm³): The successor to the Apache and the flagship for off-road racing (Regolarità) was then built with the Asco engine from 1973 onwards.
Through Joel Robert's mediation, Harry Everts was hired to race the 125cc bike in Southern California in order to polish up the brand image, which was still being marketed under the Allstate brand at the time. Although this probably increased awareness in Southern California somewhat, it was not yet what they wanted to achieve.
Puch acquired a 50% stake in Avello in Spain, which had previously manufactured MV Agusta mopeds under license, among other things. 
Californian Ted Lapadakis becomes importer of the new Puch 125/175cc machines, which are built specifically for motocross and off-road use.
After previously using engines (e.g., from Sachs), KTM is now starting to produce its own engines.

Motocross

Models in this year
fim_wc.png250ccm Cross WM
An impressive season for Suzuki. Captured just as impressively in this Suzuki promotional video.
Joel Robert wins Suzuki's first world championship title in motocross
Sylvain completes Suzuki's double victory, winning four Grand Prix races, including the home GP in Paal, just like Joel. But four races without points mean he finishes second, 20 points behind. At the end of the season, however, the relationship between the two Belgians was no longer the best.
Roger underscores Belgium's dominance in this class with his third place finish.
Swiss Grand Prix in Wohlen. Heiki wins the first Grand Prix.
fim_wc.png500ccm Cross WM
Maico had increased the 360cc bike to almost 400cc, and with this extra power, the season was shaping up to be a successful one. Jonsson achieved victories across Europe and was on the verge of winning the world championship title. However, at the last race in Ettelbrück, Luxembourg, Jonsson suffered an unfortunate incident that repeatedly dashed his world championship ambitions: during the race, a fork tube came loose in the triple clamp, protruding so far upwards that it pierced the fuel tank, costing him the victory and thus the championship. 
usa.png500ccm Cross Trans AMA
The results of the first Trans AMA are as follows:

  • 1 Dave Nicoll, UK, BSA
  • 2 John Banks, UK, BSA
  • 3 Jeff Smith, UK, BSA
  • 4 Dick Burleson, USA, Husqvarna
  • 5 Bryan Kenny, USA, Husqvarna
  • 6 Gunnar Lindstrom, Sweden, Husqvarna

In 7th and 8th place were the Suzuki factory team with Robert and Petterson.

finland.png125ccm Cross SM
In Finland, the 125cc class is being introduced as the national Finnish championship "Suomen mestaruus."
World champions of the year
National champions