1971 Inter-AMA motocross series

The 1971 Inter-AMA motocross series was an international racing series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The six-round series replaced the previous Inter-AM Motocross Series promoted by the American distributor for Husqvarna Motorcycles Edison Dye. ^[1] The motocross series was an invitational based on a 250cc 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]

ČZ factory team rider Vlastimil Válek won 4 out of 6 races to finish the series as the overall winner ahead of second place Dave Bickers (ČZ). ^[3] The third-place finisher, Gunnar Lindstrom (Husqvarna), was born in Sweden but was residing in the United States; therefore, he was given the First American title; however, Gary Jones (Yamaha) was the top American-born rider. ^{[3] [4]} As the AMA Motocross Championship would not be established until 1972, Jones was crowned the U.S. 250 Motocross National Champion, based upon being the highest placed American born rider in the series. ^{[5] [6]}

1971 Inter-AMA rounds

Round	Date	Location	Overall Winner	Top American
1	27 June	Castaic, California	Vlastimil Válek	Tom Rapp
2	4 July	Denver, Colorado	James Wicks	James Wicks
3	11 July	Houston, Texas	Vlastimil Válek	Gunnar Lindstrom
4	18 July	Orlando, Florida	Vlastimil Válek	Gunnar Lindstrom
5	25 July	Linnville, Ohio	Dave Bickers	Mark Blackwell
6	1 August	New Berlin, New York	Vlastimil Válek	Peter Lamppu
Sources: [3]

1971 Inter-AMA final standings

Pos	Rider	Machine	1	2	3	4	5	6	Pts
1	Vlastimil Válek	ČZ	1	4	1	1	6	1	1,430
2	Dave Bickers	ČZ	3		5	6	1	2	1,170
3	Gunnar Lindstrom	Husqvarna	2	9	4	3	4	5	1,060
4	Jan-Erik Sallqvist	Husqvarna	5	3	2	2			1,052
5	Keith Franzen	Husqvarna	6	2	3	5	2	6	969
6	Chris Horsfield	ČZ		7	7	7	8	4	596
7	Gary Jones	Yamaha	9	6	6	10		8	458
8	Christer Lindblom	Husqvarna	7		10	8	7		414
9	Jimmy Weinert	Maico				4	5		380
10	James Wicks	Maico		1					375
11	Mark Blackwell	Husqvarna					3		344
12	Peter Lamppu	Montesa					10	3	325
13	Jos DeWit	Husqvarna				9		7	290
14	Jim West	Husqvarna			9			9	287
15	Bill Silverthorn	Husqvarna	10	10	8				279
16	Gary Meyers	Husqvarna		5				10	265
17	Tom Rapp	Bultaco	4						224
18	Willie Dassen	Husqvarna							178
19	Barry Higgins	ČZ		8					159
20	Wyman Priddy	Husqvarna					9		119
Sources: [3]

See also

• List of Trans-AMA motocross champions
• 1971 FIM Motocross World Championship
• 1971 Trans-AMA motocross series

References

1. "Edison Dye at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
2. "SOLVING THE TRANS-AM, TRANS-AMA, INTER-AM, INTER-AMA AND TRANS-USA CONFUSION". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
3. American Motorcyclist Assoc (September 1971). "Válek, Lindstrom Top Inter-AMA".
4. "Gunnar Lindstrom at the AMA Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
5. "Gary Jones at the AMA Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
6. "First Americans". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved January 1, 2026.