ROUND 8: ITALY PINEROLO: 16TH JULY 1978

Once again, we witnessed the talent of Bernie Schreiber as he simply destroyed the field of challengers under a scorching red hot sun in Italy. It was an anxious Martin Lampkin who found that one of his experimental air rear shock absorbers on his Bultaco had been messed with in the ‘Parc Ferme’ overnight, resulting in a complete loss of pressure. After some quick work on it he was away, and soon settled down to the job in hand. His 2nd position further increased his championship lead with Vesty finishing in 5th position. For the first time in his career the nineteen-year-old Spanish rider Toni Gorgot took the final step of the podium in 3rd, just in front of Manuel Soler making a complete top five for Bultaco. Marland Whaley, having made the move from the four-stroke Honda to Montesa, was 8th as Great Britain’s Nigel Birkett coped well with the heat to finish in 9th and with it gain two championship points.

RESULTS: 1: Schreiber 22; 2: Lampkin 37; 3: Gorgot 40; 4: Soler 42; 5: Vesterinen 44; 6: Karlson 50; 7: Subira 54; 8: Whaley 56; 9: Birkett 61; 10: Joe Wallman (Bultaco-AUT) 62. CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Lampkin 94; 2: Schreiber 77; 3: Vesterinen 76; 4: Karlson 61; 5: Andrews 44.