Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·.vOtotheS·· . .LettersIC E America's weekly motorcycle newspaper ed~or Volume XXXI Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Edit r o Kit Palmer, Associatr Editor Donn Maeda, Associatr Editor Chris [onnum, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Assistant Editor Del Mar 1 Advertising Terry Pra tt, National Accounts Managrr Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Managrr Mark Thome, W estern SalesMana grr Thomas Gonter, Westrrn SalesManagrr Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Managrr Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Managrr Rick Matheny, Eastrrn Sales Managrr Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Last Sunday, I attended my fir st- ev er dirt track race - the Del Mar Mile. I've seen a lot of racing. both tw o- and fourwheeled, and I can say without a doubt that this is the best racing that I've ever seen. The speeds, skill and camaraderie were thrilling. impressive and moving. How can this sport be on its last leg, as some have stated? That can only be because it has not spread its wings into new ve nues. I think Sunday's race can only be in dic ative of the sport's potential to expand, and to expan d into metropolitan areas outsid e of the Mid west. Sincere thanks to Chris Agajanian and company for their persist en ce in proving that. May I say, a lthough rh etorical an d with great understatement, I hope Del Mar 's ad ministra tion sees the benefits of such an event and brings it back for a second year. Mik e Atkinson EI Cajon, California Want Ads Laurie Snow, Want Ad Sales Del Mar 2 Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, ProductionManagrr Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest. GraphicArtist Amy Faught, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Peggy Rivera, Srerrtary to thr Publisher Marketing & Promotion MarkThome, Managrr Dealer Sales Kelly Branscome, Dealer Sales Representatioe AccountingIData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circ:ulation Rheba Smith, Mana grr Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, BiIIing Coordinator . Carol Begovic, Dealrr Coordinator Kim Mazenko, Data Entry Coordinator Service and Support Chris Aitcheson, Headquarters Receptionist Leonard Herring. Seroiceand Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box498, Long Be ach, CA90801.0498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844 . FAJ« 310) 427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (404) 934-7850. FAJ( (404) 934-3112 CycleNews (USPS 141-3010) is publishedWnd dass postage paUlall.ong Beach. CA Canada Post International Publ a tions Mail tS46615. POSTMAsTER: Smd addrns dwtgn to Cycle N~. P.O. If you missed the Del Mar Mile, you missed one of the gre atest weekend s in motorcycle history! The greatest motorcycle legends were in attendance-for Satu rd a y' s classic motorcycle sho w and swap meet. It was a gatherin g of th e greats, and fans yo ung and old had the opportunity to ge t up close and share some of their fon d es t memories of the good 01' d a ys of racing. Legends, as well, were the fans that weekend, as we got to swap lies with our peers and the men who inspired us in mo torcycle racing . Sunday's Champ ionship race, th e final of the season, was also a legendary event. Scotty Pa rke r captu red his fifth Nationa l Championsh ip title - a feat never before accom plis hed . So from one cha m pion to another, congratu la tions Scotty for an outstandin g achievement. A true winner wit h or w itho ut the number -on e plate. And than ks Chris Agajanian , for a wo nd erful event. Edd ie Mulder Canyon Country, CA Dual sport kudos While my so re muscl es keep remind ing me what a good time I had on the October 8-9 weekend, I thought a few hearty thank yo us were in order. Having jus t finished riding the fourth annual Ridge Runners 500 National Du al Spo rt event, I jus t have to comment on ano the r excel- lent event put on by the Santa Cruz, California, Ridge Runners M.e. This club puts on a very organized event, from their spot-on roll charts to the first-clas s lu nches serv ed both days . If you a re a newcomer to dual sport riding, these p eople w ill g ive yo u a very p ositive im p ressio n of th e spor t. This yea r's course was fantastic, w ith miles and miles of gr eat off-road trail s, mixed with fa st fire roads and s now-bordered woods trails. The lunches these people served would rival most restau ra n ts' fare. This group d eserv es a big thanks, and I'll b e back as lo ng as th ey keep having these wonderful events. Keep up the good work. Rich Strohm Livermore, CA And in this corner... Televisio n and Cycle N ews accounts of the final AMA National Road Races at Road Atlanta left me mad, d isappointed and cu rious. How can professional racers justify reaching over and gra