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/127810
AVI·EW FROM.THE.FENCE ay'Eric Johnson 'Joe!" I yelled into the phone. "You're $100 wealthier! Lamson beat Tortelli in both motos at ezL" just. a few minutes earlier, I had eived two phone calls. One from my dustrialist friend Ludo, who was visitg his family in France. The other came rom journalist Davey Coombs, who ad phoned in from the press tent at the annual running of the Motocross es Nations in Jerez, Spain. The news as great - America had just won back e Motocross des Nations title. Everyone was stoked because the ericans - in very convincing fashion ad reclaimed their rightful place as ers of the motocross world. Eager to ass the word along - and be the bearer f good news - I began to pnone all of y friends. However, the first call was go to photographer Joe Bonnello, who ad a deathly serious, high-profile ager riding on the outcome of the vent. When I phoned with the good word, oe was very happy. Not only did the anks win, but he was now $100 richernd somewhat relieved. You see, hrough a bet, Joe had managed to get 'mself involved in an international otocross incident involving the otocross des Nations, a French otocross journalist and photographer amed Carlo Bagalini, Steve Lamson, nd French racing sensation Sebastien ortelli. And as these things sometimes 0, word of "The Bet" leaked out and ad managed to make it into a number f international motocross publications. anks to Steve Lamson, Bonnello was ow off the hook. -lo-prov.ide a little background on -s matter, if you know Joe Bonnello, ouJcnow that he may be missing a few pOKes. The·American-born and halfrenCh photographer (his mother hailed rom France) is an endearing soul Ibeira bit half-baked, coming off as a odem-day cartoon character (l mea'n the best way). Amonth earlier, he -2"' got into a well-intentioned war of words regarding worldwide 125ee motocross supremacy. The antagonist? Frenchbased photographer / journalist Carlo Bagalini of the French publication, Moto Crampons. Read on as both Bonnello and Bagalini explain, in their own words, "The Bet." "About a month before the Motocross des Nations, I was speaking to Joe about MX;" said Carlo BagaJini. "He told me that Lammy was so strong and impressive at the time that, for sure, nobody can beat him at the MXdN. 1 said, "I do believe you, Larnmy is fast and strong, but you underrate Tortelli. Have you seen this guy this year? No? Let me tell you. In Nismes, Belgium, for the 125cc Grand Prix, the track is very similar to Roggenburg, Switzerland," Bagalini explained. "You can imagine how fast Paul Malin would be on this kind of track (note: Malin stormed to two convincing moto wins at the circuit at the 1993 MXdN, helping his British team to victory). . "Paul made the hoJeshot in each moto. Two times, Tortelli came from behind to catch him. The 'third guy, Stefan Everts, tinished more than one minute behind them. In the second moto, Fred Vialle was one minute behind. To have seen this race and others all year where Tortelli was always the fastest guy, I was sure that no one could beat him. Not even Lammy," proclaimed the French reporter. "So when BonnelJo told me that he was sure of Lamson's superiority, I said: OK. Joe, let's bet 100 bucks on which of the two riders wins the MXdN 125cc class." To be sure that he had his bet ensured, Bagalini told the world (or at least France). "To be sure Joe did not forget, I wrote a message at his attention in Moto Crampons," Carlo claimed. "The message was: 'Dear Sebastien, I bet $100 with Joe Bonnello that you will beat Lamson at the MXdN. So please, make me win." Bonnello's reply to Bagalini? I can't go to Spain, but I gave a $100 bill to Ken Faught for you (Faught is the editor at Dirt Rider, magazine)," replied smokin' Joe. "If I win, please go to the bank and take the same bill. I don't want to have some French francs or other weird, exotic bills." By that point in time, word of "The Bet" had gotten out in the somewhat close-knit American MX magazine world. I have to admit, the entire thing was pretty damn f.unny. Leading into the des Nations weekend, Bonnello and I had spoken of the wager on a number of occasions. Joe was definitely concerned. Not only in regard 'to the money; but he was also factoring in his international reputation. It would all come down to two world-class 125cc riders in Spain. International bragging rights, the fastest 125cc rider in the world, America vs. France were all issues to be settled on the track in Jerez. The power of world motocross power hung in the balance - and so did the fate of Joe and Carlo's $100 bill. What would happen? "Lamson better win," Joe told me the Saturday evening before the race. "Th.e tax man is here this