Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper LmERSTO THE EDITOR Volume XXXIV Sharon Oayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, EdUor Kit Palmer, AssociJlte Editor Scott Rousseau, AssociJlte Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor K~ith Bu h, Assistant EdUor/Cory Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant EdItor Man Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor I Advertising T<1rrY 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, Eastem Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Bridgett Boorofsky, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Webmaster Robert McTigue, Production manager Classified Ads Laurie Torstensen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production SUp'ervisor Mandy Loa, Production Ma;"ger Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amanda Wollny, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant Accounling/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, A/R Coordinillor Geneva Repass, Assistanl Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager . Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson, Billing Coordinator Carol Maggio, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Susan Moreno, Receptiorrist Michael Swedberg, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 9080HJ498 (562) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAJ«562)427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 3OO85-D805. (770) 934-7850. FAJ< (770) 934-3112 Gobert - friend or foe? I think Paul Carruthers ("Teardown," Issue #21, May 21) misses the most important reason fans ch\!er for particular riders: excellence. Carruthers admits that Ooohan's appeal is universal because of his efforts, yet he believes that no one gives a rat's ass about the guy who is dicing with him. Why not? Are Americans so jingoistic as to be blind to the efforts of a great racer because he looks different... or doesn't speak English? This type of enlightenment brought us WWIl, the Crusades and the KKK. Gobert is as good for racing as Rodman is for the NBA: a buffoon, a joke, and an embarrassment to Australians. Wby did they urine-test him? A real hero! Carruthers admires this BSer who qualifies 20th more than Aoki, who finishes on the podium. I don't. The truth is, fans can't see inside the helmets during a race. I think they are more impressed by what someone does with his wrist than his mouth. It's 1997; let's get past all this nationalistic garbage and root for your heroes whether they eat sushi, pasta or Big Macs. . Howard Jacobs White Plains, NY Open class fan Thanks for the recent Open class Shootout article. I've been racing 500s for more than 17 years and I think tha t they are, the most exciting class of motocrossers out there - especially when ridden by Pros. There is nothing in the motocross world that even comes close to the sound of 40 500s wound tight with the 30-second board sideways and the gate about to drop. It's a shame we can't experience it anymore. Thank goodness for Mammoth, Loretta Lynn's and the Budds Creek National Amateur day. Don Passavant donp@ansy.com Clueless? Yes, it's true, MOX48 ("Yoices," Issue #21, May 21), you haven't got a clue as to what racing is all about - so don't speak for me. And you're obviously not a member of the AMA. If engineers listened to people like you, we would still be riding dual-shock motorcycles with six inches of travel that couldn't handle braking bumps, much less 80-foot triples. Wake up, guy - challenges are what keep this and every other sport moving forward. Congrats to Doug Henry. Not only did he keep up with those super twostrokes, but he beat them fair and square. By the way, I ride a Kawasaki KX250. Jepatt@aol.com Yes to four-strokes No, MOX48@gte.net, you certainly don't speak for the majority of motocrossers when you say we don't want four-strokes. You, my friend, are a very narrow-minded individual. Everyone I know who races motocross thinks that four-strokes are just plain cool. Your letter couldn't have come at a better time. I guess Doug Henry should be proud that he won the Las Yegas Supercross round on a "lawn- mower." Do you need a prybar to get your foot out of your mouth? Four-strokes add diversity to the sport. 001\' t get me wrong; I like two-strokes just the same. However, it is thinking like yours that will tear the motocross community apart. Speaking of racing, what class do you race? Pee Wee? Or are you just a bench racer who couldn't start a Husaberg if your life depended on it? Wake up and smell the lack of premix. Gary Huff Gresham, OR I·also wanted to say how disappointed I was that ABC Sports did not interview Jeff after the race. Can you believe it? Some idiot at ABC decided it was more important to not miss a ingle minute of "General Hospital." What is this world coming to? I'm sure that making the transition from motocross champion to Indy-car driver was not an easy one, but Jeff made it look easy. I just feel that ABC should have given Jeff Ward the recognition and respect he deserves. Vincent Lo Presti .Huntington, NY Smoke-free The articles written about the AMA Four-Stroke Nationals have listed our number-one rider, Mike Healey, as being sponsored by IMS/Primal Impulse. Mike is sponsored by !MS, but has no affiliation with Primal Impulse. As for the article from the May 11 round of the series, I was displeased with the mention of "Mike Healey's smoking Honda coming to a stop." This sounds like the engine gave up - which was not the case. Mike broke the frame, and the oil which is housed in the ~ poured on the engine and was smoking. This uninvestigative reporting upsets me personally, since I am the individual who builds Mike's race bikes. It also upsets my bosses, because it makes our company look bad to its customers and sponsors. Steve Smith Riverside, CA Go, Wardy I've been a Jeff Ward fan for quite some time. Being the same age as Jeff, I have followed his career since the beginning (in fact, I still have a poster of him on a Honda MR50). I just wanted to congratulate Jeff on his incredible performance in this year's Indy 500, where he finished an unbelievable third - and took top Rookie honors. He would have won had he not been forced to pit for a splash of fuel (which was probably unnecessary, since the majority of the remaining laps were run under yellow. But that's racing). Smith is the team mannger for IMS ... Editor. Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 562/4276685 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. e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@eyclenews.com advertisin~cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weeklyex"'l" the last two weeks of the calendar year for sso.oo per year by CY~ ~ews, lnc., 2201 ,Cherry Avenue. Long Beach. CA 90806. P~~1s Postage P.ud al Long Beach. CA and at additional mallmg office. Canada Post International PublicaHons Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send addless changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 908()1-0498. To determine lhe expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the l.lst issue number you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the yearoi the last issue. S.ubscription rates: Ra~ lor the United States and its p0ssesSIOns for one year, (SO ISSues), $50.00; two years (100 issues) $95.00; six months, (25 issues), $26.00; mal sub (15 issues), ' $19,00. Canada and Foreign, one year (50 issues), $90.00; two years (1~ issues), $l75J)O; six months (25 issues), $45.00; maJ sub (15 ISSUes), $38.00. ... ...... ...... (J) 1 4 Cyc!e News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stones, cartoons, P~OIOS, 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 rates and circulation infonnation wiU be sent upon request. See S.R.D.5. W/BDA V AUDITED wn!'"~ ORCULATION Printed in U.S.A. Co~yrighto Cycle News, Inc ~997. Trademark Cycle News roglslered US. Patenl Office- All rights reserved. FEATURES ROAD RACING Round 5 - World Championship Road 6 Race Series from Austria .._ Round 3 - WERA ational Endurance Series from Hallett, Oklahoma 28 DIRT TRACK Round 4 - AMA Grand National Championship Series from LaSalle, illinois......l0 OBSERVED TRIALS Round 4 - World Championship Trials 24 Series from San Marino ENDURO Round 3 - AMA National Championship Reliability Enduro Series from McArthur, Ohio 26 DEPARTMENTS INTERVIEW Jean-Michel Bayle FIRST RIDE Bimota Ydue _ 14 MOTOCROSS Rounds 6/7 -125/25Occ World Motocross Championship Series from England 20 30 CALENDAR : 16 EVENTS 46 LEADERBOARD 54 WANT ADS 56 RACERX 71 LOOKING BACK 71 ON THE FRONT COVER The long-awaited, much-ballyhooed Biffiota Ydue. Alan Cathcart rides it first - now you can read about it - first. Photo by Kyoichi Nakamura.

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