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/127944
wm~ VOICES America's weekly motorcycle newspaper LETTERS TO THEEDfTOR VolumeXXXV Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistmlt Editor/Copy Editor Cameron Coatney, Associate Editor Alan Cathcart, Ellropean Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accoullts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts MllI/ager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Western Sales MllI/ager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Greg Mitdtell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Webmaster Stephanie Leamon, Assistant Classified Ads Judy Klinger Graphics and Production Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, LAb. Tech. Amanda Wollny, Graphic Artist Terra Whitmeyer, Graphic Artist Randy S. Hess, GraphiC Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator. Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulation Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coorainator Joy'Lau, Dealer Coordinator Jessica Schroeder, Assistant Service and Support Shannon Cla_rk, Receptiollist ~ Jim Olson, Service and Support National Headquarters 3505-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 (714) 751-7433 FAX (714) 751-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com ' Michael Paquay The Castrol Honda team offers its most sincere thanks to all of those who sent messages of sympathy following the tragic loss of Michael Paquay at Monza on May 9. Fellow Supersport competitors, SuperDike riders, teams, media, fans and everyone connected with the sport eased the grieving with their kind words and tributes to Michael. Although Michael had been with the team just a short time, it was long enough for everyone within the Castrol Honda organization to realize what a fantastic person he was. During preseason testing il;l Australia, he arrived as a stranger to most of the team, but his funloving manner found a place in the hearts of everyone by the end of that test. From that moment the friendship blossomed and when Michael took to the track for the first race this year tha t friendship was soon complemented by respect for an exceptional rider. Alth.ough many can accept the dangers of racing, it still remains immensely dllficult to lose a friend. He may have left us so early in his career and after such a short time with Castrol Honda, but he did not leave us without memories. Following his death at Monza, every team member could recall their favorite moment with Michael and each tale involved this courteous 26-year-old making them laugh. We know that Michael would want nothing less than success for Castrol Honda. It is in his memory that our search for success will continue. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Michael's family and to his girlfriend Nicoletta. Thinking of Michael. Castrol Honda London, England Great white hope I just finished reading Eric Johnson's editorial ("A View from the Fence," Issue #18, May 13) about supercross being the great white hope of the motorcycle industry. If that's the case, then I'm not sure it's worth saving. Barry Krayer Phoenix,AZ What's the deal? All you ever cover is supercross, and motocross, and road racing, and trials, and dirt track, and speedway, and cross country, and dual sport, and new bikes, and great interviews. Great jobl I do nUss Motocross Cat and Team Smitty. Fritz Martin Medford,OR More Leanne, please For as long as I've been reading Cycle News, I've been telling people just how hard it rocks week in and week out with all the racing action a man can stand. Compared to Cycle News, a lot of supposedly pure "racing" magazines seem about as high pqwered as half a tank of rusty Pemex. But I think it's time I Pl,lt in a word about how great even the ads a.re in oUI paper. After checking out page 59 in the May 6 issue and Leanne Tweeden in her PVC shorts, 1 realized tha t heaven is right here on earth between the pages of Cycle News. Jens Haerter San Diego, CA No 125s 1 am writing to you to express my displeasure with your Willow Springs and Sears Point AMA road racing coverage. Neither of these otherwise interesting race reportS makes mention of the 125cc GP exhibition ~aces held in conjunction with the AMA events. The same neglect of the ] 25cc GP glass occurred in you r coverage of the Fonnula USA event held at Willow Springs back in March. The 125cc class has provided plenty of action and tight battles and does deserve coverage in Cycle News. Many of the future U.S. road racing champions may emerge from 125cc GP racing. We all make a big deal out of Valentino Rossi so why not give the U.S. scene equal treatment. As a potential sponsor and supplier of 125cc GP products, I obviously looked for press