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/127813
VOICES· Letters to the editor' America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXXIII Sharon Oayton, President Michael Klinger. Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers. Editor Kit Palmer. Associate Editor Scott Rousseau. Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith BuSh. Assistant Editor/Copy Editor Cameron Coatney. Assistant EdItor Tom Titus. Copy Editar Advertising Terry Pratt. National ""CCDunts Manager Mark Mitchell. Eastern ACCDunts Manager Mark Thome. Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter. Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi. Western Sales Manager Greg Mitcl1ell. Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny. Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford. Western Ad Coordinatar Laurie Torstensen, Assistant Carla Allen. Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing" Promofion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell. Director Rick Matheny. Webmaster Gregg MitChell, Marketin~ Manager Robert McTigue, Productzon Manager Classified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson. Production Supervisor Mandy Loo. Production Manager Dennis Greene. Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Vance Lanoy. Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger. Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountingiData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond. AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass. Assistant Herlane Lewis. Credit Circulation Rheba Smith. Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson. Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic. Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist Micl1ael Swedberg, Service & 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. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com The big boys I was rather 'disgusted by Scott Russell's "reason" for leaving the 500cc Grand Prix class, as stated in your last issue ("Satisfaction:' Issue #49. December 11). If he can't ride with the big boys on the big bikes, fine, but don't blame it on your "uncompetitive bike" (or whatever the crap he said). Obviously, Kevin Schwantz felt differently for six years and his results showed it. It's pretty pathetic when a guy gets on a former World Champion's bike and declares it not worth riding after only one year on the thing. He probably never found the powerband with both wheels stilI on the tarmac. Mark Hontz mhontz@esmail4.hac.com Trail usage Kit Palmer's recent "Day Six" column (Issue #48, December 4) really hit home for me - literally. I live in the mountains where the current trail-use issue is smoldering. One of the reasons I moved here five years ago was because of the area's excellent recreational trail-riding opportunities. I can leave my garage via dual sport or mountain bike and within a quarter-mile have access to hundreds of miles of well-marked, well-maintained off-road routes. When the Forest Service revealed its trail expansion proposal and asked for public input, I wrote in support of the plan. It didn't take long for the Sierra Club and other eco-extremist groups to spread panic with a very prejudicial opposing view, however. ot only did they call on their members to assist in shutting down the new plan, but to eliminate the existing trails as well. It was a front-page story in our local mountain paper. Like Kit, I immediately dropped everything and fired off a Jetter to the editor {basically calling for balanced for- Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (lJSI'S 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for S30.oo per)"!ar by cyde News. Inc.. 2201 Cheny Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Periodicals Postage Paid at Long Beach, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail '546615. POSTMASTEIC Send .dd.... changes" Cycle New>, P.O. Box 498, Long Bucll, CA 90801-0498. To determine the expiration date of your subscrip~on. check the four numbtn on the first line of your address label The first two digits indiate the lut issue numbn' youl1 receive and the last two charaders indicate the yur of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its possessions for one year, (SO issues), 550.00; two years (100 issues), 595.00; six months, (25 issues~ 526.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign. one year (50 issues), $91).00; tv.'o years (100 issues), 5175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. .... ~ ~ Cycle News wclcomes umolicitcd 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. Advertis-ing rales and circulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. ~ W§P,8 &VP~TION I would like to respond in the contrary regarding the Elsinore Grand Prix. I understand and appreciate the undertaking of GFI to revive the Elsinore Grand Prix, but there were many problems that should have btien considered before the actual event took place. Beginning with the lineup of riders for the start, to have 200 or more riders take off at the same time was ridiculous. And the numerical order didn't seem to matter as a person with a 300 or a 400 number was allowed to line up with someone not in their class or of a lower number. Why have the numbering system at all? Considering the cost of this event, this could have and should have been handled in a more professional manner. Maybe GFI should look to the Virginia City GP for advice on how to run a successful event, especially with the timed starts and event results. Speaking of results, Cycle News printed some of the results, but not all of them. When I inquired with GFI about the mailing of results. they said they would consider it for next year and that it could prove to be too costly. Then why the hefty entry fee? The people at GFI should consider who the vast majority of the riders were that entered the event - they were Seniors. Vets and Novices. ot all of us have sponsors to pick up the many extra fees GFI charged us to participate. such CARBing The head of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) John Dunlap is dragging his feet on amending the two-stroke ban which will take effect January 1.1997. District 36, with help from District 37, realize the impact of this mandate on all forms of dirt bike recreation and are putting up the only fight. My question is: Where do the OEM manufacturers (Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, KTM) stand on this issue? Have they sold our two-strokes down the river? Who cares if they have updated the new MXers if they're banned from the OHV parks and forests? Time is critical. Ed Santin Sacramento, CA For afull update on the two-stroke situation in California, see the interview with Dunlap on page 48... Editor. 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@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. INSIDE' FEATURES INTERVIEWS Cycle ews Rider of the Year Scott Parker 6 AMA Superbike National Champion - Doug Chandler AMA ationalEnduro Chfunpion - Randy Hawkins World Speedway Champion - Billy Hamill 500cc World Champion.Michael Doohan 10 14 20 VINTAGE· Factory Indian four-cam racer .........34 SHooTOUT 1997 250cc MotOCTo s Shootout....... 40 ! I 16 ARSTRIDE Suzuki's new TL1000 twin 60 ./ DUAL SPORT 1996 LA-B-to-V 64 I RACER TEST Okada's Honda NSR500V twin racer 66 24 250cc World MX Champion Stefan Everts 28 AMA 250cc National MX Champion - Jeff Emig 36 Chairman of the California Air Resources Board John Dunlap III MOTOCROSS Florida ational Winter Olympics OFF ROAD 1996 Acerbis Italia Incas Rally .........56 I i DEPARTMENTS ..48 AMA National Hare & Hound Champion - Greg Zitterkopf... .........50 Printed in U.S.A. Co~yrigh Cycle News, Inc. 1996. Trademark Cycle News f'fSIstered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved". Anti-Elsinore as entry fees to the expo. the pits. and the autograph sessions. Many of us are happy to see the Elsinore Grand Prix revived, but if we are going to be nickled and dimed, then I can see the dinosaur climbing back into the prehistoric ages. Bill Smith Los Angeles, CA ·Issue #50, January 1, 1997 subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com est use), which was, surprisingly, given headline treatment in the following issue. I will be writing to my congressman and again to the Forest Service as well, and I urge all off-roaders in the Southern California area to follow suit. These are public lands we're talking about here, and it's obvious we're going to have to stand up for our right to use them. Phil Beckman Lake Arrowhead, CA AMA Western Region 125cc SX Champion - Kevin Windham ..........54 LEADERBOARD EVENTS NEW PRODUCTS CALENDAR WANT ADS TEARDOWN LOOKING BACK 72 _ 74 86 92 96 116 116 ON THE FRONT COVER Team Harley-Davidson's Scott ParkerCycle News Rider of the Year. See page 6. Photo by Joette Rockow/Harley-Davidson, Inc.