SPECTATORS; RIDERS PREPARING FOR THE RACE; THE RACE ITSELF.




Initials RM/V/JH/ES


SPORT: MOTORCYCLE RACING

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Background: IN SOUTH VIETNAM, A LAND TORN BY THE STRUGGLE OF GOVERNMENT FORCES AGAINST THE VIET CONG, THE YOUNG PEOPLE STILL KEENLY SEEK OUT THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE, AND SPORTING EVENTS ARE PARTICULARLY POPULAR.AN EXAMPLE WAS LAST WEEK'S GRAND PRIX FOR 50 c.c.MOTORCYCLES, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS OF THE DIFFERENT TEAMS.

MOTORCYCLE RACING IS PROBABLY SOUTH VIETNAM'S MOST POPULAR SPORT, COMING BEFORE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.IT'S ALSO A SPORT IN WHICH GIRLS AS WELL AS BOYS TAKE PART - NO DOUBT A BIG CONTRIBUTION TO ITS POPULARITY.

LAST WEEK'S GRAND PRIX TOOK PLACE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAIGON.WHILE EXCITEMENT REIGNED OVER THE CIRCUIT, GOVERNMENT TROOPS WERE ENCOUNTERING THE VIET CONG IN A FIERCE BATTLE ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH-EAST OF THE CAPITAL.THE SOUND OF EXPLODING MORTARS WAS CLEARLY AUDIBLE TO THE RACE SPECTATORS, WHO DID NOT SEEM IN THE LEAST DISTURBED.

THE GRAND PRIX ITSELF WAS MARRED BY MANY SPILLS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE MANY SHARP BENDS OF THE CIRCUIT.HOWEVER, THE RIDERS SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO KNEES AND ELBOWS.