CLASSIC MOTOCROSS PHOTOS: POINT MAN IN THE TWO VERSUS FOUR WAR

Jeff Smith at the East German Grand Prix on his BSA four-stroke. Jeff was the first World Champ to face the onslaught of Husky and CZ two-strokes. Photo: Justyn Norek

JEFF SMITH VERSUS DAVE BICKERS; TWO-STROKE VERSUS FOUR-STROKE

It may seem hard to believe now, what with the four-stroke being the officially legislated engine type of professional motocross, but back in the 1960s four-strokes were under attack from a new breed of two-strokes. The lighter, quicker and simpler Czechoslovakian and Swedish two-strokes had BSA and their star rider Jeff Smith on the defensive. To fight back, BSA built Smith a titanium BSA. It was too late to stop the two-stroke onslaught. If only BSA had known that the simplest way to stop the best technology from taking over is by writing rules that neutered it.