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/117596
VOL. 50 ISSUE 12 MARCH 26, 2013 effectively ending his era... the king was dead. But Freddie lasted only a couple more years at the top, taking a fine 250/500 double in 1985 and then hitting the slippery slope. Extraordinary talent doesn't necessarily mean happily ever after; an era cannot be guaranteed. Casey Stoner also arrived in the big class with a bang, or rather too many bangs, as he crashed a lot trying to catch Rossi, etc., on their factory-only special-brew Michelin tires. He had to wait until his second year for his first race win, but then went serial and took the title as well. He was king of the world when he stepped on a Honda, but he too stopped early, before his reign had a chance to become an era. Other young prodigies have found the going tough. Pedrosa was 20 when he arrived in the top class fresh from two 250cc titles, and took a win in his first season, 2006. But it was only last year that a for-once uninjured Dani became a serious title contender. John Kocinski was another who blazed into the firmament only to fall back without managing to outshine his stubborn and powerful teammate Wayne Rainey. Now and again, however, there is a special one, like Rossi. Or, if you go back a bit, like Mike Hailwood, another to arrive and win: his first GP victory came at 21, in an era when top sportsmen were generally 30 or more. Back then, there were none of today's racing academies to teach pre-pubescent teenagers the finer arts of motorcycle racing. Marquez has plenty to prove. One thing is that he can stay in one piece. It's easier to fall off a MotoGP bike than it is to keep breaking the lap record. But there is no proof required of one aspect: he is desperately fast, and the current fast guys, well accustomed to racing only against one another, are going to have to shake off complacency and dig deep once again. CN P113 LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago April 3, 1973 Our April Fool's issue contained a road test on, yes, a road (Topanga Canyon Blvd. to be exact), a feature on the exciding day in the life of the Cycle News staff, and a test on a the "Bulmotox DZR" bulldozer. We also covered a race that never happened in a place that doesn't exist - Podunk, California… Mitch Mayes, however, did win both the Great Bear Grand Prix at Riverside Raceway and the Mint 400, with partner Rolf Tibblin, in Jean, Nevada, all in the same week. 30 Years Ago April 6, 1983 Our BMW R80ST test bike resting at the beach was featured on the front page 30 years ago... Mark Barnett, Bob Hannah and Danny Chandler took top honors at the 15th Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California… Jack Johnson took top honors at the SCORE San Felipe 250… Ron Ribolzi won the Bonner Creek National Enduro in Iowa. 20 Years Ago March 31, 1993 Wayne Rainey was featured on the cover 20 years ago to accompany our preview of the upcoming World Championship Road Race Series… Honda's Greg Albertyn won the opening round of the 250cc World Motocross Championship in Italy… For the fourth straight time, Larry Roeseler won the Tecate 250K Enduro in Mexico. 10 Years Ago March 26, 2003 Our middleweight sportbike shootout was featured on the cover 10 years ago. The winner? Kawasaki ZX-6R (636)… Ty Davis spent Spring Break in Arizona and came away with the win at the Lake Havasu WORCS race… We paid tribute to road racer Barry Sheene who had recently passed away… Honda-mounted Mike Alessi was top dog at the Lake Whitney GNC. So was Suzuki's Broc Hepler before he broke his finger. Davi Millsaps was also a standout.