Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

America'sweekly motorcyclenewspaper Volume XXXI Sharon Clayton, Pr esident Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Ed itor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Chris [onnum, Associate Editor ScottRousseau, AssistantEd itor Graphics and Production ReeJohnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. StaceyGuest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger Coordinator , Peggy Rivera, Secretary to thePublisher Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accou7lts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Greg MitcheU, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Want Ads KellyBranscome, Want Ad Sales Marketing &: Promotion Mark Thome, Manager Dealer Sales Toni Kerr, Dealer Representative AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan -Diamond, AIR Coordinator GenevaRepass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation RhebaSmith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Kim Mazenko, Data Entry Coordinator Straight "Rocket" Rex Staten is a credit to our sport and will one day go down in the motorcycle history books as one of the true "great ones." Anyone fortunate enough to know "Rocket" Rexis painfully aware that the letter written by Joe Annstrong (Voices, March 30, Issue #12) is pure bull. The route in question was extensively traveled and defoliated during three weeks of prerunning. Under the exigencies of race circumstances, at 6:15 a.m., the path chosen by Rex appeared to be the actual course. It was, in fact, only 200 yards long. This was simply an honest mistake made by Rex, and other riders (current superstars who shall remain nameless). Mr. Staten's disqualification in Mexico was questionable, at best. Since Rex was racing the AMA National Hare &: Hound at Lucerne Valley, California, the following morning, he was not present to defend his position. The reason for Rex Staten's dominance of SCORE Class 30 is simple: 39year-old "Rocket" Rex and his teammates haul ass! Moreover, the Staten team was comprised of three riders, not four asalleged by Joe Armstrong. In fact , Earl Roberts was staging a comeback after sustaining serious multiple injuries in a horrifying booby-trap-related Baja 500 crash last year tha t occurred while he was traveling in excess of 100 mph. More important, how ever, is Rex 's personal commitment and contribution to our sport. I have personally w itnessed Rex go out of his way on a busy race day to help total strangers with problems ranging from missing axle bolts to suspension rebuilds. Joe Armstrong should be ashamed of himself for . tainting Mr. Staten's good name. Robert Chavez Encino,CA . Serviceand Support Chris Aitcheson, Headquarters Receptionist Leonard Herring, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., LongBeach, CA 90806 , P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801..()498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAX (310) 427-6685 . Eastern Office 4188 FirstAve.,Tucker,GA, 30084; mailingaddress P.O.Box 805, Tucker, GA30085-0805. . (404) 934-7850. FAX (404) 934-3112 Rex Staten was disqualified from the February 26 San Felip e 250 for cutt ing the course...Editor. Magoofan The year was 1982 and I was an Ll-yearold amateur dirt tracker at the Superbikers event in Carlsbad, California. It turned out to be one of the best races CycleNew>(USPS 141.J40) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50 per year by .00 1 g CycleNews, Inc.. 220 Cherry Avenue, Lon Beach.,CA90806. Second class postage paid at tong Beach. CA. Canada Post International Publications Mail 15466 15. . POSTMASTER: Send addrns changes to Cycle News. P.O. Box 498,Lcng Buch, CA90501-0498. INSIDE..... . I've ever seen. I watched Danny Chandler make a last-lap pass between Ricky Graham and the guard rail. It was great! As I stood behind the ABC Wide World of Sports camera, watching the interview, "Magoo" looked d irectly at me, pointed his finger and said, "Come here, k id." As I approached him, Danny rem oved his goggles from around his neck - the sa m e goggles pictured in Cycle News (Where Are They Now, Issue #14 - April 13) and put them around my neck. He then turned me around, with his hand on my shoulder, facing the camera, and went on with the interview. I wanted to take this opportunity to say, "Thank you, Danny," and to let him know that he treated this fan great! His fans are still out there and we care. I've got those Scott goggles hanging on a trophy in my garage, and have told that story to all my friends in the past. Thank you, "Magoo," . ly, I'm glad to see a virtual Third World industrial power have it's day in the sun. Matt Stoutenburg Yorba Linda, CA I am writing in regards to your coverage of the AMA 250cc Grand Prix Series from Phoenix, Arizona (Issue #13 - April 6). I appreciate seeing my picture and getting exposure for my fourth-place finish. What I don't appreciate is being quoted as saying that "my tires went off:' Not only did I not say that, I did not even talk to Henny Ray Abrams or anyone else that works at Cycle News. For the record; my Dunlop tires worked fantastic throughout the entire National, and I recommend Dunlops to anyone starting out in racing because they are the best in the industry. Stop the whining I'm wondering if there will come a day when the controversy, .or should I say whining, comes to an end over Ducati's dominance in AMA Superbike competition . The '93 season had its critics after Doug Polen continually shut out the competition, and the AMA reacted by instituting restrictions on the Ducatis. Now Rob Muzzy jumps in to the scene stomping his feet over the homologation issu e . What's the deal? I don't recall any flak over Troy Corser's second-place finish at Daytona when Scott Russell dazzled the crowd with a brilliant ride to victory on a Muzzy Kawasaki .. from the back of the grid. My friends and I clocked Russell at a full second faster than the rest of the field . Granted, Russell's a great rider, but obviously his equipment is not out-classed. Is it only when a Ducati-mounted rider wins that the whiners come out of the closet? And what about the Harley? Where exists their other 48 "sold for street use" machines? Or is it not an issue because they don't pose a threat and "Hey, it's good for America anyway?" Look, the Japanese manufacturers have kicked ass for a number of years now with their mega-budgets for research and development and for talent. Look where Polen's gone. Quite honest- Rob DePiazza St. Augustine, FL And more on Ducati You quote Rob Muzzy (In The Wind, Issue #14 - April 13) as stating, "...the burden of proof will fall on Ducati." I always thought United States law was based on "innocent until proven guilty:' If so, then the burden of proof would appear to fall on Mr. Muzzy. Mr. Abrams (Chicanery, Issue #14) has a great sense of humor. Let's hear more from him. Dan Spisak Richmond, CA Going off Mike Sullivan Centralia, WA Henny Ray Abrams said he tried to locate you in the pits follow ing the 250cc race. When he couldn't find you, he used the inhouse press notes issued by the press officer at Phoenix International Raceway. Your quote came directly from those press notes...Editor. . Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O . Box 498 Long Beach, , CA 90806-0498 or faxed to 3101427-6685. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. leiters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number •••Editor. . Issue #16, April 21; 1994. . To determln e th e expiration date of your sub&Criptio ~ check the fou r numbers on the first line of your ~drtss label , The first two digits Indlcate the l.aslipue number you' l receive and tM last two char.acten indiatc the yeM of the last issue. :::r .... , 0\ ,...... Subscription rates: Rates for the UnitedStat s and its possese sions for one year. (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100issues). $95. 0; six months, (25 issues). $26.00; trial sub (IS issues). 0 $19.00 Canada andForeign. one yoar(SO issues),$90.00; two . ), .00;six months (25 issues).$45. 0; trial 0 years (100 issues $175 sub (15issues). $38 . .00 . Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories.cartoons. photos.etc.Suchmaterial U published, , becomes theexclusive propertyof Cycle News Suchaccepted materialis subjectto revision as is necessary in the solediscretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material whichis not used. will bereturned Uaa:ompanied by a sell addressedstun ped envelope. All unsolicited materialwill be handled with reasonablecare, however, CycleNew> assumes no responsibility . for the safety lossor damage to suchmaterial. Reprinting in wholeor part only bypermission of the publisher Advertis. ing rates andcirculation infonnationwiD be sent upon request.See SR.D .S Wl!PA ~WdlffTION Printed in U.S.A. Cofyrigh~ <:vele New., Inc.l!/94. Trodemulc CycleNewt registered us, PalentOffl",. All rights ....rved: RIDING IMPRESSION 1994 Honda VFR750 .FEATURES SUPERCROSS McGrath manhandles Minneapolis Metrodome SX 6 Brown bags Pontiac Pan Pacific SX 18 MOTOCROSS Carmichael hot at NMA World Mini GP Van Doom scores 500cc Swiss GP victory : SPEEDWAY Speedway rules, and the .turmoil surrounding them : 24 28 DEPARTMENTS HARE SCRAMBLES Smith wins third-straight at Redding Nat'! HS 20 34 NEW PRODUCTS 42 RESULTS 14 32 44 CALENDAR 46 WANTADS HARE & HOUND . Hamel edges Davis at Jericho Nat'l H&:H 22 TEAM SMITTY EVENTS lO 53 CHICANERY 67 LOOKING BACK 67 QN THE FRONT COVER Team Suzuki's Damon Huffman won the combined Eastern and Western 125cc final in the Minneapolis Metrodome, marking the second time the two regions have met head to head this year. Tum to page 6 for the com p lete report. Inset photo: Cycle News took a ride on Honda's revamped VFR750F. See page 24 for a riding impression. Photos by Kinney Jones .

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