week and I need the money!" Then came the big day... the Reckoning. . "In Jerez, I was a little bit tense before the first moto," Bagalini said. "When I saw Tortelli stopped by the crash of Smets, I thought, it's going to be harder for Tortelli now and for me too. "In the second moto, I was far away from the starting gate so I could not see the first corner," Carlo described. "When I saw Lamson pass near the spot where I was taking photos, I didn't see Tortelli behind him. I thought, Okay., Sebastien must be in front of the pack and I'missed him. I was satisfied. Lamson wilJ never be able to overtake him and I can keep my $100." "But then I heard a 125cc engine s.ound coming," Bagalini continued. Ron Wood Norton, characterized by a National Enduro title after finishing unique frame with an extremely flat second t.o Terry Cunningham at the seat/tank transition; and a Benelli-powRM. Wheeler National Enduro... BiUy ered dirt tracker ridden by Frank GilleLiles shined at the CRC Amateur spie... Rich ThorwaldSupercross... Lane Leavitt topped the son piloted a Suzuki ~~i1"":"II~r--~I~T~A~/,ATA/AOTSGA/AMA/NATC to the Turkey Run J.:; (phew!) observed trial in victory in Red Rock Orange, California. The issue Canyon, California... featured two Product EvaluaJoel Robert and tions: one on ATK's A-Trak sysRoger DeCoster teJP. and one on Keihin's cleaned house dursmooth-bore carburetors for ing the Trans-AMA street bikes... A supercharged at Puyallup RaceLaverda funnybike was for sale way Park in Washin the classified ads for $5,000. ington. YEARS AGO... VEMBER 30, 1971 esert ace J.N. Roberts made the _ news after being injured while performing a stunt for the movie "Spetd Limit-65 mph." Roberts suffered facia) lacerations after crashing a HarJ;y-Davidson chopper into a station wagiln... Cycle News gave a favorable reviEW of the Zundapp 125...Page 7 contain.d some interesting photos of new dirt irack machinery present at the Califorria .State Championships at Ascot Parl. Pictured were a radical-looking 15 YEARS AGO... NOVEMBER 25, 1981 eam Yamaha's Broc Glover graced the .cover as the winner of the San Diego Supercross... AMA Grand National Champion Mike Kidd made Papa Wealey's Latest Poop by taking his number-one plate to Honda after winning the title for Team Yamaha. On a Harley-Davidson... Dick Burleson grabbed his eighth straight AMA T 5YEARS AGO... NOVEMBER 27, 1991 ur "Big Dual Sport Issue" featured a comprehensive buyer's gUide, a Honda XR250L test and a Suzuki DR350 hopup feature and a story on the Yellow Umbrella dual sport run... Larry RoeseIer, Ted, Hunnicutt and former National MX Champion Marty Smith teamed up to score the overall victory in the 24th running of the Baja 1,000 ... Scott Summers clinched the AMA GNCC Series title with a win in O "Obviously it was Tortelli. A poor Slovenian guy had forgot to brake in the first corner and went straight into Sebastien. The race was lost. I was sad for Sebastien .because he made two very impressive races. I was not sad for me because when you bet money, you have to consider that your bill is lost." As history would dictate, Lamson· took the measure of Tortelli in both motos and America went on to decimate the event, winning every moto possible, Carlo would now have to face the music. How did Joe react when word came down? "Excellent, excellent! I knew Lamson would do it! Poor Carlo, ha, ha, ha..." 'Bonnello laughed. But he left it at that. I got the feeling that Bonnello didn't really want to rub it in all that much. The two great 125cc pilots had gone head-to-head and Lamson won. Bonnello knew that there was a lot of skill required on Lamson's part - but probably, an iota of luck as well. The final act of fhe drama played itself out this week when my new issue of Moto Crampons arrived in the mail. In it was a picture - in blazing color - of Bagalini handing over a crisp, green $100 bill to an ecstatic, cUrt-splattered, sweat-soaked Steve Lamson. Both were smiling big. I could be wrong, but If I had to gbess, Bagalini and Bonnello enjoyed making the bet more than they did winning or losing anything. Any final words of. wisdom from the two high-rolling combatants? "He should have known better," Bonnello quipped. "Now, if someone would tell me: 'This guy (Lamson) will beat Tortelli,' I would bet again on Tortelli," Bagaliru claims, "because I'm sure nobody can beat him if he has a good start - but, for sure I would bet a smaller bill." eN Greeneville, Tennessee. Jean-Michel Bayle clinched the Chesterfield Masters of Motocross Series championship after winning round four in Monte Carlq, Monaco... Mike Hacker was a repeat winner at the Timonium indoor short track, earning a win in the 125cc division. Paul Lynch was fourth in the class. (N