Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Letters to the editor Volume XXXII Sharon Gayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthen;, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Assoaate Editor Mark Hoyer, MatuJging Editor Keith Bush, Copy Editor 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 MatuJger Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Laurie Snow, Assista1lt Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Rick Matheny, Operations New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Manager . Classified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Productian Superoisor Mandy Loo, 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 Circlllation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Bating Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist Leonard Herring, Service and SlIpport National Headquarters 2201 Cheny Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (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. FAX (404) 934-3112 e-mail editor@eyclenews.com subscribe@eyclenews.com advertising@eyclenews.com Internet http://www.eyclenews.com Cyde Ne",'! (USPS 141-340) is published "'eek]y except the Iasl two weeks of the calendar rear for S50.oo per year by Cycle ews, Inc.. 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 9OlI06. Second class postage paid at Long Beach. CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail 1546615. Gunny's thanks I'd like to take this opportunity, once again, to personally thank all the sponsors and people who made my 17th ISDE a success from a support standpoint. My thanks to Arai Racing Services for supplying helmets to aU qualified riders, Bel-Ray, Metzeler, FTM and Associates, and MMF. Also two of the biggest supporters: Malcolm Smith Inc., and Cycle . Gear, for a permanent fixture of a 4O-foot ocean container and special cover to maintain and ship all of our support equipment and riders' bikes. I think this container was the best support tool yet the team lived out of this in the Parc Ferme. ext to the many volunteers whci physically helped with everything - tires, gas, food, tool handling - you name it, there were people to help. This was the first year in a long time that J had more than enough help. Key people like Tommy Thompson, Ron Morganthaler, Bruce Wakeley, Don Rhodes, and Elwood Smith, who handled the Parc Ferme; Karen Dahners, who handled the procurement of supplies; Dave McLaughlin, Tom Ady, and Bill Ducray, who set up outstanding gas checkpoints with some great crews; Doug Lathrop, Paul eilson, Don Ebright, Ted Swartz, and Julie Gray, who handled the non-gas checks and special test area with equally superior crews too numerous to mention. Thanks to Hugh Fleming and Roger Ansel for their help and feedback from the jury session to keep us informed as to what was going on, and to Debbie Sheldon at AMA headquarters for putting all this stuff together from the first qualifier to after we returned - and she never gets to go. Debbie, you're a gem. I think this year was the best yet for support. I thank you all for your help and for putting up with me. Richard "Gunny" Oaypoole Hillsboro, OR Bober interview I am writing regarding your interview with AMA dirt track manager Bruce Bober (Issue #38, September 27) and dirt track racing in general. I'd like to say that I think Bruce has done a good job; he's the first manager I've seen who will talk to you man to man and look you in the eyes and listen. But I would like to point out that although you can spend $13,000 on a FEATURES ROAD RACING NASB Daytona RR Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posses-sions for one year. (SO issues). $50.00; two years (100 issues), 595.00; six months. (25 issues~ 526.00; trial sub (15 issues), 519.00. Canada and Foreign. one yeor (SO issues), 590.00; two ye.,. (100 issues~ 5175.00; six months (25 issues1 $45.00; trial , ~ l-< OJ "S OJ ::> o sub (15 i5sues~ $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons. photos, etc. Such material. if published, .becomes the ~c1U!1ive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Adverti50ing rates and circulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.R.O.5. WftP.8 ~Y?cnoSnoN Z 4 HILLCllMB Jefferson National Hillclimb I'm not surprised that the AMA continues to put the SuperTwins race on Sunday. It seems that the AMA does anything to please the Harley-Davidson folks while not caring about the fans. All' you have to do is look at the fans when the 883s take to the track - everybody runs to the restroom or the snack bar. J guess the fans are second to the Harley· Davidson factory as far as the AMA is concerned. Everyone seemed to like the 125cc GP races this year, but they are to be no more. I think the AMA is in sad shape, first with the stunts pulled with NASB and now with