Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America's weekly motorcycle newspaper LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXIV Sharon Gayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant Editorlc:J!!l Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Eduor Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor Advertising Terry 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, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastem Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Webmaster Classified Ads Laurie Torstensen Graphics and Production Roo Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, lAb. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphit: Artist Amanda Wollny, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountinglDala Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson, Billing Coordinator Cqrol Maggio, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Susan Moreno, Receptionist Michael Swedberg, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Ch~y Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (562) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAX (562) 427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084; mailing address P.O. Box BOS, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail edilor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertisin~clenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cyde News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year fur 550.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc.,2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Periodicab Postage Paid at Long Beach. CA and at additional mailing office. Ganada Post International Publications Mail 1546615. POSTMASTER: Smd address dtanges to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Loog Beadt, CA 90801-0498. To determine the expiration cbte of your subscription, check the four numbers on the fint line of yoW' address labd. The first two digits indicate the last issue number youl1 reeeive and the last two characters indicate the yeM of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posse;.sions for one year, (SO issues), $50,00; two years 000 issues), $95.00; six months, (25 issues), 526.00; trial sub 05 issues), 519.00, Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $9().OO; two years (100 issucs), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including storiC!l, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or Pilrt only by pennission of the pUblisher. Advertising rates and circulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.R.O.S. W/BDA V A.UDITED .J:'"~ CIRCULATION Printed in U.S.A. 4 COfyright" Cyde New" Inc. 1997. T"'demark Cyde New' !f8lSteftd U.s. Potent Office. All righ15 ........ed. Wanting Americans Thank you, Dennis Noyes and Cycle News, for the rich insight of what being a fan of motorcycle racing could and should be like. I love the sport and share the same passion as our more fortunate overseas race fan, yet I am left with the feeling that motorcycling's charms are somehow not aimed at me. With modern media available through the Internet and satellites beaming live race action, there is a way to participate - but I am under n6 false hope that the sport will ever catch on here, for a few reasons. First, we are not interested \n rooting for the other guy (Le., the last Olympics broadcast tha t offered no real world view and acted as if Americans were the only participants). We need an American rider. Secondly, Harley-Davidson doesn't make a two-stroke. Let's hope that someday we see riders being interviewed by ESPN (maybe Kevin Schwantz, since we're only wishing) after the race, as part of alive broadcast. Maybe that rider could be Scott Russell, riding the Modenas of King Kenny. Hey, just hoping for the best, right? MikePanelo Santa Oara, CA Bring on Gobert I'm writing in response to the Teardown column written by Paul Carruthers (Issue #21, May 21). I agree with Mr. Carruthers that 500cc Grand Prix racing is a bit on the boring side right now. No offense to Mr. Doohan, but can someone else win a race now? I'm a big fan of Team Lucky Strike Suzuki and rather miss' Scott Russell this season. Even though Russell is a character and seems to always be in trouble with the law, he is a real American rebel Whom the fans love. In my opinion, there will never be another Kevin Schwantz, but Anthony Gobert seems to be just what Grand Prix racing needs righ t now - some excitement. Kevin Henriques Blythe,CA Sticking up for Ricky After many years of following the AMA Grand National circuit and thoroughly enjoying it, we were prompted to comment on Scott Parker's performance at Parkersburg, West Virginia, and how disappointing his actions were. After Joe Kopp went down at the exit of turn four after tapping Ricky Graham, Park\!"s outrage towards Graham was the most unsportsmanlike show we have yet to see. We were standing between turns three and four, quite a distance from the riders, yet we could hear