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Cycle News 2013 Issue 39 October 1

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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VOL. 50 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 1, 2013 cal marvel, and a genuine racing advance. Not only do they save fractions of a second at every upshift – accumulating to become of real value over race distance. They are also kinder to tires and rider, by eliminating the momentary power cut that at high lean angles can unsettle the suspension and interrupt the tire grip. As both Yamaha riders observed after their long-awaited seamless epiphany: the settings of the bike remain exactly as before except for one: you can dial out some of the electronics, because the bike doesn't wheelie or slither at every upshift. Whether this much more complex and costly system will ever find its way into production bikes remains to be seen. There is no current need. The dual-clutch system does the same thing, much more simply. Right now, all MotoGP seamless shifters are completely redundant, except for the sole purpose of getting round the rules. There are other supposedly cost-saving regulations that have achieved the opposite effect. Like that restricting the number of engines, requiring more expensive engineering solutions to achieve durability. Or the fuel restrictions: triggering costly electronics and low-friction bearings. At least these may be of overall benefit to production bikes. For me, it all accumulates (seamlessly, of course) to reinforce a dream I have nurtured for many years. Bin the rules, except basic ones dictating two wheels. Make the top level of racing Formula Libre, which in English translates as "Run what you brung." This would unleash the engineers, with freedom to experiment and potentially learn important new things. It might even bring back proper racing twostrokes. Just imagine how fast, and how light, a modern TZ750 or oversize NSR500 would be. The argument against is that with unlimited costs, the manufacturer with the biggest budget would win. Hmmm. Much the same as it is now. CN P115 LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago October 9, 1973 We had the opportunity to run a rare color photo on the cover, so we ran a shot of our Yamaha dual sport test bike on the front page, although the test was printed in a later issue… We did, however, test the all-new Moto Villa 125cc motocrosser from Italy… We covered the New Philly Trans-USA race, won by Gerrit Wolsink… CN also covered the Copetown Trans-USA in Canada, won by Adolf Weil. 30 Years Ago October 12, 1983 Randy Goss was pictured on the cover 30 years ago to accompany our interview of the soon-to-be GNC champ… We covered the Springfield Mile, which was won by Ricky Graham for the third time… Fred Merkel topped Wayne Rainey at the AMA Superbike final at Daytona… Broc Glover won the CMC Trans-Cal Supercross at the Cal Expo. 20 Years Ago October 6, 1993 Damon Bradshaw announced he was through with racing which made frontpage news 20 years ago. He did say, however, "I'll be back when I feel I can earn my paycheck." Scott Summers, Danny Hamel, Scott Parker and Dave Roper all got on the cover as well. 10 Years Ago October 1, 2003 Mat Mladin made the cover 10 years ago for wrapping up his fourth AMA Superbike title at the new Barber Motorsports Park… Scott Parker won again at Scioto Downs in Ohio… Honda's Valentino Rossi won for the sixth time of the year at the Brazilian GP… Barry Hawk won the GNCC title for the first time at The Spartan round in Kentucky. Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

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