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/127739
VOICES· America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper '. Letters to the editor' Volume XXXII Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Laurel Allen, Editorial Assistant Keith Bush, Proofreader Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Laurie Snow, Assistant Marketing So: Promotion' Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Manager Classified Ads Sharon Van HazeJen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loa, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Peggy Rivera, Secretary to the Publisher AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Reception ist Leonard Herring, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FPlX(310)427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (404) 934-7850. FPlX (404) 934-3112 e·mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cycJenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141·3401 is published weekly except 'he last two weclcs of the cn.Iendar year for $50.00 per year by . Cycle News, lnc.• 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Second clnss postage paid at Long Beach, CA and at addition· al mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail #5%615. Class-less? If you were to look up the word class in the motorcycle racer's dictionary, you would probably see pictures of riders like Scott Parker, Jay Springsteen, Jimmy Filice or Randy Renfrow. One picture you would not see in my dictionary would be Jeremy McGrath. I just returned from the 125/250cc National at Kenworthy and I still can't believe what I saw. After winning the event and returning to his pit area where a number of fans had gathered for an autograph, McGrath acts like we were not even there, jumps into a golf cart and speeds away. I guess fans aren't important to him. If I were McGrath, I would attend a Grand National dirt track event, sit in the pits and watch how real professional racers deal with the fans. Take note, Jeremy, they smile, sign autographs and actually acknowledge the fan's existence. McGrath may be the class of the field on the track, but off the track he wouldn't know class if it bit him on the ass. Ray Merkle Wilmington, OH From one fan to another In regards to L. Mohler's letter (Issue #27, July 12) regarding the Lima Half Mile. 1) Get better seats. 2) Why do you think they call it dirt track? 3) Track preparation and condition is for the riders' safety and they aren't complaining. Bill Jordan Cleveland, OH The King's burnout Wow, that was sure something to see on page nine of Issue #28 (French Grand Prix). All those legends together for a race. And look, there's Kenny Roberts just roasting the tire of his Yamaha. It brings back memories of the U.S. GP. You know, the one where Kevin Magee roasted the tire of his Yamaha. I know, I know, those are two completely differents events. But think about it - if Roberts doesn't have the sense or brains enough to at least wear a helmet, he's obviously too good to need one, right? Come on, get real. David Murray dmuray@spaxcl.castles.com To compare Roberts' burnout to Magee's is ludicrous. Roberts was standing still with no one but spectators behind him - he was posing for a photograph. He wasn't parked in the middle of a race track with racers still circulating behind him. As for not wearing a helmet, Roberts donned one at the same time that most of us do - before we take to the race track or the road. By the way, I hate making excuses for the King...Editor. The end of an era I sat on the couch on a Friday afternoon, recovering from the flu by reading Cycle News. News Flash: Schwantz retires. Please pick me up off the floor. How could he? He has carried the American flag for so long in Europe. I read the article and sat back and reflected. The late nights that his fans stayed up wa tching him on television. Mr. Schwantz laying the back end sideways on every power stroke of his firebreathing, widow-making 500cc GP bike. Mr. Schwantz, you lived a dream for most of us in the states. You deserve the utmost respect from everyone involved in motorcycling. I hope that I can speak for the other motorcyclists in saying that the decision to retire had to be tough for you, but we support your decision. You earned it, you deserve it. Walk away from the bike with your helmet in your hand (nice design, ,by the way), and your well-worn leathers still intact. Walk away with your head held high from the sense of pride that you are the best - because you are the best. You were the best on the track as well as off the track. Go on with your bad self, Mr. 5chwantz, while I put under glass the autographed poster that you were kind enough to donate to the Post 95 American Legion Baseball Team's Annual Memorabilia Auction. The team is playing today. Thanks for your assistance, the donation, and the time you took to autograph the poster. As your fans embrace your decision to take a well-deserved retirement, would you do us one last favor? Take a nice vacation, continue training and join the others on the banks of Daytona International Speedway next spring. I will be in my usual seat in Fireball Roberts Tower watching what should be the race of a lifetime. Thank you, Mr. Schwantz - you left everything on the track when you raced and you gave a new definition to 110 percent. Your racing memories will live forever in our minds, as well as in our VCRs. Erik Smith Gas City, Indiana Don't ban 'em Just who does Roy Janson think he is? If the riders in the Supercross Series thought that the track was unsafe, .then it is their right not to ride the main event. I have been to a few supercross races as a mechanic for a couple of different privateers and I have noticed that Roy Janson has no interest in the privateers. The sport revolves around the privateers trying to make it big. I think that Janson is fighting a losing battle if he chooses to go up against the factory stars. The AMA will get rid of Roy before they try to tell riders like McGrath, Henry, Kiedrowski, Swing and Craig that they can't race. I think that the Supercross Series is underpaid and non-profitable to anyone except the factory riders. The people running the show are cutting their own throats if they don't do sometlUng to increase the number of riders instead of trying to decrease them. R. Stephens rick@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu Don't ban 'em II Get real, Roy Janson (A.I.R). Why do you think people go to supercross events in the first place? For peanuts and popcorn? Not. If you ban McGrath, Henry, Kiedrowski, Swink and Craig, you might as well ban all the spectators also. The racers are the real reason that pe0ple love supercross. . In another light...we should also be glad no one was injured from those who did choose to race. Suppose those five riders did race and someone was seriously injured? Who would you be blaming then? I think you need to wipe off tbose tears, stop pointing fingers, and focus on promoting a better race next time. Because a power outage is out of everyone's control. When it comes to safety, I've got three words for you - Hamel, Jacks and Farris. Matt Stoutenburg Yorba Linda, CA Letters to the editor should be sent 10 Voic· es, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 310/427-6685 or email, editor@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and aU leiters are subject to edit· ing. Anonymous letters will not be consid· ered for pubLication. All letters should con· tain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. INSIDE' . ·fssue #30, August 2; 1995 POSTMASTE!C Send addftss changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 9080],,·0498. To detennine the expiration date of YOut subscription. check the foW' numbers on the fint line of your adclrns label. The fint two digits indicate the last issue number you'll receive and the last two charadm indicate the yev of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its possesSiOM for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two year.; (100 issues), $95.00; six months, (2S issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00: six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Advertislng rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.DS. W~.8 ~dlETTON FEATURES ROAD RACING Laguna 5eca W5C Belgian World Endurance British Grand Prix MOTOCROSS Unadilla National MX RIDING IMPRESSION 1996 Honda XR400 HARE SCRAMBLES Speedsville National HS 6 18 24 14 SPEEDWAY Ovil War of Speedway .36 NEW BIKES 1996 Kawasaki KX lineup 38 DEPARTMENTS 20 DIRT TRACK Sedalia National HM 28 TRIALS Andorra World Trial 32 Printed in U.S.A. C0l'J'righ~ Cycle News, Inc. 1995. Trad...... Cycle News regIStered U.S. Patent Office. All rights ,.,.,....{, 34 RESULTS EVENTS CALENDAR LEADERBOARD WANT ADS GUEST EDITORIAL.. LOOKING BACK 31 40 50 .5S 56 71 71 ON THE FRONT COVER Anthony Gobert (17) and Troy Corser (11) scored a win apiece at the Laguna Seca World Superbike Championships. See page 6. Photos by Kinney Jones