Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/217065
VOL. 50 ISSUE 47 NOVEMBER 26, 2013 P101 Much was expected of his return to "my Yamaha M1," but he found the bike had changed in subtle ways since the days when the entire factory design department revolved around him. Now it catered to the smoother, less aggressive riding of Lorenzo. Rossi, you may have noticed, is a pushier sort, and his more abrupt braking style in particular put him into difficulties with the softconstruction front tire introduced last season, to a chorus of rider approval – only the Honda pair Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa were against it. Actually, Rossi said rather belatedly, he'd been against it from the start, "but at the time we were in the sh*t anyway." Squidging the front and spoiling the corner entry would remain a problem pretty much all year. They fiddled and fettled, improving but never curing. And all the time Lorenzo was the one challenging the Hondas. It was probably the tire rather than any subtle changes to the bike that really did it for Valentino, and it illustrates everything. In Valentino's heyday, he would get special track-specific tires on race day, made for him on Saturday night by Michelin and trucked to the circuit. Ten years later control tires are one-size-fitsall. It is not the tires that are adapted to the rider, but the rider who must adapt to the tires. Adaptability is the key. And adaptability is something that wanes pretty quickly once you get past your early 20s. Rossi turns 35 next year, and is perfectly placed to become an elder statesman of the track. Perhaps he could lead development of a potential Yamaha production racer, in the mold of Honda's RCV1000R. Or meld into team management. Or just be a roving ambassador. That way he could promote his own hugely successful merchandising operation hand in hand with MotoGP. One can foresee, Beckham style, an underwear-modeling contract coming up. Trouble is, Rossi can't stop being a racer, and he can't stop believing he can win again. And Burgess was a necessary sacrifice to be able to maintain this point of view. CN LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago December 4, 1973 We compared a Kawasaki 903 Z1 with a Yoshimura-modified Z1, much like the one Yvon DuHamel rode at the time. A photo of the two bikes were on the cover to accompany our story... We covered the 6th running of the San Gabriel MC's BarstowTo-Vegas desert race, which was won by Mitch Mayes who beat Jim Fishback by less than a minute… Roger DeCoster won the Trans-AMA round in Livermore, California. 30 Years Ago December 7, 1983 The start of the Barstow-To-Vegas desert race was featured on the cover 30 years ago. After a nine-year battle with environmentalists and the State, the race commenced once again with Dan Smith cruising to an easy win. But it was really a win for motorcyclists… Terry Poovey won the Great American Shootout dirt track in Dallas… Ed Lojak won the National Hare Scrambles title at Loretta Lynn's. 20 Years Ago December 1, 1993 Ty Davis was on the cover 20 years ago for being on the winning team at the Baja 1000. It was Kawasaki's sixth straight win in the legendary race… Ricky Graham was named AMA Pro Althlete of the Year… Scott Summers won the final GNCC of the year but had to hand over the number-one plate that he had worn for the last three years to Fred Andrews… Jeremy McGrath dominated the Bercy Supercross. 10 Years Ago November 26, 2003 A photo of Nicky Hayden not in his riding gear was featured on the cover 10 years ago to accompany our interview of the MotoGP Rookie of the Year… Two-time champ Josh Demuth won the opening round of the National Arenacross Series in Albany, New York… Homeboy David Vuillemin was top man at the Bercy Supercross. Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives