Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

CEm~ VOICES America's weekly motorcycle newspaper LEITERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXV Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Edilor Kit Palmer, Associate Edilor Scott Rousseau, Associale Edilor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assislant Edilor/Copy Edilor Cameron Coatney, Associate Editor Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor . Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Weslem Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Westem Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Westem Sales Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastem Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Easlern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Weslern Ad Coordinalor Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina FarT, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Rick Matheny, Webmaster Stephanie Leamon, Assistant Classified Ads Teri Kerr Graphics and Production Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Amanda Wollny, Graphic Artist Randy S. Hess, Graphic Artist Administration judy Klinger, Coordinalor Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, NR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulalion Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordi1Jator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Joy Lau, Dealer Coordinator jessica Schroeder, Assisla,,1 Service and Support . Shannon Clark, Receptionist 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) 75J-7433 FAX (7J4) 75J-6685 Eastern Office 4J88 First Ave., Tu,cker, GA 30064 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-31l2 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com What's wrong with the boys? I just wanted to ask if you could tell me why Scott RusseII is having such a lackluster start to the World Superbike season? I know he is on a dated bike, but his teammate is kiclcing some major ass ou t there. And what about Little John Kocinski? John is on the premier bike in the premier class of bike racing, so why iso't he going well? One more question: When i Mike Hale going to the GPs? I remember reading in Cycle News that he did an outstanding job of testing one of the Suzuki 500s. Anyway, your paper is great because it's the only place I can read about the stars of World Superbike and Grand Prix racing. Thanks. Rosita E. Serumgard Serumgard@earthlink.net Don't know. Don't know. Don't know. You're welcome... Editor The U.S. Open First off, let me say that the U.S. Open of Supercross is a great idea. It's about time that such a premier event was held here. n is also nice to see that the purse money is heading north. It should be it great show and I just hope they can negotiate a television broadcast of the race. The one aspect of the race that I don't like is the automatic selection of riders. As reported in Cycle News (Issue #20, May 27), "the U.S. Open of Supercross i an invitation-only event and we wiU be inviting the top ·15 finishers in the 1998 AMA 250cc Supercross Series, the top three finishers in the AMA 12Sec East and West Region Supercross Series, the 1998 Arenacross Champion and the FIM 1998 125 and 250cc World Motocross Champions." This selection seems to be far too proAmerican. Only inviting the 125 and 250cc World Champions is insulting to the 500cc champion, as well as displaying a total lack of recognition of the depth of talent in the 250cc Grands Prix. Besides Stefan Everts, riders like Joel Smets, Sebastien Tortelli and Pit Beirer deserve a chance. Hopefully, the promoters will use the 10 extra spots wisely, but I still think the 500cc World Champion and the 250cc championship runner-up should have been automatic &elections. Dr. Robert Ware Columbia, SC The promoters of the AMA U.S. Open of Supercross have announced thdt the October 10 race will begin at 8 p.m., with tlte October 11 race scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40, $60 and $100 and are on sale now. They can be purchased through the MGM Grand Garden ticket office and all TicketMaster locatio liS, as well as at Chaparral Motorsports at 800/841-2960. In addition, pit passes will be available for $20... Editor Kentucky helmets In your issue #10 (March 18), you state that our governor in Kentucky signed legislation revising our' current mandatoryhelmet law to allow adults over the age of 21 to ride helmetless if they provide proof of insmance. You stated that "the AMA opposes legislation that assumes that motorcyclists and the potential cost of their injuries are a drain on taxpayer dollars." Who at the AMA are you qUQti.ng? If in fact this is the posi tion of the AMA, then maybe we need another motorcycle association. Governor Patton should be applauded for signing this bill. For some of us who ride street bikes, his actions are welcomed. By the way, if someC\{le is injured and has no insurance, who does pay their medical bills if it is not the taxpayers or those of US who also pay insurance premiums? Is not the cost passed on to us who act responsibly? Frank Rassiga Louisville, KY Those quotes are usually attri6u ted to the AMA's vice president of government relations, Robert Rasor... Editor Read it Required reading by all AMA officials and referees - Cycle News motorcycle newspaper, May 20, 1998 issue, page 83, "In the Tapes" by Scott Rousseau. Enough said. As a road racer, a former referee of high school, collegiate and international wrestling, and as a current law student in Calilomia, Rousseau's article hits the nail on the head and makes complete and utter sense. Consistency in rules enforcement is the only way to avoid conflict and self-deprecating political squabbles. Play by the book, for everyone's sake, win or lose. Steven Holt SehoLt@earthlink.net Remember Larry? In response to "Voices" (Issue 16, April 29), I've been staying up at night trying to figure out a way not to race "a hard-to-hoLd-on-to true vintage bike." r simply can't take it anymore. I plan to race the 500cc Premier, the Open Twin 625cc and up, and the Sportsman 250cc classes at Dino Daze '98 on June 6. Not to put you down, Gerald, on your lack of research, but I race many different kinds of bikes. It amazes me that you would assume that none of these bikes were "vintage." I hope this clears up any doubt or confusion you might have experienced. In Kathy's defense, she d:id not select the picture that Cycle News chose to accompany her letter. [ can only thank her for her boldness in writing on my behalf. Larry Legarra Longview, WA On PACE Yom February 18 issue included a Jetter to the ed:itor from me that promised to keep supercross fans advi ed on our progress with crowd behavior / safety at supercross. Several of our initiatives went to great lengths to improve crowd behavior. At the Dallas Supercross, we introduced our first "family section." This section was nondrinking, nonsmoking and was secured with additional Texas Stadiwn security. There were no behavior problerns reported. We will absolutely expand and more aggressively market the "family section" at every supercross in 1999. Also, as many supercross fans know, after round six we worked with each facility to strictly enforce th.eir existing alcoh.ol policy while at the same time limiting the time the alcohol was served. For example, at the Silverdome, beer sales were not initiated until 4 p.m. and cut off at 8:30 p.m. Generally, crowd behavior was improved from round six on - but we all know it's something that can be further improved upon in 1999. As always, I will keep supercross fans advised as to our progress. Also, please look for the "family sections" at 1999 supercross rounds. Ask TicketMaster or your stadium's box office for details when tickets go on sale. Ken Hudgens Lombard,IL Hudgens is the vice president ofmarlcetingfor PACE Motor·Sports... Editor advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except-the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle ews. lne.. 3505-M Cadillac Avenue, Costa Mesa. CA 92628. Periodicals Postage Paid at Costa Mesa. CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail '546615. POSTMASTER: Send adduts clwtges to Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa M.... CA 92628-5084. To determine the upintion d.tte of your su.bscription, check the four numbf'tS on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the last iMue-numbtrlou'li receive and the last two chMactert indicate the year 0 the Last issue. Subscription rates: Rates ror the United States and its p0ssessions ror one year (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trinl sub (IS issues), $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if ,published, becomes the exclusive property or Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission or the publisher. Advertis-ing rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. W!!r,8 ~c\1ITTION Printed in' U.S.A. COfyright' Cycle News, Inc. 1998. Tradmaark Cycle News registered U.S. Patent Office. AU rights reserved. DEPARTMENTS FEATURES MOTOCROSS Round 3 - Mazda Truck!AMA 125/250cc National Championship Motocross Series from Mount Morris, Pennsylvania 6 Round 3 - 125cc World Championship MX Series from Slovenia 32 Round 4 - 500cc World Championship MX Series from Finland 33 DIRT TRACK AMA Grand National Championship Series from Springfield, Illinois 12 ROAD RACE Round 4 - World Superbike Championship Series from Spain 16 FEATURE Entry-leveloff-roaders , 20 CROSS COUNTRY AMA Grand Nat'l Cross Country Series _26 f,rom Brownsville, Pennsylvania ENDURO Round 4 - AMA/ Acerbis National Championship Enduro Series from New Waverly, Texas _ 28 SPEEDWAY Round 1 - World lndividuaL Speedway Championship Series from the Czech Republic 30 DRAG RACE NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series from Englishtown, New Jersey EVENTS LEADERBOARD CALENDAR _ WANT ADS IN THE PADDOCK LOOKING BACK 34 HILLCUMB AMA National Championship Hilldimb Series from Middlebury, Indiana 36 ON THE FRONT COVER Ricky Carmichael won his fifth 125cc moto in six starts when the Mazda Truck/ AMA 125/250cc Nationals ventured to High Point Raceway. Photo by Karl Ockert. 38 54 55 65 83 83

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