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/127794
wrong with something like, "What do you think, guys?" No chance. They just don't care about us, and now that they have made a mistake they are all sticking together and not letting anybody in on what they are saying. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in their meetings to hear how they explain to each other that they have made a big mistake and they are making themselves look silly. ~ch way do you thinlc: the World Championship will now go? Again, I really don't care. They can stick their World Championship now. They have done their best to ruin my career, and I have to concentrate on getting better as a rider from now on. I know we have achieved something from all this because it has caused a massive stink throughout the sport, and if something is done about it then we have achieved a heck of a lot. The future of the Grand Prix series could be in the balance, according to Race Director Ole Olsen. What do you think? This year's events only went ahead because the FIM budged, not the riders. At the British Final this year Olsen came to talk to certain Grand Prix riders and try and reach a compromise, but their was no way those guys were going to use solid-block tires. The only difference between that and the Overseas Final was that the matter was sorted out before tl\e first Grand Prix round. It was never possible to do that before the Overseas Final Talks were not possible for one reason or another.. British officials said that they had sympathy for you, but your actions were badly timed. What do you say about that? When else could we do it? We told the FIM officials we didn't want to use them after practice, and I admit that I felt sorry for the fans who were kept waiting. They could have caused a riot on the terraces at any other sport, but it once again proved just how special speedway fans can be. Yes, it was regrettable the way it was timed, but I can't see how else we could have handled it. We need these people to start listening to the riders more, and perhaps this sort of protest has had the necessary effect. Do you ever see the day when riders start a World Championship of their own away from the FIM? I would break away from those guys tomorrow if I could. I don't really feel as if I want anything else to do with them. They have provided a major blow to my career, and I don't think that they care about speedway. I know a lot of riders who feel the same way, but it's never easy to do something like that overnight. Some of the Grand Prix riders called us to congratulate us on our action, but I don't want to get those guys in trouble, so I can't say who they are - just to say they admired our guts in doing what we did. Yes, let's have a World Championship of our own, and everything will be fine. What about future punishment does it scare you? Not at all. What they feel they have to do, I'll have to go along with it. I just hope they feel happy with themselves for the way they have messed the riders about and left us in the dark when it came to an important safety issue. I'm sorry about the whole episode, but I don't regret anything about it, and I have to say that when it comes to riding a bike or spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair, I know which I would go for every time. I just hope the future will be bright for international speedway - and I don't care if that involves theFIM. (N Editorial Content: Cycle News Online features the latest in motorcycle news, as it happens - just like the printed edition of Cycle News. Every week, computer users can now access the highlights of the new week's edition of Cycle News via our address on the World Wide Web. We are including most of the content of our" In the Wind, - top National and International event coverage (including complete race results and up-to-date point standings), National and International level Calendar Ustings, interviews and motorcycle tests. Readers can now get a "jump' on the top stories in the new Cycle News, and finish reading the details when the printed copy arrives in the mail or at the dealer. Frequent Updates: Many Web sites are "static· ...they don't change much. Once a reader has visited a site on the Internet, they need a reason to come back, or you may ne'{er see them again. Cycle News has a built-in reason to change every week, as each new issue comes online. Besides being a constant source of new weekly motorcycle information, Cycle News Online will pepper the editorial sections with regular updates during the week, to keep you coming back to find out about the latest developments in the world of motorcycling. Interactive F_tures: Cycle News Online is a place where readers can participate in our weekly information offerings. We feature frequently updated sweepstakes, trivia contests and prizes readers can win by visiting our site online. Readers can write letters to the editor, start or renew their subscription, change their subscription address, order motorcycle video tapes, and e-mail our staff with suggestions for improvements. Fast & Affordable: The mail system has always been Cycle News' biggest problem, and the one we have the least control over. (What other motoreycle magazine do you even notice gets delivered "late' 7) With Cycle News Online, a reader can access the major motorcycle stories of the week for the price of a local phone call - from anywhere in the world. Archived Editions: As new editions of Cycle News Online are posted on our World Wide Web site, the old versions don't just" go away." Instead, we catalog the back issues of Cyt;/e News Online for our readers' reference. Imagine all those times you'd like to find that motorcycle test, or interview, or event coverage from a previous issue of Cycle News. Now, our back issues are as close as your computer, easily accessed from our Cycle News On~ine archive. a division of Cycle News Inc.. 2201 Cherry Avenue. Lon9 Beach. California 90806 • 310/427-7433· FAX 310/427-6685 Cycle News New Media Division. 4188 Ars! Avenue. Tucker, Geor9ia 30084 • 770/934-7850 • FAX 770/934-3112 27