coverage on the class I might become involved in. By ignoring the class, Cycle News is not encouraging my company to spend any money supporting road racing in America. And I Sure hope your motivation doesn't come from the fact that the series is sponsored by another magazine. That would be personal sour grapes that your readers should not suffer from. Thank you for your time and keep up the otherwise outstanding job. Philippe Danh Torrance, CA We don't generally cover "exhibitioll" races as part of our regular National-caliber coverage - mainly due to lack of space and mal1power at those evellts. If we did cover those events, we wouldn't have also received negativemail for not coveril1g the sidecar event at Laguna Seca, or the vintage "exhibition" races that oftell times run with the AMA Superbike Nationals. It matters not whether the event is sponsored by another publication such as Road Radng War/d, OIl aftermarket manufacture like Bamett Tool and Engineering (the sponsor of the Laguna Seca sidecar event), or a vintage racirlg team owner like Team Obsolete (the sponsor of the vil1tage exhibition at Laguna Seca) ... Editor. Thanks Green team At the Las Vegas Supercross, Team Kawasaki opened up their rig to the fans. We are hard core motocross fans and that was really cool for my family and 1. When the rest of the factory semis were jammed with fans, my family was treated to a tour and conversation with Jeremy Albrecht. On the way out of the back of the Kawasaki hauler, we happened to bump into Jeff Emig and he seemed to remember meeting us last year. I don't know what all this "Rock Star Syndrome" BS is all about in the June issue of Dirt Rider. Maybe I'm just trying to back his play, but the guy is hurting from an injured back - so give the champion a break. Thanks, Jeff, Jeremy and Bruce Sljernstrom - these are some memories we will never forget. Better luck at the outdo.or ationals. The Richards Laughlin, NV Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O.' Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084, faxed to 714/751-6685 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 letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. advertising@cyclenews.com Intemet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS ]41·340) is published weekly except the last hvo weeks o( the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News-loc., 3sos.M Cadillac Avenue. Costa Mesa. CA 92628. Periodicals Postage Paid at Co:;ta Mesa, CA and at additional mailing office. Cnn..,da Post InternoltionaJ Publica· tions MaH N546615. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box S084, Costa Mrsa, CA 9~. To dete.rmine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the fitst line oJ your address label. The first two digits indicate the last issue num-be you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posses. sions for one year (50 issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues). $95.00; six months (25 issues). $26.00; triar sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, aIle year (50 issues). $9(),00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues). $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited 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 pe:nnisslon of the publisher. Advertis· ing rates and circulation infonnation win be sent upon request. See S.R.O.5. W!!P.8 ~cmT1ON Printed in U.S.A. Co~yrigh Cycle News,lnc. 1998. Trade~adc Cycle News teglstered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. FEATURES ROAD RACE Round 4 - World Championship Road Race Series from Italy Round 4 - SOOcc World Championship MX Series from Sweden 23 8 DIRTTRACK Round 2 - AMA Grand National Championship Series from Harrington, Delaware 12 Round 1 - West Coast Flat Track Series from Lodi, California 36 MOTOCROSS Round 2 - Mazda Truck/ AMA 125/250cc National Championship Motocross Series from Sacramento, California FEATURE Norton Nemesis 24 INTERVIEW Yamaha's general manager of engineering Toshimitsu lio 26 Don Emde .40 CROSS COUNTRY Round 5 - AMA Grand National Cross Country Series from Elizabeth, West Virginia 30 16 Round 5 - 250cc World Championship MX Series from Belgium 22 SPEEDWAY AMA/Fast Fridays season opener from Auburn, California 34 DEPARTMENTS EUROFILE 6 LEADERBOARD 38 EVENTS 42 .NEW PRODUCTS 64, 66 CALENDAR .................................•...............67 WANT ADS , 77 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 95 LOOKING BACK 95 ON THE FRONT COVER Jeremy McGrath won his first AMA 250cc National Motocross in 15 races when he captured the Hangtown Classic. Photo by Kinney Jones. Scott Parker, meanwhile, won his second straight AMA Grand National Championship victory. Photo by Dave Hoenig. Inset: Norton's Nemesis.