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/127754
VOICES'· America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper . Letters to theednor Volume XXXII Shaion oayton, Presidellt Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Mallaging Editor Keith Bush, Copy. Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accoullts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Westerll Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Mallager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Mallager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla All n, Eastern Ad Coordinator Laurie Snow, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Manager Rick Matheny, Operations oassified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor 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, NR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rhe.ba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator PaIP Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist 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. FAX (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 Hoy's hurt During the National Hare-N-Hound in Reno, Nevada, on October 1, I suffered a tremendous high-speed accident while leading the race. As a result of that crash, I broke my neck. I broke the CS spinous process, .and am extremely fortunate to be alive, let alone walking. I wanted to write and thank everybody who was involved in the long process of transporting me to the hospital, as well as all the riders who stopped during the race to check up on me. !t's a comforting feeli ng tha t there are still people who care about each other in this world. My condition is great, and I should be back to normal in about eight weeks. I would also like to thank the people who came by the hospital to see me - it can get pretty lonely in those places. My special thanks to Jeff artd Rhonda Alger at Team Honda for all their patience and time spent in getting me home on Monday. Thank you everybody. Todd Hoy Torrance, CA Hale says... The "source at American Honda" who reported to the media that Mike (Hale) had asked for a five-year, $20-million contract is smokin' something. I never met a "Mr. Source." Martin Adams, Ray Blank and Gary Mathers were the gentlemen with whom I dealt. They will, I'm certain, substantiate the faM that no sum, of any size, was presented by me to them. We were, to everyone's dismay (ours and theirs), unable to reach an agreement because American Honda can only contract riders for participation in the U.s. Superbike Series. Honda Japan contracts riders for World Superbike and Grand Prix, so our negotiations involved U.S. racing artd nothing more. Other teams were in a positiDn to offer multi-level, multi-year proposals that included World Superb ike and Grand Prix opportunities. So, with heavy hearts, we left the Smokin' Joe's team to pursue the dream... Bob Hale CarroIlton, TX editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cydenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Bob Hale is road racer Mike Hale's father and business manager... Editor. Internet http://www.cyclenews.com The Merkels POSTMASTER: Send addm:s cltangrs to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. To determine the expiration date of your subscription. checlc the four numbers on the first line of yOW' address lab~. The first two wgits indicate the last issue number you'll rueive and the last two chil13cters indicate the reir of the last iuue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States iUld its p0ssessions for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), S95,()(); six months, (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub OS 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 stones, cartoons, photos. etc. Such material. if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only b)' permission of the publisher. Advertis-ing rates and circulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See 5.R.D.S. W[If! ~~~noN Printed in U.S.A. COfyrigJI Cyd. N...., Inc. 1995. T,.dtmMk Cvd. N.... rogulm!d u.s. Paton! Offi",. All rights .......cI: Where's Jamie James? I was wondering what happened to Jamie James? I haven't seen him in the newspa per. It's as if he just vanished. What did I miss? Please reply. Chris Mitchell t908@airmaiJ.net the supercross season - apparently you guys still had faith in the 24-year-old "Big Bird." It's about time that Larry gets the recognition he deserves. What more does he need to prove? For years Larry has well represented the U.S. in the world supercross tour and lest we forget that he has tasted victory before in this country - once in supercross and twice in the outdoor Nationals. Larry is.a great person, both around the track and away, as he takes the time to make friends and promote our great sport as a professional. As Rodney Dangerfield said, "What's a guy got to do to get a little respect around here?" Blaine Mullis Kannapolis, NC Terrafirma II Recently I have viewed both the "Crusty Demons of Dirt" and "Terrafuma 11" videos. I have also read the negative criticism of Crusty Demons. Personally, I feel that Crusty Demons is an awesome display of spectacular riding with a few flashes of (at mDst) questionable behavior. However, I find that the riding by Steve Lamson and Jeremy McGrath in which they mimic "beginner" riders in Terrafirma II to be far more offensive. Don't these guys realize that the riders they are making fun of are the "ery people who spend thousands of dollars a year on gi!ar, bikes, parts and event tickets, which in tum pays these riders' paychecks. Beau Griner Homestead, FL Web'thanks I just wanted to take a moment to con- e·maiJ Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for 550.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc" 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Second class postage paid at Long ~ach. CA and at additional mailing office. Canuda Post International Publications Mail #546615. the AMA responsible for ensuring safe tracks in light of the inherent danger of the sport? Many venues were designed primarily for auto racing, and feature barriers and tracks ide devices more appropriate for autos: Does that mean that if they can't be modified extensively there should not be motorcycle races held there? How much of the onus is on the racers themselves? I, like the distraught parents, believe we should lean toward rider safety, and believe that a more aggressive role should be taken by the AMA. At the same time, I realize that people want to race and win, and that even among the racers themselves there can be disagreement. Perhaps a rider safety congress ought to meet and a working association formed out of that meeting that works hand in hand with the AMA in track selection and modification issues. The association should have real authority, not just advisory capacity. Are the racers, teams and manufacturers interested enough in everyone's safety to do this? The same issues have arisen in supercross and Grand National racing. When is anyone who has a say in these matters going to step up to the plate and do something about this? How many more racers like Fred Merkel will pay the price in the meantime? I wish him a speedy recovery and pray for the peace of mind of his family. Max T. Raterman raterman@acsu.Buffalo.edu The letter by Fred Merkel's parents (Issue #42, October 25) raises some pertinent and disturbing questions about the role of the AMA. To what extent is Your new addition to the World Wide Web is great. I have been reading Cycle News for over five years and enjoy keeping up on all the action. Since moving to North Carolina from California, I have found that it takes a few extra days for my copy to arrive in the mail. I waS ecstatic when I found that you now have a homepage on the Web. It is obvious that you have put a lot of time and energy into the design and usability of this facility. I just wanted to say thank you and ask what day the information is updated. Chris Taylor taylorc@vfc.com gratulate Team Noleen/Sizzler rider Larry Ward on an aWl!some season. It seems that all of the factory teams, as well as the majority of the off-road media, had written Larry off as a serious top-10 contender. Shame on you guys. Thanks to Cycle News for the great article on Larry back at the beginning of The Cycle News IlOlIlepage on the World Wide Web can be found at http://www.cyclenews.com. Portions of the newest issue of Cycle New$ are available on the Web on Monday nights. The page is also updated during the week if there are any late-breaking news items or results... Editor. James is alive and well. In fact, we recently attended a Yamaha Motorsports Junction at which Jamie drove a go-kart about as fast as one can be driven. Although he suffered injuries during the 1995 racing season, James will be back with teammate Tom Kipp on Vance & Hines Yamahas for the 1996 AMA Superbike National Championship... Editor. Larry Ward fan INSIDE ISsue #42, October 25,'1995 FEATURES ROAD RACING Australian World Superbike TRIALS Scott Trial 6 COMPARISON BMW RllOORT vs. Honda ST1100 ..12 RACER TEST Mick Doohan's Honda NSR500 16 HARE SCRAMBLES Lynnville National HS 19 INTERVIEW Mick Doohan 20 23 TEST 1996 Honda CR250 24 HARE & HOUNDS Johnsonville National H&H 26 DEPARTMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR WANT ADS TEARDOWN LOOKING BACK .28 33 36 _ .51 51 ON THE FRONT COVER Troy Corser won a leg of the WDrld Superbike finale in Australia. Photo by Gold & Goose. Mick Doohan is interviewed by Mich~el Scott. Photo by Gold & Goose. Honda CR250 test. Photo by Kinney Jones. Honda vs. BMW comparison test. Photo by Kit Palmer.