MRW Issue 1

Brad Binder’s truly memorable
ride into the history
books and then his immaculate
calm TV interview with
Simon Crafar in the Brno pit
lane afterwards made me
smile. Memories of another
great South African World
Champion, the Brno road circuit
and the apprenticeship
as a Grand Prix reporter.
Forty years ago, I travelled
to report on the Czechoslovakian
Grand Prix on the old
Brno road circuit. It was my
first season as a Grand Prix
reporter, and I was keen, very
keen, too keen. There was
massive interest in the 350-
cc race which was the penultimate
round of the Championship.
It was a fight between
the toughest Grand Prix rider
I have ever met, South African
Jon Ekerold and the talented
German Toni Mang. Privateer
Ekerold arrived at the 10.920
kms road circuit on a sweltering
afternoon with a 14-point
lead in the Championship. It
was not easy for a South African
to get a visa to race in
Czechoslovakia.
His two Bimoto Yamaha
mechanics had been refused
entry and he only managed
to get a precious visa because
he had inherited a Norwegian
passport from his father.
Ekerold looked so much
the likely World Champion
as he trailed leader Mang
through the villages, corn
fields and forest. Suddenly
the Champion elect started
to slow, which we discovered
later was with a broken piston
ring. He limped home in
tenth place, with Mang’s victory
ensuring the pair would
go into the final round in
Germany on equal points.
I was first there with pen
and notebook in hands as Ekerold
limped into the pits and
took off his helmet. Others
with a bit more experience
and nouse than the novice
waited for the dust to settle.
I had dived in as Jon was
still removing his helmet with
a breathless enquiry about
why he had slowed and how
he felt about not winning
the World title. His reply was
unprintable, and he made it
very clear what he thought
about me.
A week later I drove to an
iconic venue for the final
round of the 350 cc World
Championship. The Nürburgring
road circuit nestling in
the Eifel mountains was on
its last legs. As I drove into
the paddock Jon Ekerold was
waiting for me at the gate.
I was ready for another ear
bashing but instead he apologised
for his outburst, said
he was out of order and I was
only doing my job and shook
my hand. He then went out
to produce a ride of pure genius
and guts that you had to
be there to appreciate.
His victory over Mang
brought him that World title
and left me with memories I
will never forget. His last lap
between the trees and barriers
that lined the 22.835 kms
deteriorating surface was one
of the greatest single laps I
have ever witnessed. His last
lap would have qualified him
in second place on the 500cc
grid and his race time would
have placed him fourth in the
500cc race.
Onto Austria on Sunday and
I loved both the old Salzburgring
and in recent years to
the similar picturesque location
of the Red Bull Ring. The
Salzburgring was special especially
watching those 500cc
grand prix motorcycles at
such a high speed. It was the
ultimate amphitheatre for riders
to show not only skill but
so much nerve and courage.
A little Alpine stream used
to trickle between the trees
past the media centre and a
family ran the communication
service, charging extortionate
prices. Upset Mother, Father
and especially Daughter and
there was no chance of copy
being filed.
In 1983 Kenny Roberts was
fighting like a true champion
to win back the World title he
had last won three years earlier.
It was a crucial sixth round
of his fight with Freddie Spencer
at the Salzburging. I had
organised with Yamaha that
if he won, the presenter back
in London could interview him
live for BBC Radio at the end
of his victory lap on the finish
line before he went to the
podium. Kenny completed his
part of the deal perfectly. A
classic six second win over Eddie
Lawson and he stopped in
front of me, took off his helmet
and put on the headphones
ready to speak to the BBC.
Unfortunately, the people
back in London had not
grasped the situation. Instead
of coming straight to
Kenny they asked him if he
would mind waiting a couple
of minutes because they
were doing a cricket round
up around the county club
grounds. Kenny may have
just completed 131.440 kms
at over 190 kph but he never
lost that wicked sense of humour.
He asked them if that
was the same game of cricket
in which the match can
last five days and still end in a
draw. Kenny waited, the rostrum
ceremony waited and
eventually the interview with
the winner was completed.
Four decades later and I am
still learning.