VOL. 50 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
chael Jordan team of Roger Lee Hayden and
Danny Eslick would also be in the race – as
wild cards.
While scouring through the Cycle News Archives last week to put together the history of
World Superbike racing at Laguna Seca story
(see page 42), two World Superbike races in
Monterey without an American seemed like a
foregone conclusion. Combine that with the
fact that the AMA Superbike title was all but
signed, sealed and delivered, and any fan's
pre-Laguna excitement likely centered on
which restaurant to go to and how to pay for
the over-priced hotel room. But not now.
Now we've got that good old Americans vs.
the world theme to get us pumped up. And
Americans love nothing more than to see their
guys vs. the world. That used to be the norm at
Laguna. Remember when AMA guys like Anthony Gobert not only raced in the World Superbike event, but won? Ditto for Ben Bostrom.
And there would always be guys like Aaron
Yates up there giving them fits, or Mat Mladin.
And let's not forget Miguel Duhamel and his podium finishes. Even when pulling double duty.
In fact other than the final (and rather dismal) year of World Superbike racing at Laguna
Seca in 2004, there were always wild cards for
American race fans to cheer for. And when we
didn't have wild cards capable of winning, we
had regulars in the series who most definitely
were – riders like John Kocinski and Colin Edwards. And even a lot of the foreigners felt like
homeboys because they'd competed in the
AMA Superbike Series on their way up. Troy
Corser is a prime example of that
I only wish I ran Yamaha's U.S. race team.
I'd have Herrin win his AMA Superbike Championship at Laguna and I'd slide Hayes over to
compete in the two World Superbike races.
Then we'd have our best against theirs. How
cool would that be?
Heck, it might even be good for business.
Everyone's business.
CN
P93
LOOKING BACK
40 Years Ago
October 2, 1973
For the first time, the ISDE was held
in the US, in Massachusetts and a
photo of Parc Ferme was featured on
the cover to mark the occasion. The
Czechs won for the fourth straight
time with the US Trophy Team finishing fifth. But the US Silver Vase Team
– Malcolm Smith, Ron Bohn, Dick
Burleson and Ed Schmidt – captured the gold.
30 Years Ago
October 5, 1983
"Radical" Ron Turner sliding the
new Cagiva 125WMX on a slick,
hard-packed Saddleback turn was
pictured on the cover 30 years ago
to accompany our test of the sexy
Italian motocrosser... Ricky Graham
took the win on the 25th Anniversary
of the Ascot Half Mile National…
20 Years Ago
September 29, 1993
We took a look back on the just concluded National MX and Supercross Series… Jeremy McGrath,
Mike Kiedrowski and Jeff Emig
eked out America's 13th straight win at
the MX des Nations in Austria. They
won with one point to spare over Belgium… Chris Carr dominated the
Castle Rock TT
10 Years Ago
September 24, 2003
Stefan Everts was the talk of the
motorcycle-racing world when he
won three GPs in one day. At Ernee,
France, Everts won the 125cc, MotocrossGP and 650 classes in the
one-moto-per-class format. Belgian
Steve Ramon captured the 125cc
World Championship… Jason Lawrence was one of the top 85cc riders
at the RM Cup at Washougal.
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