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/125699
By Maureen Lee We're tom between two separate subjecu for this week's column, either to continue the bit about motocross and the stand we're taking against creeping professionalism in the sporting events. So, we'll stick with motocross for one more week. But, to keep the kettle boiling, if you read the letter in Voices last week, yes Ike, dear buddy, you're naive (ho ho) and I'm not misinformed. Re-reading my own column from last week I've realized that like most writers what is in the head doesn't always come out the way you try to say it when you see it in print. I made a statement that it will take this country another three years to develop a rider to make a real mark against the Europeans. What I actually meant to say was in Grands Prix motocross with points paid toward the World's Championships, although I have a feeling that Russ Darnell is going to make me eat those words...but, you're only as good as your competition. Look what happens when an All-American joins a pro football squad and then runs head on into a Butkis or Nitschke; Half the time they can't even make the taxi squad. That's where it's at right now with motocross in this country. PUCH ROARS.AT HOPETOWN. ~ w Z ... w (.J > (.J scramllln'arounif In some cases a motocross is nothing more than a rough scrambles. Not only aren't the courses demanding enough to develop the rider's talent, the motocross rules aren't followed correctly enough. OK here comes the soap box again. Motocross is an International sport. Right? Right! The rest of the world follows one set of rules: HM. When the sport started getting going in this country why oh why didn't everybody involved in it realize they should use what everyone else is using. The way it is now, an American in Europe for the first time can, depending of course how his home town events have been handled, suddenly f"md himself in a complete new rule world. He has to think about these when all he should have to think about is riding. One reason for this is that when motocross started to become popular here, everyone and their uncle started jumping on the motocross bandwagon with some of them not knowing what the heck they were really getting into. MotofOross is not a sandlot game, it's serinus business. For our riders to develop into anything they are going to need every chance they can get. It's eitl;ter that or we can imagine American motocross becoming divorced from International motocross and becoming highly specialized just for us. Like the difference between football and rugger. But, this won't give us an American World's Champion. When Torsten Hallman first appeared here was when the big change came about and the bandwaggon started rolling. Torsten's record is magnificent, he's a mixture of Tazio Nuvolari and Juan Fangio and hasn't earned the title of "Mr. Motocross" for nothing. But in this country that first year (and in the following years when other riders came over) his performances were just that. Performances. They're just playing, folks! It's promotion and vacation time for. them. If we're ever going to get anywhere we're going to have to make some changes and thank the Lord there are a few people around who know what's going on. They are doing their best all across the country to get us well on the way to a World Champion. First, all rules should be FlM. Sec.ond, the courses have to be made rougher and more demanding. We have a whole gang of young riders who are well along in learning their craft. Until Hallman appeared we never saw anyone who realized the front end should be lifted through a waterhole like Hopetown. Now we have quite a few who know what they're doing in this kind of a situation. But it still ain't good enough! Well, "the soap box is in complete shreds, I need a cup of tea and I hope I've got my point across. It i. time for us to grow up or get over any ideas of having an American World's Champion motocross riders. f . , YAMAHA SPORTCYCLES NEW & USED SALES Parts-Accessories-Service Financing-I nsurance ~ Mike Patrick's PUCH MOTORS CORP., 1812 Cororado Ave., Santa Monica, Ca. 90404 Go straight to j~\ ~ YAIWfA of COlONA 1101 E. 6th St. - Corona (114) U5-11n MASTER CHARGE-BANKAMERICARO Discount to Ascot Racers GENE H. MYERS 4151 Redondo Bea"h Blvd., Lawndale, Ca. (213) 542·4047 Dare Terrell raB awa, w;,. "e 125 Nor;ce. Mi'eo 8,"aeo We specialize in only Bullact 1241 W. Orange1ll.,., BUlla Park (114) 522-&189 Super Damper - Carefully engineered by hydraulics specialists_ Conversion available for Kaw. 350, Yam. 125, 175 & 360 forks. Item No. 17 $49.95. ENDURO COMPUTER CURNUTT SHOCKS SPECIFICATIONS: Speed Range: 0 to 99 mph. Readout: 5 place, push button reset. 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