The 1972 Trans-AMA motocross series was the third annual international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The motocross series was an invitational based on a 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring the top riders from the F.I.M. world championship against the top American riders.
Swedish Maico factory rider Åke Jonsson dominated the championship, winning nine consecutive overall wins. 500cc world champion, Roger De Coster and Heikki Mikkola placed second and third overall, claiming one victory apiece to start off the series before Jonsson began his winning streak. Brad Lackey was the highest-placing American rider, finishing the series sixth overall.
1972 Trans-AMA rounds RoundDateLocationOverall WinnerTop American 1 24 September Copetown, Ontario Roger De Coster Brad Lackey 2 1 October Linnville, Ohio Heikki Mikkola Bryan Kenney 3 8 October St. Peters, Missouri Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 4 15 October Atlanta, Georgia Åke Jonsson Jimmy Weinert 5 22 October Orlando, Florida Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 6 29 October Houston, Texas Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 7 5 November Carlsbad Raceway Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 8 12 November Phoenix, Arizona Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 9 19 November Puyallup, Washington Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 10 26 November Livermore, California Åke Jonsson Brad Lackey 11 3 December Irvine, California Åke Jonsson Marty TripesSources:Trans-AMA Motocross Records, American Motorcyclist, January 1975, Vol. 29, No. 1,
1972 Trans-AMA final standings Pos Rider Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts 1 Åke Jonsson Maico 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1550 2 Roger De Coster Suzuki 1 3 2 2 3 3 2 4 912 3 Heikki Mikkola Husqvarna 3 1 2 2 3 3 2 811 4 Hans Maisch Maico 2 3 8 4 8 5 3 530 5 Arne Kring Husqvarna 4 7 3 4 5 2 487 6 Brad Lackey Kawasaki 4 10 6 9 6 8 6 7 8 4 9 460 7 Bengt Åberg Husqvarna 5 4 7 2 304 8 Pierre Karsmakers Husqvarna 5 10 4 5 7 10 10 303 9 Christer Hammargren Yamaha 2 9 6 7 8 264 10 Miroslav Halm ČZ 5 9 3 7 228 - Jaak van Velthoven Yamaha 6 8 4 6 - - Serge Bacou Bultaco 7 5 9 7 - - Gary Jones Yamaha 15 7 12 12 11 10 12 15 9 11 - - Mike Runyard Suzuki 5 12 23 8 11 20 12 17 12 12 13 - - Rich Thorwaldson Suzuki 8 20 8 4 19 19 14 16 11 13 15 - - Jim Pomeroy Bultaco 9 19 5 10 13 13 19 10 18 12 - - Bryan Kenney Maico 6 25 6 13 12 11 18 16 14 16 - - Mark Blackwell Husqvarna 13 12 13 14 10 17 14 14 15 14 - - Jimmy Weinert Yamaha 11 16 3 7 14 22 11 - - Gary Chaplin Maico 6 17 21 16 20 13 11 18 - - Billy Clements Husqvarna 9 16 14 14 23 16 13 - - Andy Roberton Husqvarna 9 6 5 - - Wyman Priddy ČZ 8 10 11 17 - - Marty Tripes Yamaha 24 20 20 16 8 - ČZ 6 - Jiří Churavý ČZ 9 5 - - Dave Bickers ČZ 7 9 - - Seppo Makinen Husqvarna 10 - - Masaharu Takezawa Kawasaki 10 -Sources only document the points awarded to the first ten competitors. Sources:
References
See also 1972 AMA Motocross National Championship season 1972 FIM Motocross World Championship List of Trans-AMA motocross champions