the continued support of the 883 race on the Sunday format. Don Platek Columbus,OH KR's dirt track I've seen it. Dirt Track U.S.A. I was in Spain for the Grand Prix and was able to be there for the grand opening of the only permanent site of a dirt track race in all of Europe. Kenny Roberts has done a great job on the facili ty. He has designed the track to resemble Ascot Park. Bringing the Americans over proved to the packed house what a dominant force we are in dirt track racing. As a former dirt tracker myself, it was exciting to see Jimmy Filice, Steve Morehead, and Ronnie Jones dominate on foreign soil (although Morehead just didn't look right in those Marlboro leathers). The opportunity to see Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola back on the dirt after all this time was worth the trip. Kenny has not lost his ability by . any means. Congratulations to Roberts for a successful event. MattKrsul Butte,MT Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 310/4276685 or e-mail.editor@cyc1enews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Leiters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are sllbje t to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. Al1letteTS shollJd contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. NEW BIKES 1996 Triumph street bikes SHOW Del Mar Concours D'Elegance 12 SPEEDWAY Del Mar Speedway 14 DlRTTRACK SDFTA/AHRMA Dirt Track 15 TESTS 1996 Suzuki RMI25 1996 Yamaha YZ250 16 20 CROSS COUNTRY Mount Morris GNCC. 22 23 6 DEPARTMENTS 35 CALENDAR. ~ 36 .39 ON THE FRONT COVER WANT ADS ..40 GUESTEDITORIAL 18 24 LEADERBOARD : EVENTS RESULTS Printed in U.S.A. COfyright" Cycle News, Inc. 1995. TradeDW'k Cycle News repl....d U.S. Palen' Offi",. AIl rights ......ed. As an avid fan of Mike Kiedrowski, I find it hard to believe that Kawasaki would retire such a talented rider. As I watched Mike decimate the field at Hangtown this year, it is apparent that the fire is still there. As a motocross fan, I believe that the likes of Damon Huffman should have -to prove themselves worthy of beating a rider such as the MX Kied before taking over the reins. Kiedrowski is a hero, winning four titles and the MX des ations. Could he have won a fifth title if not for the broken finger or the slam in the comer by Mike LaRocco? I only know he is a true champion and deserving of another shot. If Roger DeCoster would pick him up, I'm sure he would find a true devoted champion with a love of the sport and the determination to get the job done. They 125cc GP fan INSIDE To detml'line the expiration date of YOUT subscription, check first two digits Indicate the last issue number you'D reee.in and the last two chilf'ildm indiate the yUt of the last issue. Wanting the MX Kied gave Damon Bradshaw a chance at Yamaha. Any takers for the MX Kied that's where my money is. Bill Werner Wenerdude@ao1.com Issue #43, November 1, 1995 POSTMASTER: Send adcltess dunges to Cyt.le News, P.O. Box 498, long Beach, CA 90801-0.&98. the four numbers on the first line of your iIId~s label. The new ROIax, there are a handful of competitive 600s every week in this very paper for $4000-$8000, and good 250s for $2000-$3500. I feel all potential dirt trackers need to know this so they don't get turned off by the high numbers and never looking into dirt tracking as an option. They say that the Grand National Series is stronger than' ever. Many positive things have happened: TV.. more money, good fan support and a more organized show. But there is one very disturbing trend that threatens everything - poor rider turnout and a decreasing rider base. Something needs to be done to increase the numbers, not to decrease them like many AMA decisions seem to have done in the past. The cost is one aspect that needs to be looked at, although I realize that it will never be cheap. There has also been a decrease in rider turnout at regional events, something that can be traced to the phasing out of the 600s and the forcefeeding of the so-called savior of the sport - the 883s. When are the people at the AMA going to swallow their pride and realize they made a mi take and try to turn things around? _ Bruce Bober said he didn't want to get into the 600 vs. 883 debate - and that sounds like the rest of the AMA They make too many decisions regarding the sport without ever consulting the riders, the fans and the people in the grassroots of the sport. As for how to fine tune the Grand National show and the Semi to National transition where Bober said: "For 15 minutes absolutely nothing is happening." I have one thing to say Junior National Bill Newkirk Tripes Hill, NY .55 LOOKING BACK .55 Cycle News wrings out the 1996 Suzuki RM125 and Yamaha YZ250. For complete tests on both, see pages 16 and 20. Photos by Donn Maeda.

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