Parker yelling, cursing and blaming Graham for the accident. From our vantage point, Graham clearly was not the cause. As members of the AMA, we wish to· see our dollars at work, so let the officials determine the cause of the accident instead of the riders pointing fingers. Parker is there to race, not to officia teo . This type of outburst from Parker showed an unprofessional attitude and a total loss of self control. His behavior sends a bad message to the many children who witnessed the event, many of whom look up to him. It's a shame to see the Grand National Champion act in this manner. Graham still holds two records that Parker wishes to beat. It makes me wonder if this is a personal issue for Parker now that the real competition is back. Michael & Rosemarie Durkin Lansdale, PA AMA bashing? AMA bashing - the great Southern California pastime. I read with wonder the Jetter send in by Mox48@gte.net (Issue #21, May 21). Does Mox really believe that the AMA is the driving force behind the fom-stroke movement? Allow me to explain. The California legislators/ environmental ("mental" is the operative word) agencies, in their infinite wisdom, have passed legislation prohibiting the issuance of green stickers to any off-road two-stroke motorcycle manufactured after 1997. For the benefit of all you land-lovers, a green sticker is required to ride your dirt bike in California State Parks that are designated for off-road vehicles. Perhaps the AMA could be our friend instead of our foe. I don't think this is going to happen unless Californians quit bashing the AMA. Countless times, popular dirt-bike magazines have bashed the AMA for one thing or another. To boot, your local track probably has their own little membership fee (usually more expensive than the AMA's fee) that's required to let you practice. What do you get out Of the local fees you pay? I've joined the GNC, the CMC, the SSC, the NMA, etc., etc. Have I benefited from any of the efforts FEATURES Double trouble Is there anyone out there who can explain to me why every track has to be littered with double and triple jumps? Is the dirt too expensive to fill them up so they are tabletops? The Expert and Pro riders could still clear the whole distance, while the slower classes could concentrate on out-accelerating, out-. braking, and out-stuffing our buddies (the reason we race in the first place), rather than who is willing to do the doit-or~at-it double. My last race saw three guys sidelined after coming up three feet short on a double. All of them will miss the next five or six races and maybe more. That's approximately $150 in gate fees and roughly $375 to $600 in entry fees. How much dirt does that buy? Track owners: Are you listening? An egg carton is not a good model for a track. Let's keep"Circus Cross" under the big top and give us tracks for racing, not flying. Ouch; it hurts when I try to move. See you at Carlsbad or Lemon Grove in six to eight weeks. Bill Bouman, San Clemente, CA Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box. 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 562/427-6685 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 lette.rs should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor.' DEPARTMENTS ROAD RACING Round 4 - AMA superbike ational Championship Series from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 6 Round 4 - World superbike Championship 14 Series from Gerrnany Round 6 - World Championship Road Race Series from France 18 ARSTRlDE Hunwick Hallam X1R Superbike 22 INTERVIEW Roger DeCoster 26 Team Honda's John CampbeU 30 Ryan Hughes 40 RIDING IMPRESSION BMW RI200c 32 CROSS COUNTRY Round 7 - AMA Grand National Cross ~;~P~~f~~:~. ~~.~~~ of their political-action committees and lobbyists? I don't think so. I don't think they have any, but the AMA does. Let's get more funds to the AMA through local track sponsorships (in lieu of local membership fees) and let's quit bashing the AMA. Maybe then, the AMA will lobby in Southern California to repeal this stinkin' environmentalistdriven (not AMA-driven) legislation banning two-strokes from the off-road vehicle parks that we're going to pay for anyway. Brian Broussard Canyon Country, CA 36 MOTOCROSS Round 5 - 500cc World Motocross ~~~b~~I1S.~~.~~.~~~ ~~.~~~ 38 Round 7 - 125cc World Motocross 39 Championship Series from Slovenia Round 5 - AMA Western National Four-Stroke Motocross Series from Tyler, 46 Texas HILLCUMB Round 2 - AMA HiJIclimb National Championship Series from Jefferson, 42 Pennsylvania PRO.:lECT BIKE FMF Kawasaki KX125 44 VINTAGE Rounds 3 & 4 - VDTRA Vintage Classics X National Dirt Track Series from Cambridge, Minnesota .- .48 .. EVENTS CALENDAR. LEADERBOARD RESULTS WANT ADS A VIEW FROM THE FENCE LOOKING BACK ON THE COVER Mat Mladin won his second AMA Superbike National of the year, this one coming at Road America. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. Inset: BMW's R1200 C. Photo by 'Kit Palmer. 50 .58 67 68 71 " 87 87

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