1972 AMA Motocross National Championship season
# 1972 AMA Motocross National Championship season

The 1972 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 1st AMA Motocross National Championship season.

## Summary

1972 marked the inaugural year for the AMA Motocross National Championship. Brad Lackey dominated the 500cc class ahead of Gary Jones and Wyman Priddy. In 1972, after the season-ending 500cc race on September 2, American riders competing for the AMA national championship continued to accumulate points counting towards the national championship while they competed in the 1972 Trans-AMA motocross series which began on October 1 and hosted visiting European riders from the Motocross World Championship.

Jones claimed the 250cc championship ahead of his Yamaha teammate, Jimmy Weinert.

## Nationals

### 500cc

| Round | Date | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | April 16 | Atlanta, Georgia | Barry Higgins | ČZ | Report |
| 2 | May 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | Barry Higgins | ČZ | Report |
| 3 | May 14 | Sacramento, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 4 | May 21 | Orange, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 5 | May 28 | Carlsbad, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 6 | June 11 | Washington, Indiana | Wyman Priddy | ČZ | Report |
| 7 | June 18 | Tahoe Vista, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 8 | September 2 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |

**Trans-AMA Series**

| Round | Date | Location | Top American | Team | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | October 1 | Linnville, Ohio | Bryan Kenney | Maico | Report |
| 10 | October 8 | St. Peters, Missouri | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 11 | October 15 | Atlanta, Georgia | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | Report |
| 12 | October 22 | Orlando, Florida | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 13 | October 29 | Houston, Texas | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 14 | November 5 | Carlsbad, California | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 15 | November 12 | Phoenix, Arizona | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 16 | November 19 | Puyallup, Washington | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 17 | November 26 | Livermore, California | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 18 | December 3 | Orange, California | Marty Tripes | Yamaha | Report |

### 250cc

| Round | Date | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | April 16 | Atlanta, Georgia | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ | Report |
| 2 | May 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ | Report |
| 3 | May 14 | Sacramento, California | Gunnar Lindstrom | Husqvarna | Report |
| 4 | May 21 | Orange, California | Jim Pomeroy | Bultaco | Report |
| 5 | May 28 | Carlsbad, California | Gary Jones | Yamaha | Report |
| 6 | June 11 | Washington, Indiana | Gary Bailey | Bultaco | Report |
| 7 | June 18 | Tahoe Vista, California | Gary Jones | Yamaha | Report |
| 8 | September 2 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Gary Bailey | Bultaco | Report |

## Final standings

500cc :

| Pos | Rider | Team | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Brad Lackey | ČZ / Kawasaki | 2030 |
| 2 | Gary Jones | Yamaha | 829 |
| 3 | Wyman Priddy | ČZ | 750 |
| 4 | Rich Thorwaldson | Suzuki | 726 |
| 5 | Jim Pomeroy | Bultaco | 665 |
| 6 | Bryan Kenney | Maico | 582 |
| 7 | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | 542 |
| 8 | Mike Runyard | Montesa / ČZ | 513 |
| 9 | Gary Chaplin | Maico | 496 |
| 10 | Mark Blackwell | Husqvarna | 480 |

250cc :

| Pos | Rider | Team | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gary Jones | Yamaha | 995 |
| 2 | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | 781 |
| 3 | Gunnar Lindstrom | Husqvarna | 775 |
| 4 | Peter Lamppu | Montesa | 430 |
| 5 | Bob Grossi | Husqvarna | 430 |
| 6 | Mike Runyard | Montesa / ČZ | 428 |
| 7 | Bill Cook | Maico | 376 |
| 8 | Robert Harris | Bultaco | 373 |
| 9 | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ / Maico | 310 |
| 10 | Tony Wynn | ČZ / Kawasaki | 301 |