bbing or punch ing another rider? If those tactics work, how can they live with themselves afterward? The AMA surprisingly did the right thing in sus pending indefinitely the tw o riders involved, but apparently let slide Mike Smi th p u n ch in g St e v e Crev ie r (clearly documented on the Motoworld broadcast of the 600cc final). It seems to m e tha t th e AMA has drawn th e line a nd approved of this beha v ior because thi s time no one cras hed or was hurt. If you beat someone on the race track by physically hit ting them, you're a loser in my book, and dismissing it by saying. "That's racing." jus t doesn't cut it. Congra tulations to the racers who wo n fairly. Sandy Callas Deerfield, IL Boo! The final Colorado m ot ocro ss ra ce of the year was h eld O ct ober 16 at Be r th ou d , Colorad o . It w a s al so th e fir st a nnual Robert Hanrahan Bene fit Race, with the proceeds presented to his family. O f th e approxima tel y 400 riders that came to race , one was non e o the r than former Colorado ch a m p , N ational star and Colorado MX hero " Boo" Stitcher. It has been 10 yea rs si nce Stitche r has raced , and th e tatter ed , d uct-tape-reinforced riding gear a nd archaic KTM were proof th at he had no t been moonlightin g anywhere near the d irt. Luckily, th e KTM br oke its chain in practice, and a '93 CR250 w as quickly loaned to Stitche r befor e the firs t Vet Pro moto. At the checkered flag , Stitcher was secon d to Dave New ell, having held off a pack of some of so me of the toughest Vet Pros in the coun try. The final moto saw Stitcher fight to the front for the moto win and overall, with a style and g ra ce that had the track lined with screaming fans . As a final gesture of the mettle that true heroes are made of, Stitcher told the promoter that his prize money was to be donated to the family of Robert Hanrahan. As I left the track, I felt great abo ut witn essin g t he natural talen t on the track, and human kindness off the track, th at legends are made of. And I am damn proud to be a life member of this wonderful fraternity of motocross. Davi d Stew art Thornton , CO Big picture I enjoyed your arti cles on Racing At the Crossroads (O ctob er 12, issu e #40 ) almost as much as I enjoy road racing as a hobby. As a part-time CCS racer and official, and a fu ll-time businessman, I can app reciate the viewpoints of both the AMA and Mr. (Roge r) Edmondson. I ha ve wi tnessed this sport grow, both by the number /quality of racers, and in crea sed attendance at regional and Pro-National events. Someone somew he re is ob vio us ly doing something right. I believe that person is Roger Edmondson. He has the ability to see the big picture for bo th the ra cers an d sponsors, and assemble a d ed icated team of people to ma ke it happen. As for ne xt season, AMA, WERA , and now NASB will go head to head . P lease don't s lap a " n o com pete" clause on Ro ger! Le t the free market (race rs, s ponsors , a nd s pecta to rs ) decide whic h wi ll be the p re mie r organization. Bob Proctor Alabaster, AI Complete confidence It 's ob vious th at s u perb ike raci ng in America ne eds to take a s te p up . It' s time. There's no reason that superbike racing in America s hould be so p a le in co m p a rison to th e world superbike series. After all, it is the US. superbike champions who inevita bly go on to be the world champions , be it GP or superbike. Just recentl y we've seen how competitive the AMA superbike riders are, comp ar ed wi th the world superbike riders (Troy Co rser ). I truly believe that with the creation of the North American Superbike Series Box 498. LonS Bead>. CA 9OlWll-049!. To detmnint eM npintion cbte of your subscription., check tht four Dumbns on the fmt Ib:)e of rour.addn:sslibe l The first two digits indicate the lut issue numba' you11receive andthe btl two dwac:ttn indiQtc the f u r of 1M lut issue. ··IN ID S E Subscription ra..., Ib ... for the United States and its possessioos for on< y''' ', (SO issu (100issuty.1ossor damageto suchmaterial Reprinting in whole or pitrt only by permissionof the publisher. Advertising rates andcirculation informationwill be sent upon request. See5.R.O.5 . W!FA ~~dlffnoN Printed in U.S.A. Copyrigh'- Cyel. News, Inc.1994, Tradtmark Cycl NeWi e registered U.s. Paltnl Office.All righll reserved, FEATURES TESTS 1995 Yama ha YZ250 1995 Suzuki RM125 1995 Husaberg FE350 ENDURO Ty'ing up an other win at Luce rne Nat'l End uro CROSS COUNTRY Plessinger plow s ahead at Mt. Mo rris GNCe. 6 10 16 _ 12 14 FEATURE Women buying motorcycles 18 DEPARTMENTS EVENTS RESULTS TEAMSMrrrY LEADERBOARD CALENDAR W ANT ADS IN FOCUS LOOKINGBACK :: 20 _ _..2 6 27 _ 28 _ 29 .33 _ :::47 47 ON THE FRONT COVER Ty Da vis won b ig at Lucerne Valley; three bik es, three tests. Photos by Kinney Jones, Kit Palm er and Donn Maeda.

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